The city is now looking at long-term solutions to avoid another flood in the future.
On June 25, city council will look into developing a master storm drainage study that will focus on those wards hit hardest by last month’s flood, including McKellar and Northwood.
“Obviously we’re going to have to throw some big money at this issue,” Mayor Keith Hobbs said Monday morning.
“We’re going to put everything on the backburner, the events centre, whatever it takes. We need to fix this problem first. We need to look at our infrastructure and we need to be prepared because weather patterns are changing.”
Hobbs said he didn’t know if that would mean delays for projects like the proposed events centre as it’s just his opinion, not council’s right now, that major projects should be on hold.
The study will look into initiatives from other municipalities that help homeowners flood and storm proof their homes.
Hobbs also wants the city to look into why people in certain areas can’t get insurance.
“There shouldn’t be a household in this city as far as I’m concerned that shouldn’t be able to get insurance,” he said.
An independent study will also be done on the Atlantic Avenue sewage treatment plant and the city’s sewer system.
Infrastructure manager Darrell Matson said because of changing weather, the current system and work done though a 15-year old pollution control plan is being stretched thin.
While the plant was originally going to be investigated by city employees, Matson said they realized last week that an engineering firm would need to be called in so that the city’s focus can stay on restoration and recovery at the plant.
“We just don’t have any more resources internally to continue with that,” he said.
