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Ground broken on new public works shop

Ribbon cutting for $4.4 million facility not slated until 2023
WES - Mayor in earthmover use
Town of Westlock mayor Ralph Leriger took a turn running the excavator during the Aug. 18 groundbreaking for the new $4.4 million public works shop.

WESTLOCK – Ground officially broke on the Town of Westlock’s new, $4.44-million public works shop two weeks ago, with crews now pushing forward to have the facility open by 2023.

First announced in December 2021 as part of the municipality’s 2022 capital budget, the new shop will be located north of the current facility which was built in 1975 and “has exceeded its usable life.”

Mayor Ralph Leriger said the new shop is long overdue as it has been previously pushed back during budget deliberations due to more pressing infrastructure concerns. Previously, CAO Simone Wiley had announced the main contractors for the job, MPE and Atkinson Construction, and said they were “very concerned” project costs could soar due to rising inflation, but they’ve been able to hold the line. The $4.4 million figure, she noted, includes site work and water and sewer hook-ups in addition to the shop building.

“It’s a long time coming. When I first started (on council) we had a list of priorities and it’s easy to let your infrastructure and your rolling stock decline and then the next thing you know, everything needs fixing,” said Leriger in an Aug. 25 follow-up interview.

“So, I’m ecstatic to be going forward with the facility. We’re in the right place (financially) to do it and we’ve got a great guy with (operations director) Robin (Benoit) and a good project and you can see the smiles on the faces of the staff for sure.

“Public works is one of the most important services a municipality provides, and those people need a good shop. The current shop is long past its prime.”

Since the Aug. 18 groundbreaking, Eagle Excavating has been on site stripping topsoil, while also hauling in material to build up the pads for the new shop and salt shed.

In a past release Benoit said they were looking forward to a building “that accommodates our staff and provides safe and usable spaces.”

"This new design incorporates standard building features that didn't exist in 1975, so we are aligning with today's standards with this project,” he noted in a past release.

A cold-storage facility, as well as a salt shed which is a $319,537 carry-forward project from 2021, will be located on the same parcel of land to the west of the new shop.

George Blais, TownandCountryToday.com

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