Reeve Derril Butler voiced his opinion in February 2010 Lac Ste Anne Newsletter as an attempt to discredit the integrity of the honest, civil and reasonable citizens who have spoken out against the unethical bylaws and county practices which Butler obviously defends. Butler does not acknowledge the wisdom of the people he serves; insulting them “as unreasonable people who are trying to shut down the gravel industry”. However, Butler can not defend this falsehood because there has been nothing BUT honest, civil and reasonable conduct from all citizens who continue to courageously present their well-informed concerns about the risks of gravel extraction to our property values, peaceful rural neighborhoods, and our diminishing water resources.

Reeve Butler fails to disclose that local citizens first did tremendous research, and sought professional advice so as to provide Council with a wealth of information for forming sound bylaws and land use policies based on preserving a viable community for all. Contrary to Butler’s message, citizen research proves that Lac Ste Anne County’s process ‘is widely questioned and contradicted by other municipalities, specifically as it relates to the gravel industry’.

Last fall, many citizens wrote letters requesting revisions to the current unfair bylaws which allow gravel extraction as close as 3 meters from residential properties; fails to protect sensitive areas; and has one set of generous bylaws for gravel companies, and another set of restrictive bylaws for all other developers, industries and residents. 8 months later, Butler has not called for the second reading of what was to be June 2009 bylaw revisions. Citizen’s voices are being ignored.

In response to the strong citizen objection to the 2003 Gravel Management Plan, Reeve Butler provided several written commitments – NONE of which have ever been honored. Butler wrote that ‘a committee including local citizens to address gravel issues would be formed’; and it never was. Citizen’s requests in 2008 to form such a committee were blatantly refused by Butler. Butler’s message “the prescribed application process includes continuing public consultation” is completely false: Citizens have been denied addressing Council about gravel issues for over a year; advised that “our elected representatives are not to speak to citizens about gravel issues so that they can not viewed as biased by the gravel companies”. Contrary to his message, Butler’s mandate demonstrates ‘that County residents should NOT have a significant say in our land-use policies and how they regulate the gravel industry’.

Alberta is in a water crisis, and already several municipalities in southern Alberta are critically at risk of being completely out of water. Alberta Government has responded with intensive initiatives to preserve Alberta rivers, landscapes and the underground water resources. They provided the Water for Life Strategy and Land Use Framework with clear directives for municipalities to identify and protect groundwater resources, wetlands, and riverbanks. If our Councilors do not implement these measures, we could be added to the list of those municipalities at risk of being completely out of water.

Rural citizens rely on well water for drinking, cooking and cleaning…well water that comes from a water-saturated gravel bed. These are the same gravel beds Butler is promoting for complete extraction. It is common knowledge that “where there is good gravel there is good water”, and vice versa. Water knows no boundaries, so when one owner removes the gravel from his land, the entire local watershed can be affected. Maybe we didn’t know that before, but scientific studies are proving this everyday. Maybe this wasn’t a problem before, but today it most certainly is.

The gravel industry is one of the wealthiest in the world. They have the financial ability, as well as the social responsibility to identify, protect and preserve our vulnerable water resources as they mine our countryside for gravel.

Butler is ignoring the directives of the Alberta Govt, and discrediting conscientious citizens, as he defends his unsound bylaws which allow gravel companies to violate federal laws, and ignore the province’s critically important Land Use Framework...and potentially put a gravel pit 3 meters from everyone's home. Butler’s practices demonstrate how he is abusing the power entrusted in him by the Alberta Government, and how he neglecting his responsibility to protect and preserve the environmental viability of our county.

Reeve Butler has admitted that he has never read any of the professional information the citizens have provided to him.

Respectfully submitted
Patricia Fish

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Read the Reeve's opinion in the Feb 2010 Newletter (pdf)

 

 

" The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for enough good men to do nothing"
Edmund Burke - Philosopher