Flood mitigation is one of the issues facing candidates running for High River Council in this years election.

Veteran Councillor Don Moore says he's glad to see a firm offer on the table to the landowner to get the ball rolling on the southwest berm project.

However, he was less than impressed with the offer put to the landowner.

"It's too bad that the landowner there held the citizens of High River for ransom. Basically by holding out and wanting more and more for his land so we had to go to the step of expropriation. And it can be a happy one. A cooperative one, or it can be a divorce style. The one thing about expropriation is it's got a one year time limit on it. So, they can't drag it out. It's got to be a decision made within a year. And we're being overly generous with the offer we're making for the property."

In the end the Town has offered the landowner close to $3.63 million for the land that would be used as part of the berm.

Moore says getting a new Centre Street Bridge is also a priority when it comes to flood mitigation, but he says, outside of downtown parking, he's not hearing much dissatisfaction heading into the vote Monday, October 16.

 

Send us your news tips, story ideas and comments at news@highriveronline.com