It’s easily the most expensive 15 feet of sewage pipe replaced in the history of the City of Cranbrook.

City council last night unanimously approved an amendment to its Five Year Financial Plan (2013-2017) in order to free up $1 million from city reserve funds in order to replace 15 feet of header pipe at the Spray Irrigation site – emergency work that has already been completed. The reason for the enormous cost; the pipe is located below the Spray Irrigation site office building.

While the cost is large, there is a bright side noted Mayor Wayne Stetski before council passed the first three readings of Bylaw No. 3770. “The long and short of it is it won’t result in increased taxes,” he said, explaining that city reserve funds are being tapped for the repairs.

Stetski said he thanked city Chief Administrative Officer Wayne Staudt (former Chief Financial Officer) and previous city councils for having the foresight to establish reserve funds and have money saved for exactly such an occasion.

“It’s a million dollar repair, which is significant,” Staudt told council. “It’s been a very, very difficult repair.”

Staudt said city staff believe the pipe has been leaking for about five years, “maybe more” and during that time a large volume of gravel has been washed away, creating a sinkhole below the building (pictured above).

The pipe that leaked was also only about 40-years-old, he told council, noting its lifespan should be about 60 years.

City engineering staff speculate the pipe failed because of a paint liner that may have caused some corrosion, Staudt reported, adding no other reason is known at this time.

Time was also at a premium to get the pipe fixed, he said, because the ponds at the Spray Irrigation site are at maximum level.

“We needed to move quickly,” he said.

Ian Cobb/e-KNOW

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