The County of Stettler Municipal Planning Commission (MPC) approved a landfill’s development permit after board members voiced concern over trucks tracking mud onto a highway. Pictured is the WM facility’s leachate pond and security fence. ECA Review/Submitted
The County of Stettler Municipal Planning Commission (MPC) approved a landfill’s development permit after board members voiced concern over trucks tracking mud onto a highway. The permit was approved at the MPC’s board meeting Oct. 24.
The MPC is comprised of members of county council and chaired by Coun. James Nibourg.
The board heard an application from Waste Management (WM) for a discretionary development permit for an existing landfill located on the south half and northeast portion of 25-35-21W4M located near the Village of Big Valley. Development Officer Rich Fitzgerald noted nothing new is proposed at the site.
“The subject property is located four miles west of the Village of Big Valley,” stated Fitzgerald’s report to the board. “The site is spread across three quarter sections and totals 480 acres. Access to the subject property is via provincial highway 590. The subject property is surrounded by mainly agricultural land, with one residence located approximately 890 metres to the north of the landfill cell on the SE-25-35-21-W4M. The subject property is zoned agricultural.”
It was noted that since the landfill use is a discretionary use on agriculture zoning, the request must come to the MPC for approval.
Fitzgerald’s review of the facility noted it was put into operation in 1991 and listed a number of permits received since that time. He noted county staff visited the site in the summer of 2024.
“It should be noted the application is not expanding the current site in any way,” said Fitzgerald. “It is simply to bring the county’s permit in line with their provincial permit.”
Fitzgerald stated part of the application process was public consultation, including personal visits with neighbours, which was conducted and resulted in a complaint from the public about vehicles from the landfill tracking mud onto the highway.
Fitzgerald stated that issue isn’t part of the development permit process and should be handled by Alberta Transportation.
Staff recommended approval of the development permit with conditions, including WM following a site plan, obtaining and following a roadside development permit from Alberta Transportation that includes restrictions on mud tracking onto the highway plus other conditions.
Reeve Larry Clarke asked how WM handles trash or litter leaving the landfill; WM representative Chris LeMaistre was present and stated the landfill is fenced off and includes a berm, plus WM is in constant communication with neighbours; if they complain about debris, it’s cleaned up immediately.
When asked about complaints about mud being tracked onto the highway by vehicles leaving WM’s landfill LeMaistre responded there is a mandatory wheel wash vehicles have to drive over before they leave the facility plus when WM is aware of mud on the highway it’s cleaned off immediately.
The development officer clarified the county doesn’t have much authority over the highway mud problem. “Our jurisdiction is limited on this because it is a provincial highway,” said Fitzgerald. He noted staff forwards those complaints to the proper authorities.
Reeve Clark stated that mud leaving the site concerned him not only for possible traffic risk but for the possible noxious weed threat it posed to producers; the mud might contain seeds that could spread to other property.
Coun. Dave Grover echoed the weed concern and also asked the WM staff how many members of the public they contacted. LeMaistre answered six to eight, roughly “everyone directly around the landfill.”
Coun. Justin Stevens asked if open burning is conducted on site. LeMaistre responded negatively. “We don’t do that on site, no,” said LeMaistre.
Coun. Grover asked when a new landfill cell, where refuse is buried, will come into use. WM staff member Ursula Acuña Kuchenbecker responded the current unit may be full by 2026 when unit 3 will then be used; she added that test wells at the landfill are checked by an independent third party.
Coun. Ernie Gendre asked why the property was zoned agriculture when it’s used for something that appears to be industrial.
Director of Planning and Development Craig Teal answered that the County of Stettler’s land use bylaw (LUB) treats this as a discretionary use on agriculture zoning and that’s the way it’s been handled since the landfill was first developed.
Board members approved the development permit application by a 6 to 1 vote, Grover opposed.
Stu Salkeld
Local Journalism Initiative reporter
ECA Review
