With a very tight budget that already has millions of dollars in borrowing to pay for infrastructure work, news that fixing the collapsed storm sewer on First Avenue Southeast

will cost $600,000, was not well received by City Council Monday night.

Knowing there is little option other than fixing the sewer line, councillors decided to take the funds from the account normally used for repaving of roads. Councillor Brian Swanson used the report as a chance to hammer home the fact that they need to be focused with their finances.

"Something else has to be sacrificed and I'm sure most people in Moose Jaw realize that sacrificing road repair is a short term solution." said Swanson. "We have to be very focused on doing the basics for this city that have been neglected; the extras, we just don't have the money for."

That area of the city has seen a tremendous amount of construction over the last three years and City Engineer Josh Mickleborough hopes they'll be able to wrap things up soon.

"The sewer trunk that services South Hill is being relined underneath there, we've got the East Feeder complete in there and so really the only thing left in that stretch is the storm (sewer) and then you put the pavement on top and hopefully, you're good for a number of years."

Council has approved the work, but so far there has been no indication on when the construction will take place. For the foreseeable future, there will continue to be barriers in place due to the shifted pavement and then as the repairs are completed.