Public Works Overview
Housing
We have 63 CMHC Housing units to manage along with 20 apartments and 5 other Band rental units. By year end of March/2008, arrears total to amount of $234,027.87, this is on housing, renovations and housing contributions only. In total there are 400 houses on M’Chigeeng First Nation.
Equipment Rental
The department pays rent on all of the vehicles they use which builds up a equipment fund to purchase new vehicles/equipment when needed. To date, M’Chigeeng owns 18 vehicles. We also charge for snowplowing which also goes into this fund.
Streetlights
We have a total of 121 streetlights within our community to be maintained.
Emergency Assistance
We have assisted 57 clients, most of them were Elders. This budget is mostly used for emergency situations. We put aside $50,000.00 every year but by fiscal year-end, the actual expenses exceed the revenue, thereby incurring a deficit, which is recovered from the next year’s fiscal budget.
Elders Fund
We have assisted 23 elders under this program. We use $50,000.00 every year to assist elders only. There are criteria that we follow to ensure the fund lasts throughout the year.
Roads
We have a total of 23.5 kilometers of roads to maintain. The majority of the roads are surface treated with only 2.5 kilometers of gravel roads.
Water/Wastewater:
We maintain a Water Treatment Plant, Water Tower, Booster Station and 3 PRV stations to transport water to 334 homes in the Village and Lakeview area. We have a water delivery truck which serves 66 homes in the rural area. We also have 2 lagoon systems to maintain, the one in Lakeview has 4 cells. It has a back-up generator system if there is a power failure. The village system also has a back-up generator for power.
Volunteer Fire Department:
We have a total of 13 volunteers for the Fire Department.
Snow Removal
M’Chigeeng First Nation’s objective is to provide safe and passable road conditions at all times. The Public Works Department is expected to ensure all roads are properly safe and routinely maintained and serviced in all weather conditions. The department’s main priority is to ensure that these routes are clear for police, fire, ambulance services and community band members. The emergency services rely on clear roads to respond quickly to emergencies.
We are expected to use detailed weather reports and 24-hour patrols to respond quickly to winter conditions. Following a snow storm, we move immediately into snow clean-up. During the winter months, from November to April, we are continuously checking roads and driveway/parking lot conditions, as well as monitoring weather reports.
Once 5 cm of snow has fallen and is continuing to snow, plows are expected to be sent out to clear these roads. During the winter seasons, staff is expected to be on-call, flexible and available as these are deemed essential services.
Snowplowing priority:
- All main roads
- Priority driveways (5) – on snowplowing list
- Schools
- Band buildings
- Other Elder driveways (46)
Road Construction
Last year’s road construction consists of resurfacing Spring Bay Rd., Hill St. and part of Bebonang Rd. Also done was the parking lot in front of the Arena/Complex with double surface treatment. This project was completed at the end of August.
