Big Valley Council: Village ponders major road, building report

The Big Valley infrastructure management plan study was discussed at the Oct. 21 regular meeting of council.

Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Colleen Mayne presented the report conducted and written by MPE Engineering; it was noted several times in the council meeting the report was submitted by the engineers later than agreed upon.

“Infrastructure projects focus on the development and maintenance of services, facilities and systems,” stated the CAO’s memo to council. “The findings are intended to give Village of Big Valley council more clarity in determining which future capital projects need to be addressed, and their priority.”

Mayne summarized during discussion that council decided in 2023 to authorize the study with staff meeting the engineers last July to determine the scope of the study, with the results being an analysis of all of Big Valley’s public infrastructure such as roads, buildings, sidewalks, utilities and much more.

As councillors discussed the report Coun. Tim Field noted it was 364 pages in length, with the final 10 pages including a 20-year capital plan.

During discussion councillors noted each area of infrastructure was closely looked at and priorities listed for each.

It was noted the village has already addressed sidewalks and the tractor is getting worked on. It was also noted that priorities identified by the engineers aren’t written in stone.

The CAO stated that, combined with an upcoming strategic plan, this is a good indication of necessary infrastructure projects Big Valley could work on in the future.

Mayne observed MPE is helping the village with grant applications. Also, she noted the village has received an invoice from MPE for the infrastructure study that identified $37,059.27 outstanding.

Coun. Dan Houle stated that the report was submitted to the village later than agreed upon and added therefore the village’s final payment for it will also be late.

Councillors also noted that due to the condition of Big Valley’s municipal lagoon, an extra geotechnical study was added to MPE’s work list.

“Upon realizing there were serious issues at the Big Valley lagoon, and due to a change of scope to address those issues, additional funding in the amount of $48,000 was applied for through the ACP Grant Program during the summer of 2024,” stated the agenda memo.

“MPE Engineering findings of the geotechnical investigation were presented at the Sept.16, 2024 regular council meeting, with several options to consider for a long-term fix. As well, MPE urged the village to recognize the imperative state of the lagoon, and to ensure two discharges are undertaken during the timeframe as allotted by Alberta Environment; one being in the spring, and the second in the fall.

“Other than an emergency discharge being completed during the summer of 2022, MPE Engineering confirmed that as there were no discharges over the remainder of 2022 or throughout 2023, the lack of any discharge has been detrimental to the condition of the lagoon as it is today.”

Councillors unanimously passed a resolution that the infrastructure study be tabled to a future meeting.

Stu Salkeld
Local Journalism Initiative reporter
ECA Review

About the author

Stu Salkeld

Stu Salkeld, who has upwards of 28 years of experience in the Alberta community newspaper industry, is now covering councils and other news in the Stettler region and has experience working in the area as well.

He has joined the ECA Review as a Local Journalism Initiative Journalist.

Stu earned his two-year diploma in print journalism from SAIT in Calgary from 1993 to ’95 and was raised in Oyen, Alta., one of the communities within the ECA Review’s coverage area.