Brush pile burning and tree clearing set to get underway at the Whitecourt Airport

Two tenders were awarded for work at the Whitecourt Airport during the Woodlands County Regular Meeting of Council on January 19. The first was short and sweet. Council had previously approved the sale of standing timber on the unfenced area at the airport to help fund the burning of brush piles and breaking the land within the fenced area. The timber sale was advertised, and three bids came in. “The estimated revenue is, conservatively, $130,000,” explained Director of Infrastructure Andre Bachand.

Granger Labor Services was the highest bidder. Prices submitted by them were $38.00/tonne for Coniferous, $6.00/tonne for Aspen, $15.00/tonne for Birch, $15.00/tonne for Tamarac and $5.00/tonne for standing dry coniferous. Councillor Peter Kuelken asked if they would be looking to do brush pile work down in the area where the timber would be cut. “No. There is no brush. All the slash stays on the ground with the expectation that the area will reforest itself,” explained Bachand. Council voted unanimously to approve Granger Labor Services as the winning tender.

The second item had to do with the brush piles at the airport. “Two years ago, we undertook to log the lands within the fenced area of the airport, which was due to a court order. One of the remaining items to be done is the disposal of the brush piles. An RFP was let out and advertised. We had four submittals. Two submittals for open-air burning, one for chipping all the material and disposing, and one for burning using an air curtain. There were criteria utilized to evaluate the proposals. The things considered were smoke management, the timeline, and the price, and each item was weighted. Given that the proposal submitted by MacRitchie Forestry Services scored the highest and is the lowest bid, the recommendation is that the brush pile disposal RFP be awarded to G. MacRitchie Forestry Services,” said Bachand.

G. MacRitchie Forestry Services tendered for $66,770, Roszko Construction Ltd tendered for $194,205, and Pineridge Chippers Ltd for $380,000. Prairie Creek Energy Services, which burns with an air curtain that produces very little smoke at start-up and nothing during the burn process, was the most expensive at $505,260.

Councillor Jeremy Wilhelm had a few questions about the recommendation. “G. MacRitchie is obviously significantly lower, which weights them higher, but they also have a significantly shortened timeframe with a potential to double their timeframe. Are we looking at $66,770 as a base with the potentiality of increasing (the cost) as time increases?”

Mr. Bachand said that whether they used fourteen days or thirty, the cost would not change. “The only caveat in their proposal for price increase was if, due to atmospheric conditions, they have to put the fires out and then relight them and then put them up again and then relight them, then there is a charge for a third lighting.”

Councillor Wilhelm asked if the relighting scenario would be due to dry conditions. “That would be if the atmospheric conditions changed and there’s a temperature inversion, and the smoke hangs on the ground, basically,” Bachand explained.

Councillor Alan Deane wanted more information on the term “favourable atmospheric conditions.” There are probably a thousand people that live within a couple of miles of where those piles are, and that smoke hangs in the valley. I’ve had questions and concerns from residents already that are aware those piles are going to be burned. How can we assure those residents that the smoke isn’t going to hang around their residences for fourteen days? Are we depending on the wind?”

Mr. Bachand said when dealing with smoke, there’s no guarantee. He explained that when smoke goes straight up and sideways, it takes the smoke up and away. “If the wind is sheering off at 90, then they wouldn’t be burning. If there’s a temperature inversion and they start burning, and the smoke just hangs, then they have to put the piles out. If it does become an issue, then the instructions are that they have to put the piles out.”

Councillor Deane asked how an issue would be determined. “That would be consultation between Administration and the contractor,” replied Mr. Bachand. Councillor Deane then wondered if somebody would drive by if asthmatic residents called, complaining about the smoke at their residences. “Hopefully, before you get those calls, we would be on it,” said Mr. Bachand.

CAO Gordon Frank said that unfortunately, the options in front of Council were to go with the lowest tender and allow smoke or choose a more expensive option that guarantees no smoke. “I can tell you, from a couple of years ago, we had the experience with Millar Western, who unfortunately had an inversion where the smoke (lingered), I think it was (for) four days. We got calls from their brush piles being burned. Unfortunately, they didn’t anticipate that, and the weather moved in, and they got stuck with it.”

Mayor John Burrows asked how much was budgeted for the project. Mr. Bachand said that they estimated it would cost around $50,000 and that the logging happening outside the fenced area, which they approved moments earlier, would be funding it.

Councillor Bruce Prestidge said he understood as an asthmatic, but added smoke can come from all over. “Last summer was so bad at our place from (fires in) B.C. It’s not nice to do the burning, and you don’t know what the consequences will be, but it’s something that happens. I don’t see any other way. We can’t afford to do a smoke-free process on this.”

Mayor Burrows queried Council. “Burn it or chip it?” Councillor Dave Kusch motioned to award the tender to G. MacRitchie Forestry Services. Councillor Deane pressed Administration to monitor the smoke scrupulously. Councillor Prestidge said that the process is different nowadays and should help. “When they pile brush, they go with an excavator with each log and put it in a pile. It’s not like they used to do and push it up with dirt and everything else. So, there’s a lot less smoke. They burn really hot and really fast.”

Councillor Dave Kusch said he understands the smoke is a problem and doesn’t want to see people choked out. “I live in the area that was impacted with the brush piles from the mill a couple of years ago, and it was bad. But, to this motion, we can’t afford the other options, and something has to get done.” The vote was unanimously in favour.