Kneehill County will not move forward with a proposed project to provide rural residents living east of the Town of Three Hills with water servicing due to a lack of support from residents.
Earlier this year, administration conducted a survey to gauge the interest and commitment of residents to connect to water servicing if the project were to move forward, even at a substantial investment to residents in the area.
“Council had also given in their prior direction, in order for this project to progress to the next stage of development, that support and commitment of funds must be received by a minimum of 80 per cent of those eligible residential parcels within the study area,” explained Environmental Services manager John McKiernan during the regular Tuesday, June 27 council meeting.
While the survey was open to all Kneehill County residents, 95 residences were deemed eligible as they fell within the proposed service area.
A total of 48 surveys from these eligible residences were received prior to the April 10 deadline, and an additional 12 surveys or responses to administrative phone calls were received after this deadline, with 35 surveys not returned.
Along with these surveys, administration also received two responses from landowners with bare parcels in the survey area, and one from outside the service area.
Of those surveys received, a total of 33 respondents indicated that they were interested in receiving connection to a regional potable water system, while 27 stated they were not interested.
A previous feasibility study indicated residents would require a minimum financial commitment of at least $20,000 in order to connect to the service, and 32 respondents indicated they would be willing to make this commitment, in principle, towards the project.
While the responses received were generally favourable, the minimum threshold of 80 per cent-or about 76 area residents-was not met and whether to move forward with the project was put to the question of council.
Following some discussion, council passed a motion with a vote of one opposed and five in favour to communicate with landowners in the Three Hills East area the project will not proceed, and further options will not be explored, due to a lack of support from area residents.

The valley continues to be sought by studios locally and abroad for film production, and this year is no exception.
Earlier this year The Order, featuring Jude Law, was shot in Drumheller using areas of downtown as a backdrop.
The valley is also currently supporting two productions last week.
Karen Harnisch, producer for In Cold Light, was on the set in the valley Friday as they shot the action thriller.
“The director Maxime Giroux came here a few years ago to come here and scout and fell in love with the vista,” said Harnisch.
The film stars Mika Monroe, who was in It Follows, and Troy Kotsur, who won the Oscar for best performance by an actor in a Supporting Role for his work on the hit CODA.
Harnisch said the thriller takes place in Alberta, and they shot live at the Ponoka Rodeo. The protagonist is attempting to straighten out her life after a stint in prison, but after her twin is murdered, and being a witness, she is forced to go on the run.
She explains it is an independent Canadian film and is a Quebec, Ontario, Alberta co-production.
“It makes it pretty complicated but also pretty special. It was also supported by TeleFilm Canada as well as SODEC (Société de développement des entreprises culturelles, in Quebec), and the tax credit here in Alberta is also playing a major role in helping us make the movie,” she said.
The film will be released in Canada through Elevation Pictures, and she says Albertans should have no problem finding it when it comes out in 2024.
It will also have an international release through XYZ Films.
They will be shooting in Alberta until July 20.
On the same day, filmmaker Griffin Cork, who has worked on a number of features in the valley, including the series Abracadavers was also on set.
Numera Film was working on a project for an oversea streaming service, currently referred to as Project Six Shooter.