Spray Lake Sawmills (SLS) is moving its Jamieson and Richards roads log hauling operation to an alternate route.
The Cochrane-based company informed the MD of Bighorn last week it would shift from MD roads to a private road for the remainder of the 2016 season.
The newly finalized route is west on Jamieson off Highway 1A.
The new arrangement is set, however, the Road Use Agreement (RUA) between SLS and the MD for log hauling purpose on the subject roads is still intact.
Should hauling usage begin on the subject roads again, a notification would be provided on mdbighorn.ca, according to the MD of Bighorn’s website.
This year’s abnormally warm conditions factored into the decision to move away from the residential roads.
The roads aren’t built to industrial standards, said Reeve Dene Cooper, and a haul can only occur when it’s frozen.
“As soon as the surface of the road is thawed, the big trucks would damage it,” said Cooper. “There has been more off days than on days, which has been insufficient for (SLS) needs.”
The company started seeing the mild temperature trends in January, said Ed Kulcsar, woodlands manager at SLS.
Due to this, SLS has prepared itself with several options moving forward.
“When we look at developing haul routes out of an area we look at different options. Certainly the unusually warm weather in February was a factor,” said Kulcsar.
Kulcsar said SLS would work on re-establishing the RUA between the company and municipality for next season.
“We want to keep that as an option and conduct a safe haul on Jamieson and want to renegotiate and keep other options open,” Kulcsar.
Community dissatisfaction had a loud voice against the RUA on Jamieson and Richards.
At the February MD regular meeting, council shot down an SLS request to do log hauling on Jamieson during some nights.
Cooper is “very pleased” a private agreement has been achieved for the company and residents alike.
“I commend SLS that they pursued the private road as long and vigorously as they have,” Cooper said.
