The RM of Armstrong is hoping changes to the way the province accepts funding applications will help them start a major landfill project. The redevelopment of the municipality's only landfill in Meleb has been in Council's mind for quite some time, as the current pit begins to fill up. About two weeks ago the province announced a single-window intake period for all infrastructure projects, giving municipalities until August 26th to submit their applications for funding. Armstrong Reeve Jack Cruise says they've put forward their application for the landfill reconstruction, in hopes of starting to move forward with that project.

The cost of the project isn't known at this time as the final engineering report has yet to come to Council. Cruise also notes they have yet to identify how to best remedy the situation, but notes regardless of their methods the work will likely cost between $100,000 and $150,000.

"We either need to redevelop the site and make our mound higher and keep going up with it. Or else we need to close that pit and build a whole new one and develop it."

Cruise says creating a new pit isn't out of the question, as the RM owns about a quarter section of land to for the landfill space. The Meleb site is the only landfill within Armstrong, with other locations designated as transfer stations. The need to redevelop the waste disposal grounds isn't coming as a surprise for the RM, as Cruise notes they've been putting money into a reserve for a few years to cover the cost of the upcoming work.

While the project wasn't a surprise, the deadline for infrastructure funding applications came quickly. With the province's announcement on August 4th, the deadline for the intake was set for August 26th. Cruise notes because of the timeframe, the application for the Meleb Landfill was the only one they were able to put forward.

"All of a sudden we got notified of this and we had to get our application in by August 26th. This was the only project we have that we're kind of ready to go with. It will give us a chance to start making plans for the future and see what other road, drain or community projects can be ready for last year."

Overall Cruise says he's in favour of the changes the province has made and hopes they can acquire some funding for the landfill project. Cruise says they're unsure at this time if they'll also be applying for federal funding.