County of Grande Prairie applies for disaster funding

County of Grande Prairie Council has approved sending an application for disaster funding to the province.
 
The County estimates spring flooding did $3,530,933.93 damage to its infrastructure.
 
CAO Bill Rogan says work which needs to be done includes fixing roads, bridge pipes, and culverts, along with grading and putting down more gravel.
 
“I don’t think we were surprised once we reviewed the length and breadth of the disaster, so to speak. It was very widespread, the Bear Creek corridor, a lot out along the Beaverlodge River, so a lot of roads (were) affected. I don’t think the numbers surprised us.”
 
He adds some temporary repairs were done to get the roads open again, but more permanent repairs need to be made.
 
“It’ll be a combination, in some locations, of building up the roads higher than they were, increasing the size of culverts if that’s an issue, really just to bring them back to the condition they were before the flood.”
 
Rogan says even if the County doesn’t get the funding, the repairs still have to be made.
 
“We’re aware of several other municipalities making application as well, (but) we do expect to hear by the middle of July.”