Municipality to hold one-on-one engagements on flood risk this month

A flooded neighbourhood along the Clearwater River in downtown Fort McMurray, Alberta is shown on Tuesday, April 28, 2020. Officials in Fort McMurray are keeping a close eye on river levels after a 25-kilometre ice jam caused major flooding and forced about 12,000 people from their homes. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Greg Halinda

Community engagement on flood risk begins this month.

The RMWB will hold discussions with property owners in Waterways, Ptarmigan Court, and Draper.

RMWB Council mandated that the administration hold one-on-one engagements at their Sept. 15-21 council meetings.

Deputy CAO Matthew Hough said they will visit properties in Waterways that are below the 250.9-meter line this week.

He added discussions in Ptarmigan Court would begin the week of Oct. 12, and Draper below the 250.9-meter line later in October.

“It’s our goal to engage one-on-one with property owners in Ptarmigan Court, as well as property owners below 250.9 m in Waterways and Draper before December. We are appreciative of the many residents that have already participated in engagement. We need as much dialogue as possible for our next update to Council, so we encourage all property owners to participate.”

Property and land owners in these areas should schedule appointments by calling or emailing Pulse at (780) 743-7000.

One-on-one engagements may occur in-person, over the phone, or by electronic means.

They will also follow all provincial COVID-19 health and safety protocols.

Other contact methods include door-to-door visits, registered mail to property and land owners, including out-of-town owners, electronic signage, social media messages, or website content.

Licensed surveyors validating property evaluations begin in mid-October in Waterways, Ptarmigan Court, and Draper.

A representative from the RMWB will contact homeowners should a surveyor require access to a home.