An excavator works Ellis Creek while a city worker cuts a problem tree down on the opposite bank earlier this month. The city needs to spend $400,000 on a master plan and another $250,000 to clean up debris left in the creek after the above work was done earlier this year, council found out yesterday, May 22, 2018.

(STEVE ARSTAD / iNFOnews.ca)

PENTICTON - It isn’t something Penticton city council is happy about spending money on, but agreed it is the prudent thing to do.

City Engineer Ian Chapman presented the bad news to council yesterday, May 23, in the form of a request for an additional $745,000 to deal with several issues created by last year's spring flooding and this year's high water and wet weather.

Chapman said the city needed to spend $45,000 for analysis and design changes to deal with Carmi Road drainage issues brought to light following a high rainfall event on April 7 of this year.

This year’s spring runoff also caused drainage problems on private property near Naramata Road below Campbell Mountain that Chapman said required $50,000 in order to analyze options and design for drainage improvements.

By far the biggest ticket item in Chapman’s request to council was the $400,000 needed to complete a master plan and detailed design improvements for Ellis Creek, in addition to another $250,000 for design and construction to clear debris that has collected from this year’s freshet at culverts and under bridges on the creek.

The master plan is necessary in order for the city to fully understand what is required and what the potential issues are for flood control along the creek’s entire length through the city.

Chapman said flood damage on Ellis Creek began in 2017 with the deposition of debris and sediment at bridges and culverts, resulting in emergency work in the past few weeks to keep the creek flowing without blockages. An additional $250,000 worth of work would need to be done to clear re-accumulated material deposited since then, most likely to be done during this year’s fish window on the creek.

Cost sharing options are also available with the province and the regional district for construction and engineering costs for the Campbell Mountain and Carmi Road projects, Chapman said.

“I’m understanding now why our predecessors concrete lined the creek,” Coun. Andre Martin said wryly.

Coun. Max Picton said he wasn’t in favour of spending money this way, but saw no way out.

Coun. Judy Sentes said predictions of the last two springs being ‘the new normal’ frightened her.

“To wait and see what’s going to happen puts us more in jeopardy. If we wait until after the fact, reimbursement becomes more complicated. It’s a lot of money but the community is at risk,” she said.

Council agreed unanimously to approve the spending.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad or call 250-488-3065 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. 

News from © iNFOnews, 2018