Some Sundre councillors are unhappy with a recent decision made by provincial officials not to cover 100 per cent of costs associated with flood-related projects.
The provincial government launched the Alberta Community Resilience Program in June for flood-affected communities. The program grants 90 per cent of engineering and construction costs towards approved projects that cost up to $3 million, and 70 per cent for projects exceeding $3 million.
Town officials are seeking funding for three flood-related projects including managing the river channel through the town.
During a meeting in September, council voted unanimously against spending $28,000 on engineering services to apply for a grant to fund flood-related projects, which provincial officials say is a requirement.
But councillors believe the province should pay for 100 per cent of the costs.
Sundre councillor Myron Thompson believes the province is responsible for Alberta's rivers and it should pay for 100 per cent of the costs.
“That's their job,” said Thompson. “It just tells me that there's a bit of a difficult time with money. And if that's the case then they may not be so quick to balance the budget like they say they're going to.”
Council members wrote a letter to the minister of Environment and Sustainable Resource Development (ESRD) as well as premier Jim Prentice in September stating their concerns.
During the council meeting on Nov. 17, council accepted a letter for information from provincial officials replying to that letter, stating the province will not pay for 100 per cent of the costs.
“The Government of Alberta will not consider exceptions to the cost-sharing formula for the Alberta Community Resilience Program, as it would impact our ability to assist with funding for other municipal projects,” wrote ESRD Minister Kyle Fawcett.
“Cost sharing for these projects reflects the joint responsibility of the Government of Alberta and municipal governments to develop and maintain municipal infrastructure and protect public safety,” he explained.
“The Government of Alberta recognizes its greater responsibility and capacity to fund water management projects by providing the majority of funding for cost-shared projects across the province.”
If town officials paid for the required portion, the money would be spent from infrastructure replacement reserves, which would delay upgrades and replacements to 40- to 60-year-old infrastructure.
“It is the responsibility of the provincial and federal governments to ensure public safety, protection of infrastructure, the bridge, and management of the Red Deer River Watershed – not the municipality of the Town of Sundre,” reads the letter council sent to provincial officials in September.
“Please get back to clearly understanding your responsibilities and stop expecting to take money from ‘the single taxpayer pocket' through municipalities in this flawed ‘cost sharing' model.”
Councillors believe there have been enough engineering studies performed on the Red Deer River over the past year, and that if another one is needed, the province should pay for it completely.
Sundre-Rocky Mountain House-Rimbey independent MLA Joe Anglin says he is watching the situation “very closely”.
“Their (town) argument is valid but the problem that we have is what are we doing to get ready for the next potential flood?” said Anglin.
“It isn't just that simple about saying the province pays it all. There's many other questions there that needs to be resolved. And there is the question of federal jurisdiction.”
His plans for advocating for flood mitigation work in Sundre have not changed since recently resigning from the Wildrose and becoming an independent MLA.
“The whole issue of flood mitigation is paramount to the safety of the community of Sundre and the surrounding community of Sundre – all the land and property owners up river and down river – so it's a huge issue,” he said.
“It is one of my primary things that I have been working on while I was with the Wildrose and while I'm right here now.”
Sundre officials have deemed their No. 1 priority project is construction of a 100-millimetre gas line that would service the residents and businesses on the east side of town.
Town officials were unsuccessful in their bid for $200,000 from the Alberta Flood Recovery Erosion Control Program for the project earlier this year.
They were advised at that time that the municipality may qualify to apply for the project under the Alberta Community Resilience Program.
The second priority project which town officials are seeking funding for is to develop a long-term strategy for containment and management of the river channel through Sundre.
The third priority project is to acquire a new radio system for emergency responders to be able to communicate seamlessly at all times.
Councillors have been debating whether or not to fund some of these projects during budget deliberations for 2015 and beyond.
