Greenwood City Administrator Robin Dalziel told council at their Jan. 14 meeting they should expect projects covered by Towns for Tomorrow and General Strategic Priorities Fund (GSPF) grants to come in over budget by some $28,000 to $30,000.Both grants were announced in 2011. The Towns for Tomorrow grant was for $519,250, or 100 per cent of actual eligible costs of the Water Distribution Leak Reduction Project. For the past few years city crews have been kept busy, often at overtime rates, repairing breaks in the aging waterlines.The GSPF grant ($394,400) was for 80 per cent funding for a well replacement/rehabilitation project.He explained that the overruns were caused by a combination of errors made during planning and by the inclusion of a much-needed creek crossing in the budget.Soil stability along Dundee Street was one problem. The trench had to be made wider at the top so the sloped sides would meet WorkSafe BC standards.Because the engineers were working with dated drawings the depth of some of the waterlines was unknown. Unfortunately, along the same stretch of Dundee, the old pipe and tie-ins to adjoining properties was buried deeper than originally thought. Again, because of soil stability this required the trench be made even deeper and consequently wider.Another error occurred along Marguerite where the water line was found to be closer to the pavement than expected. Consequently a large amount of pavement overburden had to be removed and the decision was made to repave the entire section of roadway.The unwelcome news of a project running over budget doesn’t necessarily mean an increase in local taxes however as water infrastructure can be covered by Gas Tax Fund revenue which local governments receive each year. Mayor Nipper Kettle said that last year the city received around $150,000.“It is going to be funded through that avenue,” said Dalziel. “So whether it is a small amount or a large amount it is not like we are going to have to raise taxes to make up the shortfall.”He said the GSPF grant has repaired numerous leaks in the city water system and the city should see significant savings in electricity costs for the water system pumps.City Works Foreman Randy Smith said that the Louisa Street Creek Crossing was also added to this phase of infrastructure upgrades at a cost of $28,000. “If they hadn’t added that to the budget they would have come in under cost estimates.” But given past difficulties with the crossing Smith says he is very relieved to have the job done.

Grand Forks Gazette