M.D. approves use of municipal road allowance for waterline

By Rob Vogt Local Press Writer
In a split decision, the council of the Municipal District of Willow Creek will allow the Hutterian Brethren of Granum to run a water line from their new colony location along an undeveloped road allowance east of Granum.
At its Feb. 9 meeting, council was advised by Roly Cochlan, the M.D.’s assistant superintendent, that Granum colony would like to run the water line for the new colony along the undeveloped road allowance Range Road 253 for four miles, from Township Road 112 to Township Road 120. They would also like to run the line for one mile under developed road allowance Range Road 253. The Badger Flats water line already runs along that road allowance and the colony would like to run parallel to that line.
A written report to council stated the Granum colony has approached the landowners adjacent to Range Road 253, and the landowners do not want the water line going through their land. The landowners would like the water line to run through the M.D. road allowance. The Granum Colony may be willing to allow adjacent landowners the opportunity to tap-off the proposed water line.
Coun. Earl Hemmaway said the M.D.’s bylaw says all pipelines must be set back 30 metres from a road allowance. He also disagreed with the description of the water line as a public utility when it is a private line.
“It should not be on the road allowance or next to it,” he said.
He wanted to know if the diameter of the pipe would be six or eight inches because both numbers were mentioned in the documents.
Hemmaway was also concerned that 15 feet was not enough to separate the top and sub soils, and he was concerned the pipeline may compromise the
development of the Badger Flats acreage in the area.
“I do believe this should be done on private property,” he said, and not an undeveloped road
allowance that could be developed in the future.
He did not think it has been looked at long enough or good enough, and council should stick to the bylaw.
Stacey Russell of Wood Environment and Infrastructure Solutions was present as an agent on behalf of the colony.
She said the line will be six inches, and not eight.
Russell also noted the colony has offered to repair the Badger Flats water line if it is hit during construction when working in the road allowance.
She added the line would be 2.5 metres from the road allowance.
John Lobbezoo of Wood Environment and Infrastructure Solutions was present as well and said when considering the greater good, providing an
alternate water source this far into that area is for
the greater good.
“Water is life,” he said. “The more water you can bring into this area would be the net benefit to that area.”
Reeve Maryanne Sandberg asked if they know the location of the Badger Flats water line. Cochlan
responded they know one spot which is close to the centre of the road allowance.
Hemmaway said great caution needs to be taken because the Badger Flats line goes straight into houses.
Russell said they would ensure personnel are on site to supervise construction, adding they have
already done about 40 road crossings in Lethbridge County.
Hemmaway asked if this is approved where does it stop in the future, because this contravenes the M.D.’s bylaw. He reiterated he believes something could be done without going down the road allowance.
Sandberg asked when was the Badger Flats pipeline done. Hemmaway answered in 1986 before the current bylaw was adopted.
David Schuler, who is an adjacent landowner, said the road allowance is Crown land. The M.D. is the public authority to manage it for public use with no exclusive use.
He said it should be accessible to all; that permanent, private use should never be allowed; and this water line will hinder future, public use. If the M.D. cannot offer use to every Canadian then not at all.
He said private land could be available, because he owns that land, and also observed there is not enough room to do a proper pipeline.
Dean Hubbard was present representing the Badger Flats water users.
He provided a map of where their line is supposed to be and pointed out it moves back and forth and is not in a straight line.
Hubbard also noted the full allocation of water has not been applied for. Because of that, he asked if the application to use water wells would be withdrawn.
Sandberg said all water is coming from the Lethbridge Northern Irrigation District.
Lobbezoo said they have 27 acre feet from the irrigation district, double what they need, so the application to use water wells has been withdrawn.
Russell added the colony has no applications at all for ground water with Alberta Environment.
She also explained their method of installing the pipeline would be to trench, with boring all road crossings and in front of the aforementioned acreage.
Hemmaway later asked if there was any indication to use private land, and Russell said there wasn’t.
She also reaffirmed they were proposing paralleling the Badger Flats line for four miles in the undeveloped road allowance and one mile in the other direction.
Lobbezoo said they would also be willing to map out the Badger Flats line a little bit better.
Eli Hofer of the colony was also present and said if there were any mishaps and the Badger Flats line was hit, they would be dealt with immediately.
Hubbard stressed they can’t have that line cut.
Shortly after, council discussed the proposal.
Hemmaway said he would like to see more time given because there is something on the table to use private land.
Coun. John Kroetsch said council has to vote on what is in front of them.
Coun. Evan Berger said he questioned the validity of calling a private line a public good when it is on public land.
Coun. Glen Alm agreed but said 150 people will be living on the new colony so that is public, and they could not say no when Badger Flats goes down a road allowance and serves eight residences.
Moreover, he added council cornered the colony by telling them they can’t use wells and have to get their water from the irrigation district. They gave the go ahead but now wouldn’t be able to get water to the colony.
He also agreed the pipeline would be better on private land, but the proposal was tabled two months ago and it is time to decide.
Sandberg agreed that Badger Flats’ line is already there. If they map that line and put in the new one they will know where both are.
Hemmaway said two wrongs do not make a right and approving this line would set a precedent.
Alm replied this already occurred as he knows of an irrigation line in a road allowance, and Sandberg added she knows of wells in road allowances.
Alm also pointed out if the water line is not approved, the colony will haul water every day and that will destroy the M.D.’s roads.
Coun. Ian Sundquist said the public good is everybody, not just a few, but he had a tough time saying no after council told them to find a solution other than using wells.
Coun. John Van Driesten agreed with Alm, adding the applicants have been here for generations, are good farmers and good for the land. He couldn’t say no.
Council then approved use of the road allowance for the water line with everyone in favour except Berger and Hemmaway who were opposed.