Council To Consider Expropriating Property For Emergency Road, Flood Berm

Wood Buffalo council meets this week where they’ll discuss expropriating a property around the Draper area.

The RMWB needs the area for a secondary egress road which would be used to reduce traffic flow during an emergency and as a flood berm.

The route would connect Draper Road to Saline Creek Plateau.

Negotiations with the property’s owner have been unsuccessful, so the municipality is now considering legally taking over the land.

The RMWB is hoping to have construction start on the project later this year.

Also, council will also discuss having administration look into possible solutions to ensure a similar boil water advisory doesn’t happen.

During the flood, water from the Athabasca River started flowing the wrong way in an overflow pipe at the Water Treatment Plant. This has forced the municipality to disinfect the plant and the 375 km potable water distribution system.

They will also look at getting an accelerated flood mitigation plan within 30 days.

Meanwhile, people impacted by the flood may soon be able to use their RV as a temporary living accommodation.

Under the land use bylaw, people can’t live in an RV on their property for more than two weeks.

Council will debate whether to waive this if the person uses a driveway, parking pad, or their backyard.

Permits won’t be required to get a permit but they must ensure they don’t pose and health or public risk.

These measures were also introduced for those impacted by the Horse River wildfire.

These items and other topics will be discussed when council meets virtually on Wednesday, May 27.

The public is once again being encouraged to tune into the meeting online.

Anyone interested in speaking about a certain item on the agenda can email [email protected] their information to join the teleconference.

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