Yorkton This Week asked each candidate running for council four questions, their answers will be published online over the next four days.
Question #1: Like most cities, Yorkton has an infrastructure deficit. Where do you believe this city should focus dollars on improvements?
Dustin Brears
Infrastructure is expensive. We need to maintain our roads, water and sewer systems to sustain the standard of living we expect in a progressive community. With the massive amount of money that needs to be invested in our infrastructure, we need to partner with other levels of government to fund these projects. We cannot simply rely on the taxpayers of Yorkton to solely take care of it, as it just isn’t financially possible. We need to look at each project that needs to be completed, prioritize the critical ones, and aggressively go after the funding required to see the projects to completion. If we do not take action soon, the problem will only get worse and ultimately decrease the quality of life in Yorkton.
Ken Chyz
Unfortunately, as in pretty much all urban centers, infrastructure is a major concern. Our roads and underground water and sewer pipes are the major issue. The problem is, to fix all our roads would cost approximately $150 million and the replacement of all underground water and sewer pipes are in that same price range as well. What we need is more provincial and federal infrastructure grant money to help us out.
Currently all new projects (Mayhew & Darlington as an example) have maintenance costs built into the price and are part of the current budget. That money is put into reserves for future maintenance. This means that the dollars needed to maintain projects like these in future years would be in place and additional tax dollars for repairs would not be necessary. All new future projects will be set up the same way.
Dick DeRyk
We need to maintain essential infrastructure -- roads, sidewalks, water and sewer. We cannot let it get in further disrepair. We should have learned that from our situation 15 years ago. But until we know the impact of COVID-19 on city finances, which will be at least a year from now, I am not going to support any new infrastructure projects, including recreation facilities. We can get the plans ready in case the province or feds come up with a program that will pay the vast majority of the cost, but otherwise we set aside everything else until we know the city’s long-term financial situation. Yes, we have borrowing power, but it’s never a good idea to max out your credit card. For me property tax relief (which will require a leaner city operation) and essential infrastructure are the priorities.
Doug Forster
Water and sewer services are probably the most underappreciated when it comes to critical infrastructure, as tax payers we just assume every time we open a tap the clean water will flow, and the waste water will disappear, but when there is an interruption in this chain of events it feels catastrophic. It’s no secret that many parts of our city have issues with aging water and sewer lines that need to be replaced in order to ensure that every household and business in Yorkton can continue to receive the same level of service that we have become accustomed too, these need to be a priority when it comes to planning and budgets. Roads are important, as are the sidewalks in every area of the city, I think we need to hold the line on things like expensive roundabouts, and concentrate on a broader area of road repair with those resources.
Randy Goulden
Infrastructure investment has been, and must remain, a long-term project for Yorkton. Between 736 kilometres of pipes, roads, and sidewalks (that would reach all the way to Vegreville, Alberta if we laid it end-to-end), we also have recreation infrastructure, city buildings, water and wastewater treatment facilities, and more besides.
To make fact-based decisions that consider the entire cost and lifetime of all our infrastructure, the City of Yorkton has a full asset management plan. I believe staying on track and investing our dollars as laid out in that plan will ensure we get the most for every penny spent. Though big projects, with their big price tag, often get the attention, our asset management plan shows that spending small amounts to maintain can avoid big, more expensive repairs down the line—allowing us to do more work for less and providing value for your tax dollars.
Quinn Haider
I am proud of the number of important infrastructure projects that we approved during my first term on Council. The work on Broadway was very successful, and we continued major drainage projects. While we helped close the gap somewhat, there is still much that needs to be done. Our city already has a review program in which every road, and every city owned facility is assessed based on its condition and its total usage. This assessment helps to determine which of our assets is in most need of repair. As fiscal stewards for our citizens, this data will be crucial as Council continues to rejuvenate our infrastructure. My number one priority would be to continue to advocate for funds from the provincial and the federal government in order to make the long overdue repairs to York Road an affordable option for our residents.
Cam Mehling
There are many areas of infrastructure that need attention and I believe the focus, over time, can be spread out to cover a few major projects. Most citizens tell me that roads need to be the priority. I believe that many of our roads are great, but some do need attention. The most glaring issue is York Road. This is a massive project that the city cannot fund on its own and a co-pay agreement must be established between the city and the province as York Road is a highway connector. It is imminent that Yorkton will need a new hospital in the future. We need to be planning our finances accordingly to make this project attainable. There are many infrastructure needs that can and will be budgeted for and implemented. The two mentioned above are massive projects that will require highly intelligent planning to execute.
