NEWS PHOTO COLLIN GALLANT The residents of Cactus Coulee place, in the city's southwest, have petitioned that potable water service be extended to the cul-de-sac of seven houses.
Seven lots in a southwest subdivision will be hooked up to the city’s water system after council passed a local improvement tax on Monday to pay for the project.
Cactus Coulee Place, located on a roadway that joins S. Boundary Road to Highway 3, is currently serviced with cisterns and septic tanks.
That will change as a water main will be installed from the roadway, and the cost added equally to tax bills over the next 15 years.
The city has only employed local improvement tax several times over the past two decades.
“They are very, very rare,” said Mayor Ted Clugston, who estimated he has seen three in 12 years come before council, including two for laneway paving.
“It’s an option that’s open, but I’m not sure if neighbours know it’s available. We’ll cost it and add it to your tax bill amortized over the lifespan.”
Specific to Cactus Coulee, owners of five homes and two vacant lots approached the city in 2018 about the project, according to briefing notes included with the decision.
The potential of potable water delivery was discussed in the mid-2000s when lines were extended in front of the cul-de-sac, down Range Road 62, to connect the county hamlet of Desert Blume.
At the time however, city policy was to require sewer and water service be coupled, and residents declined as sewer connection required a more extensive and costly piping system.
There is no current request to add sewer connection to the homes that employ septic tanks.
The city officials estimate it will cost $275,800 to design and install a water main, and repair the roadway, but the final cost will be paid equally by the seven properties. They can pay at any time, or over the course of 15 years having about $4,300 per year added to property tax bills.
