Saskatoon seeks solutions as slope remains unstable

As a section of the river bank slope in Nutana remains unstable, the City of Saskatoon is taking on a bigger role to find solutions.

The city administration is presenting a report to councilon Wednesday talkingabout the slope, between 11th Street East and Saskatchewan Crescent East, that continues to move 3.5 centimetres per day.

The report asks for councilapproval of a sole-source contract forengineering services. The services would include geotechnical instrumentation, monitoring, investigation and recommendation of remedial options for the slope failure.

"As the slope failure began to increase we determined that it needs to be a collective effort," Rob Frank, Saskatoon's strategic services manager said Wednesday. "You can't do a single solution on any of these properties, so we're collecting enough data over the next 90 days so that we can come up with some potential solutions."

Asked to evacuate area

Last week, eight families were asked by the city to voluntarily leave their homes, out of safety concerns. The families remain in their homes, but the city continues to recommend they evacuate.

Some of the residents told CBC News last week they were waiting for more information before they made a decision on leaving.

The city is monitoring private property but has suggestedownersget their own engineering advice.

An information meeting for residents and owners was held Tuesday night. Cameron Stewart lives on 11th street and said the meeting was tense.

"People were venting, a lot of people vented,"Stewart said."They didn't want to listen particularly but they wanted to vent against the city."

He said residents are scared and want to know what is going on.

"I am a little worried about our property but you still have got to listen."