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Vol. 12, No. 29, Tuesday May 16, 2017 www.LamontLeader.com
Full Stop: Opponents of Range Road 201 closure voice objections at public hearing Michelle Pinon Editor
The seats in the gallery were nearly full last Tuesday morning as 25 people gathered in Lamont County council chambers for the public hearing into the proposed road closure bylaw on Range Road 201. Speaking in favour of the proposed road closure was Darcy Heggie, President of Alberta Midland Railway Terminal (AMRT). He kept his comments brief, but said his proposed development would be a “strong, strong catalyst for economic growth and development” and that it was his belief it would encourage world class global corporations to Lamont County. Heggie has owned property in that area since 2013, and said he was committed to keeping his business in Lamont County. Wayne Woldanski, who chaired the public hearing then asked if anyone else wanted to speak in favour of the bylaw. No one else came forward, but Coun. Roy Bryks took the opportunity to make a comment. “Thank you for that. It opens up a lot of avenues for us. Without people like you, (referring to Heggie), bringing your companies here, we’d have nothing, and I’m
talking about the Industrial Heartland.” Douglas Jenkins, the lawyer representing local landowner Robert Kottke, was the first to speak against the road closure. “He’s the one I expect to be more impacted than any of the other interested parties.” Jenkins gave the legal land description of the lands and buildings Kottke owns, that his personal business is the repair and maintenance of farm equipment and trucks, and is the primary source of his income. He also receives rent from the pasture of 40 acres and crop lands of 100 acres, and the oil and gas leases. AMRT owns the property immediately to the north of Kottke. While Kottke had received several offers from AMRT, Jenkins said those offers have decreased substantially over the past two years with the latest offer of $30,000 per acre. In his written statement, Jenkins stated: “It is obviously no coincidence that this coincides with the decision of Lamont County to seek the passing of a bylaw that, if it is approved and withstands court challenges, will result in the closure of Range Road 201 along the west boundary of the Kottke lands and AMRT will have its rail link.”
Jenkins began asking several questions regarding easement right-ofway, set back requirements, nature of the access road the county proposed to build as well as maintenance when chair Wayne Woldanski interjected and said he had used up his amount of allotted time, to which Jenkins replied: “I will take as long as I feel to make the required comments.” Jenkins then continued by saying the the county had not been forthcoming with the type of road, width, maintenance, snow removal, and set backs from the battery site. “Alternate access would be of great expense to the county.” He said he was not aware of any road study being done. He went on to say that the rail project was AMRT’s project, and they (AMRT) stand to make a lot of money off of that. Jenkins felt the county had not been forthcoming, and was being prejudicial in the interests of his client. He also wanted to know how much it would cost the county to provide alternate access to Mr. Kottke. “What’s it costing taxpayers?” He also pointed out that if they don’t get an easement, the county would be land locking his client. In the end, the person most
affected by the development would be Mr. Kottke. That comment drew some applause from a couple of people in the gallery. Jenkins said that because the county decided to venture into the fray, it has become a deterrent to his client. “Maybe no one cares about Mr. Kottke…but that’s why we’re here.” Sylvia Holowach asked if an assessment had been done or an economic assessment by a third party or a traffic count on that road? She also asked if oil and gas companies, and utility companies had been notified of the proposed closure? She wanted to know who was going to pay for all the the accesses that would be required. She said that those costs should be at the cost of county ratepayers, but the parties requesting the closure. Holowach said she received a document from Alberta
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Alberta Midland Railway Terminal (AMRT) is currently constructing its $30 million project, and Lamont County is hoping to secure an agriculture-industrial based company to develop property in the area north of Range Road 201 between Township Road 560. Transportation and that the advertising of road closure fell short of requirements, and requested an open house be held on the matter. Singleton confirmed no needs assessment, economic assessment or recent road counts have been conducted. He also
said the county has spoken with the oil and gas companies, and that they are in agreement. Holowach said she wanted to know if it would be a single or multiple rail track(s), and Singleton said it could be for a single or multiple rails. Continued on Page 15
MICHELLE PINON PHOTO
While some local farmers were cultivating and seeding, others were combining what was left of their unharvested crops from 2016.