I am pleased to report that the Council is forging ahead with several construction projects to improve the city's stormwater management system by awarding the 2012 capital works program tender to M.Pidherney's Trucking Ltd. at an estimated cost of $5,479,299.

Council also directed administration to fund any excess costs for the program using a combination of reserve and grant funding. This increase in funding allocation allows the program to be completed this year, and further demonstrates council's commitment to prudent stewardship of our municipal infrastructure.

By increasing funding allocations to allow the proposed projects to be completed in 2012 demonstrates council's commitment to prudent stewardship of our municipal infrastructure.

The bulk of the 2012 capital works program consists of storm water collection and conveyance infrastructure upgrades that were recommended by Stantec Consulting, in response to the flooding that Lacombe experienced in 2011.

Also included in the program is the replacement of three city blocks of water and sanitary mains along 49 Avenue that have been subject to frequent breaks over the past three to five years.

This is the first recent instance of the city partnering with private residents to jointly fund upgrades to address ongoing sewer blockage problems that have developed as a result of tree root intrusion in the service lines.

The remaining work is largely paving of roads that will experience significant degradation if nothing is done this year.

Below is a summary timeline of the 2012 capital works program:

-45 Street storm trunk (July 9 to Oct. 1). An additional storm main will be installed along 45 Street to increase stormwater system capacity.

-49 Avenue water and sanitary line replacement (June 25 to Sept. 28).

-Force main twinning south of the waste water treatment plant north of the Wolf Creek Industrial Park (Sept. 4 to Sept. 28).

-51 Avenue water main looping (Sept. 4 to Sept. 28). Installation of an extension that ties in to the existing water pipe to reduce impact on residences during maintenance periods.

-51 Avenue /LMC storm main enhancements (Sept. 7 to Sept. 28). Installation of a manhole for future maintenance access.

-Storm enhancements along lane north of Emily Crescent (Sept. 11 to Sept. 21). Addition if a stormwater collection line within the lane to convey rainwater to the existing main.

-Installation of traffic signals at C&E Trial/Hwy 12 (50 Ave.) intersection (July 20 to Sept. 28).

-Wolf Creek Industrial Park road paving (June 18 to July 13).

-55Street and 56 Avenue road paving - the schedule for this work will be confirmed soon.

On behalf of council, I want to extend our sincere appreciation to the patience shown by affected residents while the issue was reviewed and solutions were developed. Work done as part of the capital works program will address the root causes of the flooding problems, so that residents are better protected from potentially damaging storm events.