SUNDRE – Property owners with lots backing onto a gravel laneway might be relieved to learn the municipality has approved the purchase of a new piece of equipment that is said to rehabilitate gravel roads without needing to add even more aggregate that by extension tends to create drainage issues.
“For a few years now, we have had rehabilitating some of the back alleys on the list of items that council would like to have accomplished,” Chris Albert, the municipality’s director of corporate services, said to council on April 29 during a regular meeting.
Council heard that the town’s roads department had recently conducted some research that ultimately resulted in finding a piece of equipment known as a Harley rake, which is not to be confused with the average handheld garden tool.
“My understanding is it churns up the existing gravel (and) makes it a better surface rather than just adding more gravel, which of course builds up the back alley to a point where it’s actually higher than the surrounding properties; it creates drainage issues,” explained Albert.
“It attaches to the front of the skid steer and kind of works like a big rolling pin with spikes on it that churns up that gravel (and) turns it into a nice – I wouldn’t call it new surface – but a pretty good surface,” he said.
According to background information provided to council, municipalities historically tend to simply add gravel to reduce mud in an effort to address concerns raised by residents when a laneway deteriorates. However, the accumulation of gravel over time results in the lane becoming higher than adjacent properties, which negatively impacts drainage in the rear of the properties.
Not only does the Harley rake rework existing gravel while maintaining the existing grades and decreasing the expense of re-gravelling laneways, but the unit is also reportedly designed for soil rehabilitation and can be used by all departments for clay and loam levelling.
Administration looked into the item per council’s direction following the recent spring workshop, and obtained two fairly comparable quotes from U.S.-based companies that both came in less than $20,000.
The one option was said to have a unit available in stock in Calgary at a cost of $19,950, while the other that came in at a slightly lower cost of $19,280 would have to be ordered and shipped within three to four weeks.
Albert told council administration recommended the unit that was immediately available so that it could be put to use sooner rather than later.
Coun. Chris Vardas moved to approve the purchase of the available unit and said the slightly higher cost was worth the expense to acquire the equipment as soon as possible.
“The sooner we get it, the quicker we get to work,” said Vardas.
“I think this would be a great investment because our back alleys are getting chewed up,” he said, adding the equipment should also reduce the frequency with which gravel laneways need to be re-graded.
Coun. Connie Anderson sought assurance that the rake would properly connect to the town’s equipment.
“My understanding is the equipment will work with existing skid steer,” said Albert.
Coun. Jaime Marr asked whether the other option would become the default choice in the event the unit said to be in stock in Calgary was no longer available by the time the order was placed.
Council ended up passing a motion approving the purchase of a Harley rake at a cost not to exceed $19,950 plus GST.
Albert confirmed by email on May 3 that the unit in Calgary remained in stock.
“We are just working on a pick-up or delivery schedule that will work,” he told the Albertan in response to a follow-up question.
