YELLOWKNIFE - More than $12 million will go towards capital projects in the city this year. Here's a look at some highlights that Yellowknifers will soon see around the city.
Library makeover
Renovations will continue on the Yellowknife Public Library, with a projected $90,000 going towards raising the ceiling and installing dropped fluorescent lighting as well as other electrical work.
Paid, on-call firefighters will get new equipment this year. Current protective gear is in poor repair and some doesn't meet National Fire Protection Association standards, according to budget documents. - NNSL file photo |
Council also voted Dec. 17 to renovate the washrooms two years earlier than budgeted at an estimated cost of $65,000.
The interior of the 17-year-old library has never been changed, though the amount of materials loaned increased 12 per cent from 2004 to 2006.
City garage to be brought up to fire code
The city garage will receive $85,000 worth of fire code improvements this year, with another $250,000 going towards replacing the roof and insulation.
The nearly 2,000-square-metre building houses most of the city's $14-million fleet but currently lacks fire retardant paint, a sprinkler system and proper storage facilities for hazardous paints.
Playground for Demelt subdivision
Playground equipment will go in at the Demelt subdivision with a territorial government grant covering the $40,000 cost.
The site was levelled, landscaped and planted with grass and trees in 2007 and a small roadway was installed.
Demelt Park will be the only city-owned playground in the area.
Playground equipment at School Draw Park will also get replaced, with grant money covering the $30,000 cost. The Parker Park tot area and Lamoureux Neighbourhood Park playground are slated for replacement in 2009 and 2010, respectively.
Ground to break at Somba K'e Civic Plaza
The city expects to finish the plaza on time despite getting a late start on the first phase of development.
Roads, parking, earth moving and building a change room and maintenance shop are planned for 2008, costing a projected $957,000.
More parking and landscaping are planned for 2009, along with upgrades to the playground, developing trails and a day-use area, and building a Gerry Murphy arena commemorative arch and ampitheatre.
New wheels for Yellowknife
The city plans to spend $1.2 million replacing some of its 116 heavy-duty and mobile equipment, many of which have outlived their anticipated lifespans and don't follow the city's fleet management practices.
Among the equipment slotted for replacement are a skid steer loader, an ambulance, a solid waste baler and a large vehicle host.
Buying a new truck for recycling pick-up and an asphalt crack sealer are also planned.
Fixing potholes
More than $5.5 million will go towards paving and road repairs over the next three years, with 44th, 49 th and 50th Streets getting reconstructed in 2008.
While pavement generally lasts 20 to 25 years, most of the roads in downtown Yellowknife are more than 30 years old and "in poor condition," according to the 2008 budget.
Old Airport Road, Drybones Drive and Kam Lake Road are scheduled for upgrades in 2009.
Garbage dump to get a facelift
The landfill will get more than $600,000 for a variety of projects including getting approval for expanding the nearly full dump, site restoration, mechanical upgrades and disposing of almost 600 45-gallon drums that contain unknown liquids.
Better fire control measures and implementing recommendations from a wildlife study are included in the improvements along with a three-cell salvage system to better control public access to the site.
Cleaner, greener energy on its way
Almost $400,000 annually is earmarked in the city budget until 2010 for energy efficiency projects.
In 2008, the Ruth Inch Memorial Pool will have a $35,000 solar hot water system installed, which could save the city as much as $10,000 a year. A $200,000 heat recovery system at the Multiplex is on the books along with a ventilation system for the fire hall and $75,000 to implement recommendations from a 2007 energy audit.
New equipment in the books for firefighters
Nearly $75,000 has been allocated to replace and repair equipment and facilities at the fire department.
About $20,000 of that amount will go to getting an explosion protective chamber for refilling high pressure air cylinders, which is standard under National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards.
The apparatus doors at the fire hall will be replaced, as will some firefighting gear for paid, on-call firefighters that is currently in poor repair or doesn't meet NFPA standards.
