Ratepayers from the R.M. of Moose Creek will vote and make their views known on May 2, 2011. In 1997, the Highway 361 project began with collaboration between the rural municipalities of Moose Creek, Browning, Benson and Cymri. From this, a partnership was formed to create a primary weight corridor which would run directly through the rural municipalities beginning at Highway #39 and ending at Highway #9.
In June of 1999, a Letter of Understanding between the R.M. of Moose Creek, the R.M. of Browning and the Department of Highways was signed which outlined the conditions of the project for each participating rural municipality. It stated that municipalities "arrange for the construction of a road, to complete the link in a direct east-west route" and "be built to Primary Grid standards or higher."
It further outlines that the municipalities would be responsible for managing this project, and upon completion that the R.M. of Moose Creek would receive $112,500 towards the costs of construction. According to the R.M. of Moose Creek newsletter, the cost of the project totalled $419,231.40 or $69,871.90/mile. As a result of the amount received from the Department of Highways (27 per cent) and the R.M. of Browning designating 2/3 of a grant they received, the out-of-pocket cost for the R.M. of Moose Creek was $77,731.40.
On April 6, 2011, a Highway #361 information meeting was held at Alameda School. The purpose of this meeting was to provide ratepayers with information regarding both the Highway #361 project and the upcoming referendum.
The R.M. of Moose Creek Administrator received a petition submitted by Harold Cushon, a representative of petitioners on Jan. 4, 2011. The petition requested that the council hold a referendum to "cancel its participation and funding commitment in the project immediately."
The R.M. of Moose Creek sought direction from Mike Morris, SARM Legal Counsel who provided the R.M. with three options for consideration. "The first option was to do nothing, continue on with the project and hope that nothing comes of the demands. The second option was to do nothing and wait for the petitioners to make application to the Court of Queen's Bench for a final ruling regarding the referendum. The third option was for Council to make application to the Court of Queen's Bench for a final ruling regarding the referendum."
Council proceeded to make an application to the Court of Queen's Bench for a final ruling. The ruling to hold a referendum was passed down on Feb. 18, 2011.
The ratepayers of the R.M. of Moose Creek will be voting on the following resolution:
"WHEREAS the RM of Moose Creek #33 Council has approved the upgrading and paving of Provincial Highway #361 commencing at its junction with Highway #9 and proceeding west for a total distance of approximately 9.6km and includes cost of design and construction engineering, the cost of preparing the tender documents and managing the tender process, as signed by Murray Rossow - Reeve, RM Moose Creek #33, June 16, 2010."
"BE IT RESOLVED That the RM of Moose Creek #33 not participate in any agreement nor provide any funding for the upgrading and paving of the portion of the Provincial Highway #361 within the jurisdiction of the RM of Moose Creek #33."
"BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in the event the Rural Municipality of Moose Creek #33 has entered into any agreement to fund the aforementioned upgrading and paving of Provincial Highway #361, that it cancel its participation and funding commitment in the project immediately."
If a ratepayer votes for this resolution, they are in fact voting to cancel the Highway #361 paving project.
If a ratepayer votes against this resolution they are in fact voting to continue with the Highway #361 paving project.
For more information of the vote, contact the R.M. office at 489-2044. For more information on the R.M. Council's support of the partnership agreement, contact your local Councillor or the Reeve at 925-4509. For more information on the petitioners reasoning for not supporting the paving project, contact Hal Cushon at 483-2004.
