Cold Lake city council has taken a “wait and see” approach when it comes to funding on the Baywood Road project. The M.D of Bonnyville had previously requested the city fund some of the $3.7 million necessary to complete work on the road, used as access to some M.D subdivisions and also a way to Kinosoo Ridge Ski Resort.
Mayor Craig Copeland says the province’s decision on the ID-349 agreement has made things tight budget wise.
“People have to understand that the city of Cold Lake was severely impacted by the provinces decision (on ID-349). We took a $10 million haircut on our capital, so we’ve had to say no to a few projects.”
Copeland says that the issue isn’t “no”, but rather “not right now”.
“We have full intentions that in 2019 the province will restore the funding of ID-349 back to Cold Lake, or sooner. We anticipate the money coming back. We’ll just defer this project, and see what happens in 2019.”
The original letter of request from the M.D to the city came in February, 2018. Construction on the road was originally planned to be finished this summer.