Richard Froese
South Peace News
Big Lakes County is endorsing an application for a Peace regional group of municipalities to seek provincial funding to deal with concerns surrounding drainage ditches.
At its regular meeting March 12, council approved a letter of support to the northwest Alberta regional surface water management committee in its application for an Alberta Community Partnership Grant of $200,000.
Reeve Tyler Airth said the funding will benefit all partner municipalities.
“The grant funding will enable the committee to engage a consultant to review the materials collected from each municipality concerning registered drainage ditches and to develop recommended strategies for advocating the provincial government,” Airth wrote in the letter of support.
The purpose of the letter of support and application is to hire a consultant to identify a process to create and lobby for common easements at the sole cost to the Province for each drainage system, Ben Letemplier, director of public works, told council.
“The consultant will also review and recommend irrigation opportunities within the region, identify which government entity should be responsible for maintaining and upgrading the drainage systems and develop key recommendations for advocating solutions, including a briefing document,” Letemplier said.
The regional committee was initiated by Birch Hills County in fall 2023.
However, the committee has not had a meeting, CAO David Reynolds noted.
North Gilwood – Triangle Councillor Jim Zabolotniuk asked who is responsible for the ditches – municipalities or the provincial government.
“The responsibility is still unknown,” Airth replied.
At its regular meeting Dec. 13, 2023, council agreed to join the municipal surface water management committee.
“The proposal for the group is to gain knowledge on past drainage line experiences from participating municipalities and how they historically have been addressed,” Reynolds said.
Big Lakes has 19 ditches that are eligible provincial funding for improvements, according to Kevin Cymbaluk, who was the director of public works for Big Lakes County when council passed the motion to join the committee.