Lauretta Ritchie-McInnes
I believe that the City’s infrastructure dollars need to be prioritized and focus on the water, sewer and garbage handling systems. These services aren’t always visible or flashy but essential to the wellbeing and everyday life of the citizens and businesses in Yorkton. Additionally, the City must weigh the importance of policies and strategies relating to the transportation infrastructure in and around the city, which includes the Yorkton Regional Airport.
Jordan Rosluk
When I ran for Council in 2016 I made a commitment to addressing the need to upgrade the 100-year-old drainage and sewage system underneath the city, and my commitment remains the same in 2020. For me this is a priority. We must address what’s underneath the city first before we can fix or build on what’s above the ground. When these original infrastructure systems fail it will cost the city even more to repair, not to mention the inconvenience to the property owners affected by these failures. I believe in being proactive, fixing a problem before it happens, instead of being reactionary. Once the older systems are replaced then we can focus on building new infrastructure. If elected to the Yorkton City council I will do my best to put Yorkton back on a strong foundation.
CV Sastry
York Road- an urban connector, for which we get 70 percent funding from the province, will be a good investment for our growth. Broad-way street water and sewer mains also are in requirement of repairs. Families are requesting for additional recreational or sport center in the city with an ageing Kinsmen arena. Then there are projects which might not require too much funding from us but will be beneficial to our city like cultural structures with historic significance which will increase the vibrancy of our city. Another focus will be on infrastructure spending which might promote future business growth. We should spend tax payer’s money wisely to enjoy minimal tax increases. When we develop area, like the lot near Tourism Yorkton or housing development in the North where the infrastructure is deteriorating with ZERO tax revenues being generated, it does not build the confidence of our tax payers.
Terry Schneider
Council should plan for a weekend retreat shortly after the fall election to create a 4 year plan for infrastructure spending and post this plan as public information on the City of Yorkton website.
Priority areas for spending should include need to have items:
Replacement of aging water/sewer lines
Paving of streets
Installing sidewalks where required to allow for pedestrian mobility
Ensuring the Fire Department has vehicles and equipment required to respond effectively and safely to emergency situations
Signage for School/Playground Zones to allow for enforcement of speed zones
Completion of Public Works shop
Recreation facility upgrades where the focus is on functional use
Scott Sharpe
This is an extremely hard question as infrastructure is one area you can never totally afford but somewhere that you must spend on. The work on the roads and sewage system must be continued; some of our main streets are in bad shape. There is always going to be a desire to save money by patching them but in the long run, it costs more. As an electrician and working with lighting upgrade at the Saskatchewan Health Authority, I know the improvement in the quality of light that LED outdoor lighting provides as well as the future cost savings in power. I have noticed there is little to no foot traffic in most areas of the city after dark other than the properly lit areas.
Calvin Tokarchuk
I feel our Water and Sewer on Broadway should be our cities’ main infrastructure focus. That said putting focus on any one or two key points of infrastructure items will only help to deteriorate the many others that need to be addressed and continue to keep us in the same position we currently find ourselves.
We must have a need vs want mentality when deciding where infrastructure funds are used. Addressing the most needed areas, regardless of the area of the city it is located. One idea, holding off on flowers in the boulevards for a year and utilizing the extra labor for road maintenance, and putting the extra money from that towards our Broadway project. As with debt, some sacrifices of “Wants” even for one or two years will need to be made to better the City as a whole going forward.
Chris Wyatt
I believe there needs to be emphasis on street resurfacing other than just our main streets. There also needs to be pressure put on the province to finish the truck route around our city so we can repair roads like York Road.
I also support building a new RCMP detachment in the empty commercial area behind the tourism building. That would hopefully spark further development in the area, it has been vacant long enough and the city has failed to market it or work with businesses to build there. Just imagine what a new detachment building could spark? A vibrant business/professional building type of development with retail to follow the new construction. City Hall could use the space for future growth and community based group office space.
Darcy Zaharia
Municipalities are about delivering the services that support safe, healthy and prosperous communities, and council’s role in this process is to decide what services are needed, what level they need to be delivered at, and what methods of delivery best fit the needs of our community. We need to look after all of our assets that provide these services.
Note: No tax increase now widens the capital infrastructure deficit.
I would prioritize water, sewer and roads.
“Green infrastructure” including water and wastewater systems.
The City began the first phases of a large scale drainage/flood mitigation plan that is something we should continue to plug away at.
Engage our community. Devise a long-term plan that includes life cycle costing (costs including investment, operation, maintenance and disposal) for projects. Communicate that plan.
If infrastructure grants are received for other project areas (i.e. rinks) then this plan would be revisited at that point.
