INNISFAIL – Work is well underway to develop land on Innisfail's west side for much-needed housing and a new commercial area with completion of deep service infrastructure development expected this fall.
Following a short delay, the Town of Innisfail's council awarded the infrastructure construction contract for the new Napoleon Lake South land development project last month for the completion of deep services (water, wastewater, storm), grading, road base, curbs and sidewalks.
During a special meeting on June 2, a motion was unanimously passed to award a $2,728,464.91 contract to Sylvan Lake-based Urban Dirtworks Inc., monies that will come from the town’s Land Acquisition Reserve.
The planned 12-acre development is on a vacant town-owned field south of Napoleon Lake and located near the intersection of 42nd Street and Highway 54.
The westside town-driven Napoleon Lake South project, which is considered essential towards easing the current affordable housing shortfall, is earmarked to have 62 residential lots, an apartment site, and buildings on a 1.62-acre parcel of commercial land.
“I honestly think this is a good news story as to the pricing of it, as well as just communicating that to our citizens,” said Coun. Jason Heistad at the time the infrastructure contract was awarded. “This is a really good bid for our community and pricing.”
The infrastructure construction contract was initially brought before council at a previous special council meeting on May 21 but before any discussion was held, a motion to go in-camera was approved.
When council members completed their brief closed-door discussion with Todd Becker, the town’s chief administration officer, the public meeting was immediately adjourned.
After the meeting Becker told the Albertan the Sylvan Lake company was still the intended contractor for the project.
“Urban is aware they are the leading proponents, so there's no issue with securing them as the contractor,” said Becker last month. “It's just one final piece administration has to pull together to move ahead to finalize a contract.”
With that final piece resolved, Steven Kennedy, director of operations for the Town of Innisfail, brought the issue back to council on June 2.
Council was told five tender submissions were received for the infrastructure construction contract that ranged in pricing from $4,884,571.56 to Urban Dirtworks’ $2,728,464.90.
“A tender evaluation was completed, and no unbalanced items were identified. It is recommended that Urban Dirtworks be awarded the contract,” said Kennedy through his report to council.
He told council the total project cost is anticipated to be $3,133,907.40, which includes $132,596 for testing and engineering and a 10 per cent contingency of $272,846.50.
Before the contract award delay, Kennedy had hoped for construction to begin in later May.
He told council on June 2 he hoped construction would commence later in the week, depending on Urban Dirtworks’ “availability.
It was also hoped by the town that construction would be completed in September.
Kennedy told council on June 2 that shallow utility installation will be brought forward to council in the coming weeks.
He said landscaping, trail construction, and paving will be completed in 2026 and that it was not reflected in this tender amount.
Council was reminded the project of $4,500,000 was approved in the 2025 Capital Budget, with current total project costs now estimated to be $4,830,619, including additional upgrades required at Highway 54 and 42 Street, along with a 15 per cent contingency.
Kennedy told council revenue and expense projections indicate the project can be self-funded with cash flow from the Land Acquisition Reserve to cover initial development costs.
