Golden Hills dust control issue resolved

Justin Seward
Times Reporter

 

Golden Hills School Division has come to a dust control agreement with the contractors of the new East Wheatland school site and the adjacent land owners, Alberta and Ed Neufeld, whose health issues of her migraines and their grandson’s asthma were affected by the dust caused by the transportation of fill near their property.
The Neufelds approached Wheatland County Council on Nov. 3, expressing their concerns about the dust and providing councilors with the information about what was happening their property. However, prior to that meeting there was the notion that Golden Hills School Division and the contractor had an agreement in place to reduce the dust.
“Our involvement happened as a result of that we had thought that the contractor and Neufelds had worked out the difficulties,” said Bevan Daverne, Golden Hills School Division Superintendent. “I think the contractors believed they had as well. It came to light that there was some additional information and not everything that needed to be done had been done. By the time this went to County Council, I think we already had a solution.”
The agreement that was settled on between Delnor Construction, Golden Hills and the Neufelds was for a water truck to travel along the road where the buggies haul dirt to lessen the dust in the area as, well as working through normal work day hours.
“On the track that goes to the Neufeld’s residence, one of the contractors is going to make sure that road stays watered down so it’s not kicking up dust,” said Daverne.
Additionally, Delnor will make sure that snowdrifts are cleared away between the berm and the propane tank so the Neufelds have full access to it.
As for the Neufelds, they were relieved to hear that the dust will be kept down.
“There’s nothing more we expect from Golden Hills,” said Ed Neufeld. “They’ve taken the time and effort to resolve it to some degree. You can never be totally satisfied with anything until it’s not there anymore. What we want to see is the ending of moving the dirt. There doesn’t seem to be an end in sight right at the moment.”