By Sheri Regnier, Trail Times
Montrose residents caught a break this year, as in reimbursement not water main.
Huge costs were incurred on the village when a break in the water lines on 9th Avenue lead to a $299,000 repair bill in 2012 "I can confirm that an insurance check for $289,000 will be issued to the village," said Kevin Chartres, chief administrative officer at Monday night council.
He said he would have the cheque in hand this week, but required council's consent to deposit the money into a specific coffer.
He requested council to pass a motion to deposit the reimbursed amount back into the water reserve funds, and his recommendation was carried unanimously.
"It is important for residents to know where the money is going," said Mayor Joe Danchuk.
"Residents need to be aware that the money is going right back where we took it from," he explained.
On May 4 2012, the village experienced a failure in the valve chamber of a surge tank near the top of the Montrose cut-off, explained Chartres.
When the water line broke, roughly 1000 cubic metres of water caused a massive event, which washed 200 metres of supply main down the bank from Montrose, with an estimated loss of 10,000 cubic metres of material, he said.
Repairs were completed in June and included 200 metres of new supply pipe and valves; granular fill; new electrical service, curbing and access hatch; and concrete pipe anchor blocks.
During the repair period, council enacted an agreement with the Beaver Falls Waterworks District to supply Montrose with water interim.
During the meeting, Coun. Mary Gay thanked Chartres for his perseverance in reclaiming the money for the village.
"We really appreciate you pressing the point and getting our insurance to pay back the money," she said. "We know it took a lot of work."