Gleichen dam gets upgrade

Times Contributor

 

Wheatland County councillors approved a motion to develop a fenced parking area, washroom facility and garbage cans around the Gleichen Dam, with signage posted to indicate to individuals about potential safety risks. There were concerns because the residents were using the area for recreation purposes like fishing.

“The problem won’t go away,” said Councillor Ken Sauve, who put forth the motion to develop the area with appropriate conditions and signage to monitor the site.

The vote to develop the area was not unanimous and three councillors felt the site should be off limits to recreation use.

“It’s their drinking water. There are complaints in the town. They say you’re allowing people to swim and fish. Now we are bringing toilets in. I am not in favour,” commented Councillor Alice Booth. “Post signs that trespassers will be charged. We aren’t Glenmore Lake.”

Public works manager Gerry Van Oostwaard said fishing would not affect the water quality but he had other concerns.

“I am worried about vandalism, garbage and people falling through the ice in the winter,”Oostwaard said. 

Dave Churchill, Manager of Infrastructure and Transportation said there is also the worry of gas spilled, from the augers used to drill holes for ice fishing, polluting the water.

Several councillors and the public works manager noted that people often don’t obey ‘No Trespassing’ signs even if they are posted and suggested if it were upgraded for use, the county would have more control over the site.

“Fishing will continue to go on regardless, unless we post a guard there,” said Councillor Ken Sauve. “We need to minimize our risk.”

Councillor Glen Koester said that he has ‘No Trespassing’ signs on his land, but was still liable if people get hurt.

“In previous developments we have had similar issues. When we allow development, it allows more control,” said Koester, giving an example of Severn Dam. 

He stated that to date there had not been accidents on the ice. As far as liability, he said there is not just the dam to consider.

Council obtained legal and insurance liability information, which outlined the steps that were needed to protect the county and the ratepayers.

Churchill stated that because of new water developments in the area, the upgrades might be better held for a future date. 

“In two to three years we won’t need the raw water anymore. We may be able to open it up. If we gave this time, we could build a lot and make it a recreational area, and condone people using it,” Churchill said. 

Councillor Ken Sauve said if fishing was not allowed, the site must be policed and infractions must be enforced. For safety sake, postings could be done to notify users of unsafe ice thickness. Fencing would be put up to prohibit users from driving vehicles up around the dam.