Rocky View County (RVC) council voted 7-2 Feb. 10 in favour of Div. 2 Coun. Jerry Arshinoff’s Jan. 27 Notion of Motion for administration to apply to the Alberta Disaster Relief Program (DRP) on behalf of those residents affected by the flooding of Cochrane Lake.
Once received by the province, the county should receive a decision by the DRP within a month whether or not the claim is accepted; if accepted, the province would send out an inspector to assess each property on a case-by-case basis for financial compensation.
Arshinoff said he was unable to make the application himself, as this was something that had to be applied for through administration.
The councillor said he did request administration to file an application previously, but because the DRP deadline had already passed for 2013 flood-impacted claims to be filed, it was first believed that there was no chance the application would be approved.
Arshinoff said this is about ‘leaving no stone unturned’, acknowledging that the DRP may view the Cochrane Lake application as a ‘unique case’ and there is still enough of a chance that it is worthy of an application; Arshinoff did make the province aware of the possible application and was advised that it would be considered by the DRP.
A ‘friendly amendment’ was made to the Notion of Motion, where the application would cost nothing to the county; this means that a recommended engineering study estimated at $15,000 would not be conducted.
“I don’t think an engineering study is necessary, but it would have been preferable,” said Arshinoff, adding that he accepted the amendment in order to move the process forward.
The application considers those affected Cochrane Lake residents who live in the communities of Monterra and in the hamlet.
Jill Breeck and John Boutet are the most impacted hamlet residents, who had to install a pump only feet from their front door to keep the high water levels from seeping into their basement.
The retired couple has expressed tremendous disappointment over how they feel the county and their own Div. 9 Coun. Bruce Kendall has treated them.
The Eagle spoke with Boutet, who expressed his gratitude toward Arshinoff for his efforts, but described the ‘waiting game’ as exhausting.
A permanent pumping solution of Cochrane Lake into Horse Creek was approved last fall.
Local environmental groups have expressed their concerns over the potential problems this could result from using Horse Creek instead of the Bow River as a permanent solution.
