Lacombe County is opposing a proposal to close an unused road allowance that connects to the lake in the Summer Village of Gull Lake.
“I don’t think they should be closing it,” said county commissioner Terry Hager. “I really don’t see it as being in the best interests of all the residents around Gull Lake.”
Coun. Rod McDermand agreed that closing the road allowance, which exists only on paper, would be a bad idea.
While it is not used as a lake access point now, it may be useful in the future. It would be difficult to turn back the clock if the access was later needed.
Hager said a similar situation has arisen on Sylvan Lake, where residents of Half Moon Bay wanted an unofficial boat launch point closed because of garbage and traffic problems.
The county also opposed that closure, which will not be happening, on the same principle.
Myra Reiter, chief administrative officer for the summer village, was not surprised by the county’s opposition. It has long been county policy to keep road allowances on the books, especially those near the lakes, in case they are later required.
Reiter said a group of about a dozen residents requested the road allowance be removed to “perfect” their titles to property in the area. Residents want to ensure that they are not barred from the road allowance at a future date, which would cut them off from a direct route to the lake.
Council voted unanimously to send a councillor to speak out against the road closure at a public hearing on Jan. 24 at 10 a.m. at the summer village’s administration office.
The final decision on closing the road allowance rests with Transportation Minister Wayne Drysdale.
pcowley@www.reddeeradvocate.com