A Morningside area property that has been the subject of three failed rezoning applications and a stop work order was back under the glare of Ponoka County council.
Brian and Shauna Glasman appeared at the May 14 meeting to refute many of the allegations that have been made about activity going on at the land on C & E Trail (Township Road 421A) just east of Range Road 263.
The Glasmans operate ProMetal Management, a mobile metal recycling business, that has come up against vocal opposition to attempts to redevelop the site for use producing concrete building slabs and processing of metal to be recycled.
READ MORE: Ponoka County dumps rezoning application by recycling operation
Last November, the county issued a stop work order for the property after investigating complaints that storage and processing of metal recycling were substantiated. The company had recently sold the land in Lacombe that had housed the business and had temporarily moved operations.
READ MORE: Ponoka County issues stop order on un-permitted scrap metal recycler
However, the Glasman’s explained to council that since that time they have been adhering to the conditions of the development permit currently on the property, using it for storage of equipment and sale of certain items.
Unfortunately, there remains some customers that drop off items at the property and the Glasmans deal with it rather than turning them away. That means having to use the equipment to process it there, as they don’t presently have anywhere else to do it.
That explanation left some councillors unimpressed and voicing how incredible it seems that the stop order isn’t being adhered to.
“Why are you doing all of that stuff when you don’t have a permit? It’s frustrating because we are a complaint-driven county and we have to deal with it,” said Coun. Mark Matejka.
Brian Glasman noted they don’t accept material at the property, but keep getting calls about where customers can take stuff or even items being dropped off, so it gets processed. At that point, he stated, neighbours start complaining, so they simply want to find a solution.
CAO Charlie Cutforth then provided council with a possible solution, use of a former gravel pit or similar site, to store the metal to be recycled and have it processed there.
“How do we fix this for the future? My suggestion is to re-establish some credibility by proving you can conform to your permit and in the meantime, if we can find a location for the storage and processing, it makes perfect sense,” he said.
In the end, council and the Glasmans welcomed the idea with council directing administration to help search for a solution.