St. Paul residents have until noon on July 24, 2026, to weigh in on a plan to borrow $2,282,000 for critical upgrades to the town’s raw water system. The borrowing bylaw, known as Bylaw 2026-04, would fund rehabilitation work at the water reservoir and the Lac St. Cyr intake, which has supplied St. Paul since 1951.
The total project cost has climbed from $3.2 million to $4.3 million, but $2 million in grants—including $800,000 from the provincial Water for Life program—means the town needs to cover the remainder through a debenture. The loan would be repaid over up to 20 years, with interest not exceeding 8 percent.
Written comments must be submitted through the Town of St. Paul’s online form before the deadline. Late submissions won’t make it into the council agenda for July 27. Unless at least 10 percent of electors sign a petition demanding a public vote, council can pass the bylaw after the comment period closes.
Mayor Glenn Andersen and Chief Administrative Officer Steven Jeffery would need to sign the bylaw for it to take effect. The current water system relies on Lac St. Cyr, which has required supplemental pumping from the North Saskatchewan River since 1978 due to dropping water levels.
Residents with questions can contact CFO Mitchel Bachelet at 780-645-1761. For more on water rates, which already rose in 2025, visit the town’s website.
