The Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties (AAMD&C), which includes Mountain View and Red Deer counties, wants to ensure that rural communities impacted by the June floods are kept in the picture when it comes to provincial recovery efforts, say officials.
Mountain View County councillor Al Kemmere, who sits on the AAMD&C board, says although communities such as High River were hardest hit during the flooding, other communities across Central Alberta also suffered losses.
And that's something the provincial government needs to keep in mind, he said.
“We don't want to make light of the High River and Calgary situations, but we want to make sure all communities are treated fairly and equally in this process,” said Kemmere. “The focus has to be on helping all communities to get back to normal.”
Flooding in June caused damage in at least five of the 11 Central Alberta rural municipalities that Kemmere represents on the AAMD&C board, stretching from the Saskatchewan border to the B.C. border.
There was road and bridge damage in Mountain View and Red Deer counties during high-water events in late June.
Kemmere's comment echoed those of AAMD&C president Bob Barss following a recent tour of flood-damaged areas.
The flooding damage in many rural communities has been significant, with homes and other property, as well as municipal infrastructure impacted, he said.
“Rural communities are concerned their lack of contact with the provincial government and little attention in the headlines will affect their efforts to recover and rebuild,” said Barss.
“They don't want to be left out. Reeves and mayors have told me that they have only had limited contact with members of the provincial government. All eyes are on High River and Calgary, but the reality is that these rural communities (AAMD&C members) have as many needs as the cities and towns that were hit, they just have smaller populations.”
Flood damage in Clearwater County is about $2 million, he said.
That damage includes the washed-out Coal Camp Road and the heavily damaged Garrington Bridge north of Sundre.
Coun. Kemmere has been tasked with staying in touch with the administrations and councils of the rural municipalities in Central Alberta that have suffered flood damage.
“If they run into obstacles or if there is anything AAMD&C can help with, we want to be right there to help them out,” said Kemmere. “We don't want any special cases, but we want to make sure all are equally and fairly treated in this process.”
