Inland’s haul route approved, another extraction goes to hearing

By MorinvilleNews.com staff

Sturgeon County – County Council gave unanimous second and third reading to a bylaw amendment Tuesday morning that will authorize Inland Aggregates to change its haul route to use an existing CN rail crossing. The approval follows a public hearing held Apr. 26 during which residents expressed some concerns and clarifications about future road closings.

Inland’s request to change its haul route came about when CN denied their request to establish a new rail crossing, citing safety issues that would be created with a new crossing in close proximity to several existing crossings.

The approved changes to the Villeneuve Sand and Gravel Extraction Area Structure Plan authorizes that “trucks moving materials to market for sand and gravel operations in the Quick Extraction Area will use a haul road which exits the SE 27-54-27 W4M and linking southeast to Township Road 544 directly east of Range Road 272 and on Highway 44.”

Second and third readings of the bylaw amendment were unanimously approved by Councillors David Kluthe, Karen Shaw, Joe Milligan and Ken McGillis. Councillors Tom Flynn, Don McGeachy and Mayor Don Rigney were absent from the meeting at the time of the vote.

Yellowhead Agreggates hearing set

Council also unanimously approved first reading of a bylaw amending the Villeneuve Sand and Gravel Extraction Area Structure Plan to accommodate new operational times.

The proposed amendment is due to a request from Yellowhead Aggregates to clarify existing conditions at their Ballachy Pit and to alter the reclamation of the eastern process of their Friesen Pit.

The amendment would extend the reclamation process from the current timeline of May 31, 2011 for seeding to May 31, 2027.

Councillor Ken McGillis said Yellowhead Aggregates bought the pit from LeFarge eight years ago and at that time an attempt was made to change timelines on extraction.

“The pit is basically mining sand and there is a very slow utilization of sand in the marketplace,” McGillis said, adding the options the company faced was either to close the pit or seek changes to accommodate extraction as market conditions require.

A public hearing on the proposed amendment to the bylaw is set for June 10 at 10:30 a.m. during the regular meeting of Sturgeon County Council.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email