The City of Winnipeg is paying an unknown group $18,000 for a copy of a report prepared by private investigators who followed building inspectors over several days.

The private investigators, hired by the secretive, unknown group, allege civil servants at the property and planning department conducted personal business during work hours — including snowblowing a private drive, shopping at Costco and taking lunch breaks.

None of the claims have been independently verified by CBC. It's unclear, for example, whether the employees were working flex- or part-time hours.

The allegations, widely reported in media, prompted the city to start an internal investigation into time theft at the property and planning department.

A spokesperson for the City of Winnipeg said in a statement Thursday the city is consulting its legal services department and is in the process of paying the private group.

"There was a cost for obtaining the documents and the city will be paying the firm about $18,000," wrote Kalen Qually.

"While this is a unique situation, it is not uncommon for an organization to rely on external reports or services to assist in an internal investigation."

Coun. Janice Lukes (Waverley West) asked Mayor Brian Bowman during Thursday's city council meeting whether he had any knowledge of the city receiving the report. He did not respond to her question.

Later, Bowman said he had no knowledge of the city receiving the report; however, he said he'd be glad if they did.

"I would welcome getting any information that could help the City of Winnipeg better investigate the allegations that have been made through the media. We want to make sure we get to the bottom of the allegations and we hold people and processes accountable," Bowman said.

Lukes was also pleased the internal investigation will have access to the same materials provided to media, which include DVD footage. She was also pleased the private group got reimbursed for the costs of the investigation.

"There's real problems in property, planning and development. I deal with development literally every day because of Waverley West. Lots of problems. Let's get to the bottom of it," she said.

'A relatively unique situation'

In an email sent to mayor and council Thursday evening, the city's chief corporate services officer, Michael Jack, said city lawyers have received the evidence, and the materials will be shared with the city when the final payment is made to the anonymous group Friday.

Jack's email, obtained by CBC News, goes on to say the city had reached out to the private investigator, looking to get copies of the material to help in its internal investigations the day after the allegations surfaced in the media.

According to the email, the private investigator's clients initially refused to share the materials.

But after a back-and-forth — which included a request to be paid without handing over the evidence — the client or clients came back to the city a few days ago with an offer to provide the information in exchange for money.

"While this was a relatively unique situation, after internal discussion we concluded this would be an appropriate expenditure," Jack said in the email.

"Had we required the services of a private investigator in the course of an HR investigation (which is required from time to time), the city would bear that cost."

Jack told mayor and council the city will make reviewing the material "a top priority."

"It may present new potential avenues of required investigation; we can't possibly know until we review it all," he wrote.

"We are hopeful this new material will greatly assist us in bringing this investigation to a conclusion, and moving on with next steps."

The city of Winnipeg expects its internal investigation to take several weeks.

Once it is completed, the city has to notify city council and update the councillors on any results — so long as they do not breach city employee confidentiality.