A lot of money was sunk into fighting flooding in Lumby.
A report indicates that total emergency response expenses from this spring’s flooding is about $2.6 million, with about $2.2 million being covered by the provincial government.
“The whole bill would have bankrupted our community,” said Mayor Kevin Acton.
However, the village could be left responsible for 15 to 17 per cent of the total expected cost, or $385,000 to $435,000.
With a limited tax base, the village is considering options to cover those costs and it may come from federal gas tax revenue, which had been targeted for infrastructure.
“We won’t be doing some sidewalks and stairs,” said Acton.
On top of all of this, three bridges along the salmon trail may also have to be replaced because of high water damage.
Among the flood-related expenses covered so far are the removal and disposal of tens of thousands of sandbags, further debris removal and additional street sweeping, restoration of the Twin Creek Hotel parking space where debris has been piled and stored and refilling a temporary creek diversion channel that had been dug to relieve pressure in certain areas.
“Lumby’s 2017 flood response and recovery efforts have been unprecedented in terms of the resources deployed,” said Jeremy Sundin, chief financial officer, in the report.
“The three-week long official state of local emergency may also be a first in Lumby’s history.”