Muirfield residents push for solutions

Sharon McLeay

Times Contributor

 

Concerned citizens packed the Lyalta Hall on Jan. 15, to get clarification on what was happening with the ongoing saga of Muirfield and Homestead area sewer removal problems. The website www.muirfieldcommunityassociation.com shows examples of the strong community formed in the area, with many positive activities for residents. However, homeowners are frustrated with the delays and increased costs added for sewer removal and treatment in their community. Since 2006 the Muirfield community has been seeking solutions with developers, Rocky View County, Wheatland County and lawyers to solve the treatment and removal of sewage that they expected was part of their home utility services when they purchased their homes. “This wastewater issue is the biggest issue as a community we have faced and could be a ‘make or break,’ not only for many existing residents, but also potential prospective residents,” said resident Scott Kolawaski in a letter to the homeowners association. “We all know the long list of items that we understood to be part of moving to Muirfield that were promised by the developer, and that is in our ‘bylaws’ and that have not been fulfilled, while we as residents are held to account. As disappointing and frustrating as many of those items are, this one is dire and detrimental to our community.” The meeting’s town hall format allowed residents to get answers from a seven-member panel. Jim Souza, spokesperson of Muirfield Land Corp. clarified that he was on the panel as an employee of the past and new owners. “I am here tonight because I feel for you people,” said Souza. “If someone knocked on my door and told me it would cost me X amount of dollars to flush my toilet every month, I would be looking at me … the way you are looking at me right now.” He gave background about the original owner of the Muirfield Land Corp. stating the original owner had passed away and the company had gone into receivership. He said millions of dollars were lost in the transaction to date. On the condition of sale of the foreclosed company, Rocky View County stipulated that the new purchasers would not hold Rocky View County to the old sewage removal and treatment contract. Residents were notified Rocky View County would no longer provide sewage trucking and treatment as of April 1, 2015. Souza said the deadline definitely highlighted the urgency for a solution and stated the clock was ticking and something needed to be done. In frustration, residents turned to Wheatland County for help. Wheatland County council had originally approved the Muirfield subdivision, providing the utility services were in place. Wheatland council had several meetings with residents to aid in finding alternative solutions for the area, when arrangements with Rocky View and the developers were collapsing. Wheatland Council did approve, with conditions, an initial solution put together by the Homesteads development and Cattleland Corp. to run a pipeline from the area to sewage lagoons near the Cattleland feedlot. Cattleland would recycle the effluent into various products utilized by their company. A new privately owned corporation called Wheatland Utility Corporation would handle the treatment process and deliver services to both Muirfield residents, the 2,400 new homes of the Homesteads and possibly other developments in the future. However in a Catch-22 dilemma, Bill Maher, developer for the Homesteads and partner in Wheatland Utility Corporation, said it was recognized that the subdivision would be approved with conditions, but one of the conditions would be the provision of sanitary sewer service; but without approval of the subdivision, there would be no financing for the system. Maher said they could not invest the time and money in the design and construction of the sewage system until they have a conditional approval of their subdivision application. He clarified banks will not provide money for infrastructure unless there is an approved development. Patricia Maloney, land planner for the development, said it is taking Wheatland County a very long time to process the subdivision. She stated that the county has had resource issues and the developer has dealt with six planners during this process. With each new planner the process had to be reviewed again and again. There was a feeling voiced that the current administration has not made Homesteads application a priority, even though they know that it is linked to a solution for the Muirfield sewer problem. Members from the audience wanted to know what could be done move the process ahead. Councillor Brenda Knight, Wheatland County representative for Division 5, chaired the meeting. “Your voice is better than mine,” said Knight. “Once they (Wheatland County) receive one hundred phone calls and letters from residents asking what is going on with the Homesteads and Muirfield and why it is not moving forward … something will happen.” She said there are many excuses why there were delays in the past, including no inter-municipal agreements between counties, staff turnovers, bureaucratic red tape and other delays; however, she also stressed it would be more productive to put past disagreements aside and direct energy to future solutions. Brainstorming developed strategies for residents to instigate positive action. They were encouraged to: • Clarify the key messages and push for Alberta Environment approval for the proposed sewage removal and treatment plan. • Talk to the MLA Jason Hale about the government solutions and approvals from Alberta Environment to speed up the process. • Conduct a letter writing campaign to the Wheatland County Reeve and council requesting the issue be placed on the council agenda and the floor open for resident discussion. There were also options for interim solutions for sewage removal that residents were to consider: • Litigation – sue the developer, Rocky View, Wheatland and anyone else they felt was involved in failure to provide service – but it was noted it could take months, money and increased sewer prices with no permanent solution attained. • Purchase a removal truck and contract a driver to facilitate their own sewage removal through the Homeowners Association. Prices would likely remain at around $450 per month per resident, but when the permanent solution was ready, they could sell the truck and recoup some money. • Pay a private operator to pump and haul. This is the worst-case scenario and is estimated at $480 per resident per month. • Create a debenture or loan, which will borrow enough money to do the pump and haul until a permanent sewage solution is reached with charges to homeowners monthly at a reduced rate amortized over a 10-year period. It was estimated the rate would be under $100 per month. This could be done with the help of Wheatland County or Wheatland Utility Corp. • Do nothing and see what happens. This was the most uncertain and the homeowners could face provincial fines and litigation for any contamination issues. Those in attendance wanted to consider their options and asked that all homeowners be notified of the options and any meetings moving forward.