MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY - Council has been updated on a $1.4-million project to protect the Coal Camp hamlet along the Red Deer River west of Sundre from future flooding, including the awarding of the construction contract to a Cochrane-based company.
The review came during a recent regularly scheduled council meeting, held in person and on Zoom.
In 2020, council gave directions to operational services send a request to Alberta Environment and Parks seeking to reallocate $1.3 million in Flood Recovery Erosion Control (FREC) grant funding remaining from road projects on Rge. Rd. 56 and Rge. Rd. 60 to the protection of the community.
The province subsequently approved the reallocation.
Following feedback received at an open house attended by area landowners later in 2020, operational services proceeded with design and plan for flood mitigation construction in 2021.
“Delays occurred due to compliance requirements with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, resulting in a construction window of November to December 2022,” said operational services director Ryan Morrison.
Construction firms were pre-qualified in January 2022, he said.
“The pre-qualification process results in eight shortlisted contractors. The tender was closed on Oct. 24 with the successful bidder being Slimdor Contracting Ltd., with a bid of $1,411,445.”
Of the $1.4 million total cost, $1,249,991 will be covered by the provincial FREC grant and $249,999 from general revenue.
The county is now working with the successful contractor to get the project underway and completed, council heard.
“I know our residents out there will be very happy for the efforts,” said reeve Angela Aalbers.
Council passed a motion accepting the report as information.
Following the council meeting, Morrison told the Albertan the project involves the placement of large boulders along the west bank of the river at the hamlet.
Construction got underway last week and is scheduled to be completed by Dec. 31, he said.
