SASKATOON – Some Nutana property owners are frustrated with the City of Saskatoon after officials held a media briefing on slope failure repairs Wednesday. During the briefing, the city’s chief engineer Mike Gutek said the slope failure is mainly a private property issue.
Nutana homeowner Mark Lees disagrees.
“I just want to be clear. We’re not asking for money from the city, what we’re asking the city to do is to fix their property,” explained Lees.
Lees said he and his neighbours are asking for the city to fix Cherry Lane, just off Saskatchewan Crescent.
“So then all the property owners can then go in, at their significant expense, and remediate their properties,” said Lees.
During Wednesday’s briefing, Gutek said the lane isn’t needed for “any public purpose”.
“Every property has access from the right of way that’s on the streets. There are no utilities except the overhead electrical utilities,” stated Gutek.
READ MORE: Nutana slope failure fix will cost millions
But Lees said the lane has shifted onto private property.
“So we’re asking the city, ‘do you mind picking up your lane, getting it off our property, and putting it back together?’,” said Lees.
Lees said the lane would also be needed for machines to access the damaged areas.
“We can’t get anybody to get into the back. There’s no back lane for people to take their equipment in and actually fix things,” he said.
The slope has been shifting by about a metre a year since June 2012. It affects homes in the 200 and 300 blocks of Saskatchewan Crescent and 11th Street East.
The city’s executive committee will discuss the issue Feb.11.
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