A stormwater drain has created erosion causing water to flow the Burnco pit just northwest of the Ponoka Industrial Airport.
The issue came to light recently and town engineers have determined there is a channel draining into the gravel pit that appears to have been created by the town’s storm drainage.
Dwayne Kwolick, manager of operations for the Town of Ponoka, told council at its Sept. 12 meeting that Burnco is pleased to work with the town on the issue but it does need to be fixed.
“Now we have a spring at the bottom of the washout,” said Kwolick.
He says there’s a channel there and the original plan to put a clay-based seal is not enough as the spring will wash it away. A request for an assessment, which includes a hydrogeological or geotechnical assessment, is needed, said Kwolick.
This is due to the fact that the spring and nearby water are a concern.
Plus there’s a legal concern with the water running off into the pit, however, Kwolick says Burnco is working with the town. It is believed the company has been pumping the excess storm water into the river. He believes Burnco has a permit for that.
Coun. Carla Prediger asked who did the original work and Kwolick believes about 20 years ago the work was done with some engineering conducted by Tagish Engineering.
Coun. Marc Yaworski asked what the potential costs to the town are for a study and repair. At an initial glance Kwolick, without having the full assessment — estimated at $60,000 — said the repair costs could be $100,000.
One concern for Mayor Rick Bonnett regarded any special requests from Burnco. He wondered if the company would consider working with the town on some work for trade.
Kwolick feels some discussion can be had with the company as the town and Burnco have a good rapport.
Prediger took issue with the cost of the assessment.
“Part of the cost would be the survey to get an accurate measurement of how much material is needed,” replied Kwolick, adding that water and environmental studies will be needed.
Bonnett asked about the potential of reaching out to Tagish Engineering, the company believed to have worked on the project storm drainage project in the first place.
“They’re the ones that built it and planned it,” said Bonnett.
“We would have to get it restored before freeze up,” suggested Kwolick.
Even if this request gets approved by council, Underhill was skeptical of the town being able to get the report done, approved and repairs completed before winter hits.
Kwolick suggests the town could wait until spring.
Council approved the request to conduct an engineering study estimated at $60,000, with funds coming from the Federal Gas Tax grant, only if a request to work with Tagish on a discounted price didn’t work out.
Road usage negotiations
Two weeks later at the Sept. 26 meeting, Underhill also made the motion to have the town negotiate with Burnco on a road usage agreement to deal with damaged town roads.
Final update
Following council’s Sept. 12 request to see if Tagish will work with the town, Chris McKenna, director of operations and property services, told council at its Oct. 10 meeting that Tagish will work with the town.
The company met with the town and inspected the site and McKenna says while the issue was no real fault of anyone’s, the company agreed to conduct the study for $20,000.
He clarified that what appears to have happened is the river flooded around the bend after the storm drain. The flooding caused the water to come back on itself and back into the drain.
McKenna added that Burnco is amiable to having the stream go into the pit and then properly repair the drainage ditch.