Prince George, B.C. -  Over the past few weeks, Opinion250 has attempted to get the information on who called for the berm on  River Rd to remain in place during the spring thaw.

We also were seeking information as to when the warm water treatment into the river ended and what it had accomplished.

After 27 phone calls we contacted MLA Pat Bell who was able to secure some of the information. He also informed us for the first time that when the province cut the funding for the warm water, the city quit the program which was costing about $3,000 dollars a day. We have requested, but have not received, the final cost of that effort. (see previous story)

Opinion250 contacted Derek Bates, the  City Manager, given that we were being continually told by city hall officials that it was Lyle Larson (on behalf of the province) who had recommended the berm remain in place. Lyle Larson sat on the Emergency Operations Committee, a city committee that controlled the work that was to be done in respect to the flood of the Nechako. The Emergency Operations Committee was headed by City Manger Derek Bates.

The City’s General Manager of Development and Operations, Bob Radloff, advised City Council that it was the Province which had asked for the berm to remain in place until after the spring freshet.

The Provincial Emergency Program made it clear it had not made such  a request,  and the Ministry   of the Environment  passed along this response:

Ben, Derek Bates with the City is your contact for this. I believe he has provided you with the link to the City’s decision. This is the information Bates provided to the Ministry Of The Environment

Click Nechako Information..

Click Response..

Scroll down to Road Berms; the following quotation will be found:

"On December 31st and January 6th, river water levels exceeded the 200 year flood plain levels and in response the Emergency Operations Centre decided to construct earth berm diking in the Ongman Road and River Road areas and in some key areas, during the peak of flooding.

The River Road berm will stay in place until a permanent solution has been devised which is dependent on the long term study that is currently being negotiated between the City and the Province. The berm was a City street (River Road) which has been raised and is built to current Transportation Association Standards, and is considered safe."

This would suggest it was the Emergency Operations Centre which made the decision to construct the “berm” and that it is the City’s decision to keep it in place, not just until after the spring freshet, but until the long term study has been completed which would mean, the raised River Road would be in place until the spring of 2009.