Kneehill County council approved a golf course’s request to hook-up to the municipal water system.
The request was approved at the Dec. 10 regular meeting of council.
Councillors heard the Acme Golf Club’s request came through the Village of Acme and falls under a policy Kneehill already has in place for such situations.
“The Village of Acme has requested on behalf of the Acme Golf Club a connection to the Kneehill County waterline (Selkirk water system),” stated a memo to council from John McKiernan, manager of utilities.
“The expected connection would take place in the spring/summer of 2025.
“This request from the Village of Acme falls within Policy 14-17: Non-County Residential Water Connection to Rural Waterline.
“The Acme golf course would be considered adjacent to the county waterline as their property line is within 100 metres of the existing infrastructure.
“The Kneehill County waterline is on the east side of Range Road 25-5 and the water service will need to be directionally drilled to the west side of the road where the connection will be completed.
The golf course would then be responsible to install a service line from the curbstop to the point of connection at their new building.
“A water model was completed May, 2011. The model verified that the system would be able to provide the potential full flow of four imperial gallons per minute (IGPM) at 40 PSI.
“The cost of installing the connection (drilling under range road, meter lift, water meter, and other components) would be recovered through the fee as set out by the Master Rates Bylaw.
Internal staff would make the connection and a third-party contractor would provide the directional drilling service,” added the memo.
During discussion McKiernan observed that this request came from the Village of Acme on behalf of the golf club and clarified that the directional drilling under Range Road 25-5 would be paid for by the applicant.
Coun. Jerry Wittstock said he was somewhat concerned about the water pressure on the Selkirk line; Wittstock noted the water model was done in 2011 and some larger users have been hooked up to the system since then.
In fact, Wittstock stated there are times when the water pressure appears to be less than normal.
He noted he’d be in favour of new water modelling that included all of the new users since 2011.
McKiernan responded that request could be granted and observed later in the meeting that Kneehill County’s policy actually requires applicants to complete water modelling.
McKiernan also stated, however, that the 4 IGPM is a potential maximum, yet “…that doesn’t mean you’re always going to get it,” he said.
McKiernan stated that factors such as peak flow can affect water pressure, adding that it could drop to 1.5 to 2 IGPM.
Coun. Debbie Penner asked how these types of projects are billed, to which McKiernan responded that Kneehill County bills the Village of Acme and the village seeks its own reimbursement.
Coun. Carrie Fobes was curious who was responsible for overseeing this project. Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Mike Haugen answered Kneehill County has oversight on the project and will bill that back to the village.
Councillors unanimously granted the water hook-up request and included a requirement that up-to-date water modelling be included.
Stu Salkeld
Local Journalism Initiative reporter
ECA Review
