The County of Stettler will analyze how it handles dust abatement before spring, 2025 after a resident complained about dust blowing into their yard. A resolution was passed at the Nov. 13 regular meeting of council.
Reeve Larry Clarke brought forward a resident’s complaint near the intersection of TwpRd 39-2 and RngeRd 19-3, described as a haul route at the meeting; it was clarified in the meeting the resident in question tried to contact the division councillor Ernie Gendre, but Gendre was unavailable at that time.
Clarke stated this resident informed he was concerned about dust blowing on the road that runs east-west and then south past Stettler Oil & Gas, specifically at Thanksgiving time. The resident stated he actually paid the County of Stettler to have oil put down as dust abatement.
During discussion Director of Operations Greggory Jackson confirmed the resident in question paid for 200 metres of a material called MG30 which the County of Stettler placed according to the agreement. Jackson added that oil was placed later.
A summary of MG30 on a municipal website notes, “MG 30…is a blend of calcium chloride and magnesium hydroxide solution. It not only suppresses dust but also helps to bind the aggregate into the roadway, which in turn creates a hardened road surface.”
Clarke stated that he visited the area and the resident in question lives close to the intersection which has a fair amount of traffic; Clarke saw dust blowing into that yard.
The reeve added that the resident stated he paid the county $6,300 for the dust abatement.
Gendre confirmed he did actually speak to the resident as well and noted that the County of Stettler placed dust abatement of its own on the north-south route in that area. Both Clarke and Gendre agreed the resident made his complaint in a reasonable manner.
Jackson noted that county staff did discuss with this resident the fact that multiple applications of dust abatement may be necessary; he further observed that industry traffic on that road tends to slow down at that intersection and it seems the east-west traffic, especially traffic from the east heading westbound, appears to be the cause of the dust.
Jackson stated the resident’s request was handled the same way staff would have handled any similar request.
Coun. James Nibourg wondered if the resident’s 200 metres of dust abatement, usually placed in front of a residence, would have more effect if it was placed further down the east-west road where traffic was coming from.
Nibourg agreed it seems traffic from the east may be creating much of the dust that’s affecting this resident.
Coun. Justin Stevens stated he was concerned that a resident paid for his own dust abatement while the county taxpayers paid for the north-south road’s service. Stevens stated that seemed unfair.
Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Yvette Cassidy noted that RngeRd 19-3 was scheduled to be paved through a provincial government grant but that grant program was cancelled.
Cassidy asked if dust abatement should be looked at across the county’s haul routes to ensure the busiest areas are being addressed.
Councillors unanimously passed a resolution to discuss dust abatement on haul routes at a future committee of the whole meeting, and to include as many maps and traffic counts as possible and to do this by spring, 2025.
Nibourg observed that increasing the County of Stettler’s dust abatement program would have an effect on the municipal budget.
Stu Salkeld
Local Journalism Initiative reporter
ECA Review
