Spray Lake starts log haul
News
Posted By Joni MacFarlane, Editor
Posted 1 month ago
Spray Lake Sawmills was ready to start hauling logs on McGillivrary Road but council wasn't ready to give its blessing.
The municipality received a letter from Spray Lake stating they "reluctantly had to sequence the cutblocks in the McGillivrary area as this is our 'summer ground' volume".
This moved their log haul from Sept. 7 to July 12.
Earlier this year, council unanimously approved a five-year road use agreement for the logging company to use the Allison-Atlas, McGillivrary and Tecumseh Roads. In that agreement Spray Lake said the log haul would take place during the months of December through March.
Spray Lake said they're ready to go ahead now.
Gordon Lundy, chief administrative officer, reminded council there is no timing restriction in the road use agreement except for Tecumseh Road. He also reminded them the clause requiring special permission outside of this timeframe was removed from the agreement with council's knowledge.
Council was concerned that hauling in the summer would result in a lot of dust. Hauling later in the year would result in the least amount of dust.
Spray Lake had already agreed to pay $23,200 for dust suppression.
At the meeting on July 13, Spray Lake Woodlands Forester Martin Wilson, came to council to explain his company's early haul date.
Wilson said there were three reasons for the decision. First, when the issue was discussed with council in the winter, Spray Lake didn't know their volumes or production values.
"At that time, it was really a best guess," he said. "We didn't have that [information] then, but two months ago we had a definite production sequence."
Martin apologized for not telling the municipality at that time.
Second, the lumber market has since improved resulting in increased harvesting.
Third, the "saw-out" date is earlier than expected. Martin explained that the saw-out date is when the mill runs out of wood to cut. It was originally expected to be late summer or early fall, but it's now late July.
Martin said Spray Lake has been hauling from northern regions but a rainy June has meant there was an "insignificant" amount of logs.
He was asked if not starting the log haul earlier in the Pass would result in the mill shutting down and people being laid off.
"I hope not," he answered.
Martin was asked if Spray Lake would be willing to pay more for additional oil that might be needed for dust suppression.
He told council the initial road use agreement required payment of $20,000 and it was his understanding that the extra $3,200 was for this purpose.
Councillor Dean Ward expressed his dissatisfaction with the lack of communication.
"We're trying to be as open and transparent as possible and give you information based on current information," said Martin. "We want to maintain your trust. We don't want to give the impression we're misleading you."
Spray Lake began hauling on Monday, July 19 and will be running 16 trucks to remove 1,100 loads. The first truck of the day will go up McGillivrary Road at 4 a.m. and the last truck out will be at 2 p.m. daily. No trucks will operate on the weekends.
