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Vol. 16, No. 25, Wednesday, May 19, 2021 www.LamontLeader.com
Lamont road woes ongoing, getting worse - no help from Alberta Environment corner, it can do so safeBY JOHN MATHER ly.” Lamont County roads McDonald said he was and drainage are trying to lower some “absolutely terrible.” water levels by pumping That’s how Public it and using it in other Works Manager David areas for dust control, but McDonald started out his it didn’t make much difroads report to County ference in drying things Council May 11. out.” “And they haven’t Warawa said some of changed much,” he conthe problems were caused tinued. “We can’t rebuild by the frost being very anything until we get the late coming out of the water away from the ground this year. And he roads, and rushing in and admitted the trucks using trying to pack on roads the roads and farm equipthat are covered by water ment are getting to be or not having any solid huge. base doesn't do a good “These roads were job. And we’re having Rising water tables in some parts of Lamont County have overwhelmed some of the rural roads, creating trouble with the haul issues for the Public Works department as it tries to maintain them. The water standing in ditches near cor- made in the 40s,” he said. routes and heavy farm ners undermines the base of the road making it susceptible to blowouts and destruction as heavy equipment Diduck agreed saying the size of the equipment is equipment.” travels over them. “unreal these days.” He blamed Alberta “We’re trying to do something with through the road in one area had McDoanld said his department was Environment for some of the problems. trying to do whatever they could to “It’s like I’m getting no help from Environment,” he said. He further forced it to be shut down. Reeve David Diduck said that area keep roads open. Alberta Environment.” he said. “It’s wants to coordinate the removal of “They (environment) won’t let us like they know they have very confus- beaver dams with the Agriculture was between Range Roads 180 and 181 pump water but we have two to three ing legislation and no one there wants Services Department so if Public Works along Township Road 572. “A couple of oil tankers got stuck in inches over the road. We are putting has to replace a culvert, the water does to make a decision.” rock down just to try and keep the road He had sent the council an email move, rather than still having a beaver the middle of the road.” Councillor Roy Anaka said it was somewhat passable.” showing a road Public Works had dam holding it back upstream. Councillor Daniel Warawa said he time to bring out some scales and start McDonald then asked if they could reconstructed using cloth mesh and approach Alberta Environment at a packed gravel and within a week it had been getting many complaints going after truckers. “We have to go after their bond,” he higher level and point out that “what was torn up and barely usable. There about the roads. He added one road little infrastructure we have is being are a large number of secondary, town- had been graded before the day of rain said. “We have to try and see if you’re at May 8 and the road “turned to soup.” destroyed.” ship and range roads in the county that He added he knew it was no one’s fault 75 percent or are you running 100 perChief Administrative Officer are closed. Stephen Hill said he would ask for a McDonald said he had to stop work and that there were boils and blowouts cent load weights.” McDonald said they had to deter- meeting with Alberta Environment to on an intersection in Division 2, across the County. mine how to approach people who have that discussion and see what He wondered about anhydrous because of someone complaining from have a problem, while other neigh- could be done to make some progress trucks driving to farm fields using the downstream. He said environment bours have created other problems that with the field agents. roads and “destroying them.” shut it down because legislation preprevent a solution. “They could just be carrying full Diduck said they would be having a vents the drainage of a swamp area. Warawa said he couldn’t understand teleconference with MLA Jackie Other roads, he said, Public Works loads, rather than adhering to the why they would be stopped from Armstrong Homeniuk and he would staff try to fix. They pump the water weight restrictions. McDonald agreed saying they have pumping water to grass areas. put the issues on the agenda, since the out to make repairs but then com“That’s not cultivated land, it’s a County couldn’t get anywhere with the plaints are received from farmers been unable to catch them even when issue through Alberta Environment. downstream who don’t want the sitting in certain areas until late at water course.” Councillor Wayne Woldanski added Woldanski said the whole situation excess water on their property even if it night. McDonald further added even some the County is just trying to make the made no sense to him. is a regular drainage course. “It seems that wetlands are more “I’m wondering how I’m supposed private contractors were trying to intersections safe for everyone. “We want to make sure the shoul- important than our roads,” he said. repair roads, but “it’s just throwing to get rid of water?” he asked. ders are dry and safe so if a large piece “That just makes no sense to me.” He said there were problems in all good money after bad.” He said the amount of water seeping of farm equipment or a truck turns the the divisions.