An engineering study to address the long-standing drainage problems in an area of Bearspaw will get underway following Rocky View County (RVC) council’s approval of the $350,000 project budget at the Sept. 10 meeting.
According to an administration report, the Meadow Drive area south of Highway 1, floods seasonally because of the topography and lack of drainage systems for the various ponds that exist on private properties.
RVC spends more than $300,000 a year to pump water in the area, Jory McKenzie, capital projects lead of Infrastructure and Operations with RVC, explained during his presentation to council.
“I recognize we’re spending a fortune every year on pumping and there are drainage problems all over the county given the one million acres and topography, but I think as solutions come up, it’s important to seize them and this plan is nothing but sensible no matter which way it’s cut,” said Reeve Rolly Ashdown.
The budget request, approved unanimously by council, will include detailed engineering plans of the drainage system, easement acquisitions and a public consultation process. The study follows up on a 2009 report that identified a long-term “cost effective drainage system” for Meadow Drive, according to the administration report.
“We have received support from about 95 per cent of the landowners along the drainage route that would allow detailed engineering, land acquisitions and environmental approvals to proceed,” said McKenzie, adding that although the project needs 100 per cent landowner support because portions of the drainage system will be located on private property, the County “believes (it) can work with the barriers that exist.”
He added the County “will not spend a dollar on the land itself, but there are costs involved to secure the land legally, such as survey plans, easement agreements and land acquisition paper work.”
Area Councillor Al Sacuta was supportive of the budget request for the engineering study.
“I think as people start to see this plan coming together, we’ll have 100 per cent buying into it,” he said, adding that financing the construction of the project will need council’s careful consideration in the future.
The estimated construction cost for the main drainage route is about $2.5 million and is expected to get underway in 2014, upon council’s approval of the budget.
McKenzie added subdivision fees could be imposed on future or existing developments in the area, as well as imposing a local improvement tax or applying for government grants.
