By Kevin J. Sabo
For the Advance
The Town of Castor has received a request for gravel from a resident.
The request, which had been approved by the previous administration six years ago, was received again in the fall of 2019. Due to winter setting in it was decided at that time to hold off providing the gravel until spring.
The resident wants three-tandem trucks full of gravel to be placed at the back of his property in the west end of Castor. The area he is requesting the gravel for is on a right-of-way owned by the municipality, however residents have been using it as an alley.
“This is a right-of-way, not an alley,” Castor CAO Christopher Robblee informed council during their July 27th meeting.
“It’s a matter of risk for you. I’m concerned other residents will use it to access the back of their property, (and) we have to make sure it isn’t blocking drainage.”
Options presented to council for this request ranged from getting legal advice on Town liability if they provided the gravel, engineering and developing the access as a proper alley or completely blocking vehicle access on the right-of-way.
One option provided to council by administration was to provide the gravel at an estimated cost of $900, but to make it clear, in writing, that the Town would contribute no further to the development of the right-of-way, and that they would not warranty the infrastructure and that the right-of-way was not to be used as an alley.
“I think we should roll the dice and do option two (provide the gravel and letter),” said Coun. Lonny Nelner.
One concern about providing the gravel for the development of the right-of-way is how it will affect drainage in the area.
“We for sure had complaints this year that yards were flooding (in that area),” said Robblee.
Ultimately, council decided to provide the gravel and letter to the resident with the addition that he would be responsible for spreading the gravel along the right-of-way where he was wanting it.