Mountain View County councillors have instructed administration to set up an open house in the near future to gauge public views on a possible upgraded flood protection berm system on the Red Deer River west of Sundre.During last week's policies and priorities committee meeting, councillors discussed the proposed berm project, including how the project might be paid for.“The intention is to give an opportunity for residents whose property would be protected by a berm on the Red Deer to have an opportunity to say whether they would be willing to contribute towards part of the cost,” said Reeve Bruce Beattie.High water on the Red Deer River this past spring flooded public and private land west of Sundre.During last week's meeting, councillors instructed administration to bring back a number of possible funding options to the September 5 council meeting. A date for the open house could be set at that time.Reeve Beattie said he expects the meeting will be held near Sundre.County council has not passed any motion to move forward with the construction of an upgraded berm system.Also during last week's meeting, administration brought forward preliminary calculations for discussion on creating a local improvement tax to help fund the construction of a berm.MVC operational service department worked with Matrix Solutions to prepare the cost estimates. A fully armoured berm could cost an estimated $5.4 million, while one with limited armouring could cost $1.2 million.Either option would see a berm constructed on the north bank of the Red Deer River southwest of Coyote Creek RV Resort and Golf Course, according to a map provided by administration.During discussions of the matter, Division 6 Coun. Paddy Munro said: “I do believe that the people who are affected need to have a reasonable request for their local improvement tax (to pay for a berm) and I believe it should be no more than 25 per cent.“If it's only going to costs us $1.3 million to get this thing going, they (property owners) need to pay, we need to pay, the provincial government needs to pay, the federal government needs to pay. And we need to do it quickly, because it's too big a risk to do nothing.“The way this climate is changing, the way this river is changing from clear-cut logging and what's going on up in the (Banff National) park, there is ecological impacts and we are stuck with organizing and paying part of the bill.”Deputy Reeve Patricia McKean, who chaired last week's policies and priorities meeting, said, “Before we make any decision we need to find out exactly what the actual taxes are (paid by property owners in the area to be protected by the berm). I think we need that number.”Division 7 Coun. Al Kemmere said, “Risk can be perceived in many different aspects. I'm not sure where it states that is our role to protect every landowner's land from a naturally occurring event.“I think we need to move this forward in a well figured out method, rather than do something here to could create further impacts down the road. To run fast on it is to me is to leave the door open to major repercussions down the road. We have to do it smart, and not just quick.”Coun. Munro said the construction of an upgraded berm system upstream of Sundre is matter of urgency.Reeve Beattie said he would not support the county “building this on its own, but that's my opinion and it will be up to the council to decide that.”“It's a matter of priorities in the county. They (priorities) include health care, our role in seniors housing for example. And we have the doctor retention and retraction and retention committee looking for dollars,” said Beattie.“I recognize the threat of that river movement, but as I've emphasized over and over again, it's a provincial river and it's a provincial responsibility.”The open house will be a good opportunity for area residents and landowners to have input on a possible upgraded berm project, he said.“Let's get the response from the residents, and then we will have something to help us make a decision whether we are going to build a berm or not,” he said.Meanwhile, Reeve Beattie and Deputy Reeve McKean, have met with Alberta Minister of Environment and Sustainable Resource Development Diana McQueen to discuss flooding concerns on the Red Deer River upstream of Sundre.“I thought it was quite a good meeting and it was informative,” said Beattie. “The minister was very attentive. The outcome of that is that within two months they are going to provide a report back to ourselves and work with Municipal Affairs. It turns out that at this point anyway, Environment doesn't have money to put towards (flood mitigation) work but Municipal Affairs may.“We now at least have the two departments recognizing the situation. The Minister has clearly indicated that she wants this work done, wants a report back, and will fully support us in our requests relative to Municipal Affairs.”
