9°c A few clouds
8°c Light rain
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
City rules out private water-sewer partner
Will share office to avoid communications errors
The City of Winnipeg has trashed the most controversial aspect of its plan to create a new water, sewer and garbage utility - the possibility a private engineering firm could own part of a subsidiary of the new arm's-length corporation.
The city is replacing its water and waste department with a new city-owned entity responsible for water and sewage treatment, garbage and recycling collection and generating green power.
Utility possibility
What's the issue: Mayor Sam Katz says there will be no private ownership of any aspect of Winnipeg's new water, sewer and solid-waste utility. The original business plan called for a private engineering firm to own up to 49 per cent of a subsidiary of the new corporation. That controversial and confusing plan is no longer on the table, the mayor says.
What happens next: The province must enact legislation to create the utility. The city must also go public with its choice of three private engineering firms placed on a shortlist to help conduct $615 million worth of sewage-treatment upgrades.
Related Items
City council approved the plan last July despite confusion about the role a private engineering firm will play in making $615 million worth of upgrades to the city's three sewage-treatment plants.
The utility's original business plan called for a "strategic partner" to own up to 49 per cent of a subsidiary of the new corporation.
Winnipeg Mayor Sam Katz now says there will be no such partner and a private engineering firm will not own any aspect of the new utility.
"We're not looking at a strategic partner. We're looking for expertise," Katz said in an interview on Wednesday.
The plan will still see a private engineering group share offices with city utility staff to avoid the sort of communication problems that contributed to design errors and cost overruns at the West End Water Pollution Control Centre three years ago.
"The goal is quite simple: To obviously have fewer errors and not repeat what happened last time," said Katz, adding the partnership will ensure the private firm is held accountable for any overruns.
In 2009, the city put out a call for engineering firms interested in the job. The Canadian wings of three multinational corporations wound up on a shortlist: Veolia, Black & Veatch and CH2M Hill.
Nothing like this has ever been done before in Canada, a spokesman for CH2M Hill Canada said in an interview last fall.
"By working much more closely with the owner, you avoid changes and misunderstandings," said John Herbert, a senior program manager with the Vancouver-based firm.
This model has proven successful on large construction projects in the U.K., where the complexity of the job requires designers, builders and owners to be in the same room, he said.
Herbert said the Canadian wing of CH2M Hill was founded in Winnipeg almost a century ago and remains employee-owned. It has no interest in acquiring any aspect of Winnipeg's water-and-waste infrastructure, he said.
Having a private company design or build sewage-treatment plants is not politically controversial. But mayoral candidate Judy Wasylycia-Leis said she is concerned about private financing and private management of city facilities.
"What I've heard for the past couple of months is public control of city services is important," said Wasylycia-Leis, noting is not necessarily opposed to the creation of the new utility.
"I'm waiting with baited breath for the province's response to the proposed model," she said.
The city and province are still trying to work out the legislation required to create the utility, spokeswomen for both levels of government say. The legislation is expected soon because the city is anxious to conduct repairs before costs escalate further.
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 6, 2010 B2
More Local
- Back to Top
- Return to Local
Poll
Proudly brought to you by:
Most Popular Local
- Thieves strip $20K worth of copper wiring from gravel pit
- Cyclist killed on Higgins Avenue was passionate mentor, volunteer
- Pukatawagan RCMP looking for two dangerous suspects
- WWE's Jericho breaks code in Brazil
- Ex-Bomber sued for $4.8M
- Gang members get lengthy sentences for jailhouse beating
- Every year 4,000 children reported missing in Manitoba
- Ex-Hydro boss slams closure
- Man hit before fatal blow, friend testifies
- Union Station to receive $6.5-million makeover
- Bear pulls camper from outhouse, before being shot
- Cyclist killed in collision on Higgins identified
- Cyclist killed on Higgins Avenue was passionate mentor, volunteer
- A SHED is not enough
- Football star's fatal punch probed at manslaughter trail
- Cyclist killed in Higgins Avenue crash
- Sex-scandal inquiry to be heard in city
- Winnipeg man recovering after campground bear attack
- Severe storm warning issued
- Man hit before fatal blow, friend testifies
- Boozy night out, lying cost city man big bucks
- Neighbours shaken by two deaths
- Teen hit by vehicle on Pembina
- Rapid buses rattling homes
- Severe storm warning issued
- Has Gimli gone to pot?
- Bear pulls camper from outhouse, before being shot
- Cyclist killed in collision on Higgins identified
- Triple whammy hits homes
- Cyclist killed on Higgins Avenue was passionate mentor, volunteer
- Pukatawagan RCMP looking for two dangerous suspects
- Ex-Hydro boss slams closure
- His life made our world a better place
- Cyclist killed on Higgins Avenue was passionate mentor, volunteer
- At 100, she's still winning friends and winning at bridge
- Band, council defy feds on aid
- Hydro headquarters named Canada's greenest office tower
- Katz ponders sanity of new rules
- Ex-Bomber sued for $4.8M
- Prairies top preventable deaths list
- Bear pulls camper from outhouse, before being shot
- Pooch paradise, where champion beagles run free
- His life made our world a better place
- Winnipeg man recovering after campground bear attack
- Scientists lash Harper government for pulling plug on Experimental Lakes Area
- He was enjoying view, bear came out of blue
- Diplomat saved thousands from Hitler
- Weeding out the chemicals
- U of W rejects copyright deal as 'money grab'
- Chemicals not par for the course
- Bear pulls camper from outhouse, before being shot
- Has Gimli gone to pot?
- Pooch paradise, where champion beagles run free
- His life made our world a better place
- Scientists lash Harper government for pulling plug on Experimental Lakes Area
- RRC's old gem a beauty
- Attack on hockey ref nets jail time
- Our Village is as good as it gets
- Judge faces second complaint
- Winnipeg man recovering after campground bear attack
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010; View the changes. New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.