By Brent Bosker

SGI should pay up for 14th St. repair: Mayor

Jan 17, 2013 | 7:43 AM

The bill from a New Year’s morning crash in downtown has yet to be added up, but Mayor Greg Dionne says the city will do everything in its power to shield tax payers from the repair costs.

“If we can file a claim for anyone’s insurance that has damaged city property — whether it’s a water meter, a sign a bench we’re going to do that. Because at the end of the day that cost, really in my heart, should not be burdened by the taxpayer,” said Dionne referring to the four days of repair work at 14th Street East and Central Avenue caused by the collision.

A vehicle slammed into a light standard and hydrant at that location causing water to gush into the streets and damage to the exterior of the SaskPower building. The driver was charged with driving without due care and issued a 24-hour driving suspension.

The damage appeared to be all on the surface, but the city soon learned the collision had damaged the connecting piping beneath the sidewalk.

Councillors and administration discussed the unforeseen expense during a strategic planning meeting looking at water utility costs Wednesday at City Hall.

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“I just want to make sure we’re just not charging [SGI] for the water meter and the line. That the manpower, the whole cost is sent to SGI,” said Dionne who estimated the final bill could come in around $20,000.

“We want the insurance company to pay because that should not be a liability of the residents of the city.”

Dionne recognized the challenge of recouping the entire amount through insurance so he also requested administration to look into going after the driver for whatever insurance doesn’t cover.

“It’s going to be hard for me to justify to SGI ‘well he hit the hydrant but the line underneath it’s a 100 years old broke.”

So it’s going to be a dispute because as we all know when we file an insurance claim they always want to deduct off the age of whatever we have.”

bbosker@panow.com

Twitter: @brentbosker