ST. PAUL - A gate installed on a public road at a location in the Ashmont area brought up discussions over rural crime, with two members of council voicing strong support for residents who yearn for safety.
On July 14, County of St. Paul administration received correspondence from three Ashmont-area residents who wanted to install a permanent gate at the corner of their three subdivided parcels of land, just off Highway 28.
The residents have reportedly experienced recent incidents on their properties and are “concerned and worried for their safety,” according to information presented at the July 26 Public Works meeting.
At the time of the meeting on Tuesday, the gate had already been installed, heard council.
“We’re in an ever-changing world,” said Reeve Glen Ockerman, speaking to the increase in seriousness of crimes that are taking place in rural Alberta. He noted that years ago, people wouldn’t even lock the doors to their home, and now they are requesting locked gates.
“These people want to be safe,” said Ockerman, adding, “I feel for these residents.” Earlier this month, Lakeland This Week reported on an incident where Ockerman says his property was the target of armed gunmen stealing diesel from his farm tanks.
Ockerman said he felt the County would likely see more requests like this in the future.
Coun. Dale Hedrick echoed many of Ockerman’s thoughts, saying residents are “terrified.”
Hedrick was also reportedly involved in an incident where he chased a vehicle down a road after a suspicious vehicle had been parked outside his yard. The man allegedly behind the wheel was someone Hedrick said he recognized from security camera footage from previous break-ins on his property.
After pursuing the suspicious vehicle, Hedrick says shots were fired in his direction. Both incidents involving County council members were reported to the police.
During discussions about the gate, Ockerman noted that gates may be the next logical step in preventing crime. In the past, recommendations to install yard lights were offered, he noted.
Ockerman said he doesn’t believe the property owners making the request have any intention to acquire more property or control the road other than to ensure their own safety.
Coun. Darrell Younghans spoke against allowing the gate to stay up. A previous request from residents in another part of the County came up in the past, asking for permission to install a gate and prohibit access through a specific road.
At the time, administration looked into the issue and found the only way to allow the road to be gated would be if residents formed a condo association and took ownership of the road.
“The minute they lock it, it’s a private road,” said Younghans, although Hedrick did not agree, stating, “It’s still the same road. There’s just a gate.”
Speaking in response to Younghans recommendation to have the residents create a condo association, Ockerman stated that he felt as though he was “the one holding a gun to their head,” by making that request.
Ockerman reaffirmed that he did not believe the residents had any interest in the road itself, but “they want to protect themselves.”
Younghans noted that the residents do in fact want to control who is travelling on the road by installing the gate. “We need to look at the liability.”
Younghans said he was in favour of the gate being locked if they do it right. He also noted that the request was a “symptom of a bigger problem.”
Hedrick said he would like administration to look at creating a policy that would allow gates to be installed on County roads. He also questioned how much work would be involved in residents creating a condo association and felt it may be easier to have a policy in place instead.
Having residents create a condo association was an example of creating “red tape,” said Hedrick, noting that people would have to “jump through hoops” to create an association.
A motion to direct residents to either gate their own private property or form a condo association was carried by council. Part of the motion also included directing the policy committee to investigate the creation of a policy regarding gates on County roads.
Townhall on rural crime
Later in the meeting on July 26, Ockerman brought forward a request to host a townhall meeting to address concerns around an increase in violent calls and incidents that are taking place.
Ockerman said residents have been asking questions about what they can do to protect themselves, and a meeting in the Ashmont area is being sought. Ockerman recommended inviting local MLAs and the RCMP to attend.
“We realize what the RCMP is up against,” said Ockerman. Further discussions also pointed to an invitation being sent to local Crown Prosecutors.
CAO Sheila Kitz said she would be happy to put something together. A date of “mid-August” was put forward and a motion to direct administration to organize a townhall meeting was approved.
On Thursday, Hedrick told Lakeland This Week that a meeting was scheduled for that evening at Cork Hall due to residents' immediate concerns. But, a larger meeting with more representatives is still being planned for later this month.
