Air Ronge council supports the wildfire mitigation work. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

wildfire mitigation

Air Ronge council to move ahead with tree thinning near elementary school

Dec 18, 2020 | 11:13 AM

An Air Ronge resident is requesting proper consultation to be done on a tree thinning project even though council wants the work completed.

Larissa Muirhead spoke to Air Ronge council at a regular meeting Thursday on behalf of 36 residents, who she said have concerns about upcoming forest vegetation thinning and brush pile burning services near Gordon Denny Community School. She wants council to hold off on the project until consultation is done with those who live in the area.

“That was kind of my position is coming to the meeting and bringing forward the concern that there was no consultation done,” Muirhead said. “I was told this project has been in the works since 2005 and much of the residents on De Havilland Avenue have changed since 2005, so there wasn’t any consultation done. It wasn’t done with the people who currently live in the area.”

Muirhead noted she was told the completion date for tree thinning is March 20, 2021, so she believes there is still time for council to reach out to residents. She also wants to know if there is a contingency plan for after the cutting is done.

So far, Muirhead explained she’s been assured the clean up job will be done properly and better than what was done near Stinsin Street in the past. She’s disappointed, however, the work will move ahead and would like council to engage with residents in a meaningful way.

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“I suggested doing something other than just online like actually tucking a survey in the mailboxes of the Air Ronge residents or even tucking something in the door like they did during the election,” Muirhead said. “They are able to do all these things to gain the trust and to gain the votes of the people, and then when it really matters when their voices should be heard, I’m hoping to have the same kind of effort put into that.”

This area in Air Ronge will be involved in the project. (Northern Village of Air Ronge/Facebook)

In a statement released earlier this month by Air Ronge administration in response to a petition launched by Muirhead, it stated in 2005 a Community Wildfire Risk Assessment found Air Ronge to be at high risk. Then, after the Egg Fire in 2015 resulting in the large-scale evacuation of tri-community residents, council sent a letter to the provincial government demanding action.

The statement also added a public meeting was held in 2015 for residents to bring forward concerns about the wildfires and community safety moving forward.

“While the concerns of our residents are of great importance to council, in the interest of the safety and longevity of our community, council has reiterated its commitment to the completion of this project and expects further recommendations from our provincial government in the future,” the statement noted.

A tender was also sent out for tree thinning and brush pile burning near the La Ronge Airport and La Ronge Health Centre.

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno