🚨 Emergency: $905K for Cook Avenue Repairs

Spring flooding collapsed Cook Avenue's storm drain, triggering an emergency infrastructure project that's ballooned to over $1M. The city must reallocate funds from 6 other planned projects to cover the unexpected costs. šŸ’°

Council is voting on awarding the contract to fix the damage and upgrade aging water/sewer lines while they're at it.

Why the Project Expanded Beyond Storm Drain

  • 🌊 2025 spring flooding caused the existing storm main to collapse completely

  • ⚔ Emergency scope expanded when crews discovered the sanitary system was too shallow and conflicted with storm drain alignment

  • 🚰 Decided to replace aging water infrastructure at the same time to avoid future road disruption

  • šŸ› ļø Project now includes: storm drain replacement, sewer upgrades, water line replacement, and full road repaving

The Real Cost: What Projects Get Delayed

$1.11 Million
Total project cost including engineering and contingencies. Since no emergency budget existed, the city is pulling funds from 6 other planned projects: Redstone ROW revitalization ($75K), retaining wall design ($300K), priority culvert repairs ($500K), and others. These projects will now be delayed or cancelled.

Two Bids, Tough Choice

  • šŸ† Triahn Enterprises: $905,743 (lowest bid, no previous city experience)

  • šŸ¢ COPCAN Civil: $917,026 (proven track record with Rossland)

  • āš™ļø Staff initially considered the established contractor for reliability

  • šŸ“Š Final recommendation: award to lowest bidder to save taxpayers $11,283

Your Voice Matters on Emergency Spending

Should Council approve this $905K emergency contract for Cook Avenue repairs, even though it means delaying other infrastructure projects across the city?

When & How to Participate

Council Meeting: Monday, September 15, 2025 Agenda Item: 8.b - Cook Avenue Infrastructure Contract Award

šŸ—£ļø Speak Up:

  • Attend the meeting in person
  • Submit written comments to Council
  • Contact your councillors directly

This emergency spending decision affects multiple city projects. Your input helps Council weigh the priorities and trade-offs facing Rossland taxpayers.