Flood mitigation project moving forward
Town officials have been given the go-ahead to conduct preliminary engineering and cost benefit assessments for a proposed flood mitigation project grant application.
Environment and Sustainable Resource Development (ESRD) notified town officials in September that the preliminary information needed for a grant application under the 2013 Flood Recovery Erosion Control program would be funded to a limit of $50,000.
Officials are seeking funding for management of the Red Deer River upstream and in town which would include berm construction, dredging and/or scalping. The project is one of two proposed by the town.
“No decision has been made on your priority project one (Red Deer River headwater management). We will be looking to have further discussions regarding the specifics of this project prior to a final decision,” reads a letter from Martin Foy, regional director with ESRD, addressed to former Sundre mayor Annette Clews on Sept. 11.
“In developing the grant application, and subsequent regulatory applications, note that all projects in or near fish bearing waters must include plans to implement mitigation measures.”
The letter also states that grant applications will not be accepted after Jan. 31, 2014.
During the council meeting on Oct. 7, the previous council approved a motion to conduct the necessary preliminary engineering and cost benefit assessments for the management of Red Deer River upstream and in town, in accordance with the ESRD approval.
Council also approved a motion stating that once the preliminary engineering and cost benefit assessments are completed, that a grant application in accordance with the 2013 Flood Recovery Erosion Control (FREC) Program be submitted.
In a report to council from Doug Wright, interim chief administrative officer, he says town staff are coordinating the project with Mountain View County.
It also says preliminary engineering and cost benefit assessment reports will be discussed with council prior to submission of the grant application.
“Government of Alberta covers 100 per cent of all costs on first $2 million and 75 per cent of costs over and above the first $2 million,” explains Wright.
“If grant application is not approved by ESRD, the program will cover the costs for the preliminary engineering and cost benefit assessments.”
During the meeting, Coun. Myron Thompson said the program is the right direction for the town.
Coyote Creek property owners requesting funding
Property owners in Coyote Creek RV Resort are requesting assistance from the Alberta government to help mitigate future flooding and damage to properties in Coyote Creek.
“Property values have plummeted in Coyote Creek RV Resort since the flood and if some mitigation measures are not implemented soon, we will likely experience more unnecessary damage due to future flooding,” reads a letter from property owners Betty and Lyle Newman.
The letter is addressed to the minister of Municipal Affairs and other government officials, dated Sept. 17.
“This is the third flood in eight years and has been the worst one in the Coyote Creek RV Resort and golf course to date. We feel that the unfinished upstream dike and berm work may have caused or at least vastly contributed to the excessive flooding in Coyote Creek RV Resort this year.”
They are asking the government for funding to complete the work upstream.
“We would very much like to work with a government representative to formulate a solution and do not want to be abandoned in this critical time.”
Town submits $451,000 claim to province
Town of Sundre officials have submitted a claim for an estimated $451,000 to the provincial government for damage from the June flood.
The majority of the cost is to cover the damage that was caused to Greenwood Campground and the cost to run the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) at the town office around the clock for about three days.
During the council meeting on Oct. 7, Wanda Watson-Neufeld, the town's director of corporate services, presented to the previous council a cost breakdown of repairs to date.
The estimated cost for damage at Greenwood Campground is $239,500 and to date the actual cost is $52,860.94. Estimated cost for the EOC is $100,500 and to date the actual cost is $54,264.86.
The estimated cost for erosion repairs on 10th Street is $29,500 and actual cost to date is $5,726.32. For wastewater pump repairs, the estimated cost is $37,000 and the actual cost to date is $12,572.56. For storm sewer cleaning the estimated cost is at $2,000 and so far the actual cost has been zero dollars.
For recreation trail erosion and siltation the estimated cost is $23,500 and the actual cost has been nothing so far. The estimated cost for the water treatment plant is $18,000 and actual cost to date is $4,529.10. Estimated cost for damage to the Red Deer River spurs is $1,000 and so far the cost is zero dollars.
The estimated cost values equal $451,000, which was the total estimate submitted to the province, and the total of the actual costs to date is sitting at $129,953.78. The actual cost breakdown has also been submitted to the province for review.
Town officials submitted an application for the provincial government's Disaster Recovery Program in July and just recently made the claim.
Program to repair businesses from flooding
During the council meeting on Oct. 7, the previous council passed a motion to participate in the Economic Disaster Recovery Project program presented by Economic Developers Alberta (EDA) and the Economic Development Association of BC (EDABC), at no charge.
The program aims to help businesses rebuild in the case of future disasters. It also provides the town with various tools.
These tools include webinars, community consultation, organization of an economic recovery action team, training for elected officials and business retention and expansion legacy infrastructure.
It is funded through the government of Alberta, which indicated to the EDA that Sundre is one of the priority communities for the project.
The project is to be completed by June 2014 with a summary report highlighting recommendations for Sundre to move forward with.
“The goal of the EDRP is to provide our members with relevant information and additional resources to help restore economies in the short and longer term,” reads a letter from project officials.
