The MD of Bighorn a conditional road use agreement with Spray Lakes Sawmills (SLS) to allow logging trucks to operate on residential roads.
Council approved administration to finalize amended terms in the agreement for SLS truck usage for a two-year winter period (2015-16, 2016-17) on Jamieson and Richards roads, near Ghost Lake, on Nov. 10 at its regular meeting.
Alberta Transportation also approved SLS to use a section of Jamieson Road under provincial jurisdiction that connects to Highway 1A.
The log haul is estimated for completion by 2018.
A packed gallery in the MD chambers heard council deliberate on the application. The approval then sparked a protest at Jamieson Road and Highway 1A on Saturday (Nov. 14) by concerned local residents against logging truck usage on the subject roads.
Sharon MacDonald of the Ghost Valley community was one of about 45 people at the rally on Saturday. She said in a time of feeling powerless to decisions that adversely affect residents’ lives, it gives them a voice to be heard.
“The last 18 months have been remarkably discouraging for the valley,” said MacDonald. “It was important for us to reverse that negative experience in having corporate interests outstrip the residents and public safety of the residents and be able to go out together and have a voice and direct that energy more positively.”
During the meeting, MD Councillor Paul Clark excused himself after he declared a bias on the matter and said he would never support the application.
The remaining councillors debated the application for nearly two hours before coming to an agreement to amend the motion to have an eight-and-a-half-foot bunk width on Jamieson and a weight limit (restricted to 75 per cent). Speed limit reductions were also discussed, but that may come before council at a different delegation, as it would be subject to every motorist on the road.
Bill Luka, MD director of operations, said after an extensive legal review by MD lawyers on the road use application, the municipality doesn’t have the jurisdictional power to stop log hauling on the subject roads.
“It’s in our best interest to manage it and enter the road use agreement,” said Luka. “The road use agreement is a way for us to control and manage the process … although it’s not the perfect solution, road use is probably our best option for managing the haul.”
Council had begun to tilt against the application early in the meeting, lead by Councillor Erik Butters’ unsupportive notion towards administration’s recommendation.
Butters said the two main issues with the application are public safety and integrity of the road.
“Firstly, if we sign it, we are saying the use of Jamieson and Richards roads is fine … and I don’t think that’s a position we should take,” said Butters. “It was never designed to be for industrial use and we should say so.”
In a report presented to the MD in August on the subject roads by Justin Barrett, president of JCB Engineering Ltd. and hired by SLS, it was stated the subject roads are adequate to accommodate log haul traffic with the addition of safety improvements. Barrett had previously gone against the idea of the use of dashboard cams in the trucks because they would provide no safety benefits, he said, but SLS has since agreed to use the dashboard cameras, said Luka.
Council also considered the potential cost to them if logging trucks damage the roads and noted a $12,000 fee to pave 1.6 km of road in the MD.
Butters added that a possible private land deal may be considered as SLS and private landowners are in ongoing discussions that would bypass Jamieson Road.
MD Chief Administrative Officer Martin Buckley said the private road is a “viable option” to consider.
“(Butters) and I met with some private land owners and SLS. There’s an existing Shell road that could be used for SLS to haul,” said Buckley. “The conversation is ongoing. The MD is not involved in negotiations at this time.”
It was noted that use of Richards Road would likely still occur if a private deal materialized.
“I believe conditions that council incorporated in this reflect that we’re doing the best we can to protect our community within the legal requirements,” said Councillor Paul Ryan.
Butters said he “appreciated the amendments” council passed and said the agreement was more palatable.
“I still don’t think it’s the place to have a log haul,” said Butters. “Clearly, the unease that council has with this use is apparent. It sends a message that we’re not happy with this to the Province and company. I reluctantly support the motion with the amendments in place.”
