Dear editor:
This is the short, but hopefully clear and true story of the flooding of Cochrane Lake from the view of the couple most affected by this situation.
For five years we saw this problem coming as Cochrane Lake gradually approached us — first our property line, then our mature trees, our lawn and finally the doorstep of our house. We had to sandbag and use sump pumps and a generator constantly to keep the water out of our basement. All this time we had continually asked, begged and pleaded with Rocky View County and anyone else who would listen, to pump the lake.
Our Rocky View councillor, Bruce Kendall, was interested in our problem before he was elected, and therefore gained our support, and that of our neighbours, for the election. However, subsequently we saw or heard little from Kendall, except for his support of the plan that residents should pay a Local Improvement Tax to cover the expense of this situation (which occurred entirely from the negligence of others).
Jerry Arshinoff, Rocky View councillor for Springbank, was so appalled at seeing the lake on our doorstep that he stepped in and supported us morning, noon and night (literally). We also received great support from Chris Briggs, who originally contacted the entire council about our plight, and Gloria Wilson of the neighbourhood.
Because of Arshinoff’s compassion and tireless work, we are now able to spend the rest of our retirement in our much loved home (presuming the problem gets a permanent solution) instead of being forced to move out and find another house, or go to an old folks’ home. We will never, ever be able to thank Jerry enough.
Now what we are wondering is when/if we will ever get some compensation for a completely ruined backyard, which is now full of mud and large dead trees (including fir and apple) whereas it used to be a place of quiet beauty.
This comes from the ‘horse’s mouth’, from those who lived through it. Believe it!
Jill Breeck and John Boutet
