Daajing Giids' newly elected council has directed municipal staff and engineering consultants to pause work on the community's proposed wastewater treatment plant while councillors familiarize themselves with the project.
The decision came during council's first regular meeting Monday, Nov. 2, just over three months after the previous council selected Smith Point East as the preferred location for the multimillion-dollar facility.
Chief administrative officer Carla Lutner confirmed Tuesday that council directed Village staff and engineering firm Urban Systems to temporarily suspend work until councillors receive a detailed briefing.
"Last night the new Council asked staff and Urban Systems (our engineering firm) to pause on the Wastewater Treatment Plant work until Council has had a chance to be briefed on the project," Lutner said.
Council has scheduled the briefing for Nov. 10.
The project is among the largest infrastructure undertakings in the Village's history and is subject to a federal order requiring Daajing Giids to have a compliant wastewater treatment system operating by Dec. 31, 2030.
In July, the previous council selected Smith Point East following extensive engineering studies, public consultation and consideration of four potential treatment options.
At the time, Urban Systems estimated construction costs for the preferred location at between $25 million and $39 million, making it the least expensive of the remaining options.
The Village cited lower construction and operating costs, a shorter pipeline route and reduced disruption to existing homes as factors supporting the selection.
The project was expected to move into detailed engineering, environmental assessments, permitting and land tenure work, along with continued consultation and efforts to secure additional funding.
Lutner did not indicate whether the temporary pause would affect the overall project schedule or whether council intends to revisit the preferred site selection.
Separately, the Village has confirmed that a federal enforcement warning issued in September over late wastewater monitoring reports stemmed from technical problems accessing an online reporting portal.
Lutner said staff have since resolved the reporting issue and submissions are now on schedule.
"We aren't expecting any further enforcement action and reports are on schedule now," she said.
The federal warning related to overdue monitoring reports from 2025 and is separate from the requirement to construct a compliant treatment facility.
The new council, led by Mayor Kris Olsen, is scheduled to receive its wastewater treatment plant briefing Nov. 10. The Village has not confirmed when project work is expected to resume.