(File photo/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Planning for 2021

Hope and the Future: Local RM’s anticipate big infrastructure projects

Dec 26, 2020 | 12:00 PM

The COVID-19 pandemic makes 2020 a year many may prefer to forget but there is hope for the future. paNOW decided to make that the focus of our series of end-of-year stories.

The Rural Muncipalities (RM) of Prince Albert and Buckland both have a lot to look forward to in 2021 in the form of some key infrastructure projects. Highlights for the RM of Buckland in 2021 include a new furniture manufacturing facility (PIVOT) south of the pulp mill, as well as a new distillery off Highway 2 north. A forestry manufacturing production facility that could employ upwards of 750 people in the area, was also announced during the fall election campaign.

“I think it’s great news for being on the north side of the river,” Reeve Don Fyrk said.

When asked why he thought the RM was seeing so much interest, Fyrk replied he believed the reason was the RM’s low taxes. He added even he was surprised how well the RM performed in 2020 in terms of new businesses, given concerns around COVID-19.

The other big news for the RM of Buckland could be the potential construction of two bridges, one of course replacing the current Buckland bridge. Construction was scheduled for the summer and the total cost of the project was projected around $1.5 million. Just about $485,000 was covered by the province, under its Municipal Economic Enhancement Program (MEEP).

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“I’m hoping to get another bridge done on the Gobeil road,” Fyrk said.

Meanwhile Eric Schmalz, Reeve for the RM of Prince Albert, said he is also looking forward to a big replacement project – a new mechanical shop and office for the RM south of the city.

“We’ve been running with very tight quarters, both in the office and in the maintenance shop. In the maintenance shop we dont have room to park all our equipment indoors,” Schmalz said, adding it’s much easier on the road maintenance vehicles, in terms of getting started, when they can be kept inside a climate controlled environment.

In accordance with the provincial grant ($511,000) the RM received for the project, there is a time constraint and so the construction must be completed by March, 2022.

“Of course our summers are when the prime construction times are done so we need to get this done in the summer. So we need to have a jump on it,” Schmalz said.

The RM has also been collaborating on a new commercial-industrial development in the same area of the maintenance shop near the junction of Highways 2 and 11. Land has been offered up for businesses who are looking to move or expand into the RM of Prince Albert.

“We are not putting limitations on anything. We are more than willing to work with any businesses that are willing to expand into the RM. We won’t dismiss anything out of hand,” he said.

Schmalz said the RM is also excited about partnering with the city on some infrastructure projects in the new year, and added the RM wants to make sure the region is developed more fully to be able to attract business and provide good infrastructure, both for residents in the RM as well as the city.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell