I would like to take this opportunity to address some of the incorrect information in Mr. Gervais’ letter to the editor.
Your letter stated this council has held “secret meetings” for three years. I have been Reeve for 15 months. There have been no “secret meetings” during that time. The Reeve who can speak to the previous two years is on your committee. If there were “secret meetings” he would have been the host.
In addition, the Crystal Lake Hutterian Brethren only decided on this location in the fall of 2017. Another member of your committee knows this because she was waiting for the drilling company to finish the work for the Colony so she could then have a well drilled for herself.
The “three-year work cycle spent by council” is just plain nonsense.
There has been considerable discussion at council with respect to the aquifers. We do not apologize that we are not engineers. We, as council, take each situation on its merits. We use data provided to us by engineers and other professionals to help us shape our decisions.
The data presented to council to this point is very clear. There is virtually no chance the Fulton Lake aquifer will be impacted. There is virtually no chance Crystal Lake will be impacted. (Observation by author of data)
It is far more likely the aquifer may be adversely impacted by the Stenen sewage lagoon and cattle farms that are over the aquifer. The Crystal Lake Hutterian poultry ILO (intensive livestock operation) is a “dry covered” operation. There is no chance of leaching into the aquifer.
Mr. Gervais voices concerns regarding “Odours and flies.”
Have you called any RMs and/or neighbours of poultry ILOs in Alberta or Saskatchewan or Ontario? I have, and have been told by people who live within a quarter mile they “get the odd whiff maybe twice a year.” Stenen is 1.5 mi from the location and Crystal Lake is three miles away.
Mr. Gervais made a comment, “This has occurred without consultation of the village of Stenen or other users of this fresh water source,” regarding the Hutterite Colony application. That is completely false. Letters were sent to all affected ratepayers of the RM of Keys that live with the provincial government set-back limits and in all cases exceeded what was required.
The Town of Stenen was sent a letter AND the Crystal Lake Hamlet Board was told verbally even though these communities are almost double the distances suggested. In addition, council held a public hearing at 10 a.m. on April 12, and 2.5 hours were set aside to listen to ratepayer concerns during the annual ratepayers meeting of April 16.
Another comment in Mr. Gervais’ letter was regarding “a project that serves only one applicant.” Unless you have other information, there is only one applicant for the construction of multiple homes, a school, church and farm related shops. That is the Crystal Lake Hutterian Brethren.
Mr. Gervais made a comment that council was “pushing for approval.” The RM Council has handled this application in the same order and timeline it has dealt with any other bylaw change. The council has had it’s second reading of the bylaw change and as previously stated, will wait for further information and permits provided by Sask. Agriculture and the Sask. Water Security Agency before our final decision is made.
Mr. Gervais claims council has provided “little or no response to questions.” During our April 12 public hearing extensive and accurate notes were taken. At the Ratepayers Annual Meeting of April 16, notes were taken verbatim. If anyone choose to go through these notes they will find that any attempt made by our administrator, this writer, or members of council to address questions and comments were shouted down at almost every turn. I think an appropriate description of both meetings would best be described as “mob mentality.”
The RM of Keys office has been presented with a petition for a referendum. The referendum question only speaks to one topic. It seeks to prevent the Crystal Lake Hutterian Brethren from making their home anywhere within the RM of Keys. Not one word in the proposed referendum speaks to the ILO, which strongly suggests the concerns are more to do with the living arrangements of the Colony than their farming operations.
I recently checked my dictionary for the proper meaning of “bigot” or “bigotry.” I was not surprised to find that there was no shame in either.
