Construction has begun on a solution to a sewer issue that crept into Hussar last summer after heavy rains left several homes to clean up sewage that had leaked into their basements.
    The Village of Hussar is beginning construction this week on an overflow tank for the village’s sewer lift station.
    The aim of the project is to ensure the system does not back up during periods of heavy rainfall.
    “We had some back ups in the summer during a major rainstorm. It overwhelmed the system and we had some backups, so we decided it would be best to have an overflow tank,” said Hussar Chief Administrative Officer Jennifer Pratt. “We had four houses that had sewer damage. We had so much water go in, the pumps couldn’t keep up.”
    The tank would collect any sewage that could not be processed by the lift station. Residents should not have to fear of a repeat of last summer’s problems.
    The construction at this time is a temporary fix for the problem. The intent is to expand the lift station’s capabilities as the population of Hussar grows.
    The current station can handle material from roughly 350 buildings. The station pumps sewage from Hussar to the village’s sewage lagoon.
    “This is a temporary solution. We’ll see how this works. It had been discussed that as we grow, to increase the size of our lift station,” said Pratt.
    The goal is to have the tank installed and operational by the end of December.
    “We wanted to get it done now, before the spring, because that’s when we’re going to really need it,” said Pratt.

    While the Town of Drumheller has taken aim at coyotes in the town’s vicinity, they are now turning their sights on beavers along the Red Deer River.
    Mayor Terry Yemen has been in contact with the Alberta Trappers Association to ask about decreasing the number of dam building critters that's population, according to Yemen, is out of control.
    “I spent a lot of time on the river and years ago I hunted beaver and we had a good healthy population back then, but it is no where near what it is like now,” said Yemen. “They will basically eat themselves out of house and home and it eliminates all of our trees.”
    Yemen is a director on the Red Deer River Municipal Users Group and was supported by the group in contacting the Trappers Association. The association was not specifically to look at having someone trap, but more to gain a lobbying partner in taking the problem to the Alberta Government to address the issue.
    To solve the problem of an out of control beaver population, according to Yemen is not as simple as hunting them.
    “I have been trying for two years to get something done. They are a fur bearing animal so they have some protection, you can’t just go out and shoot them, you need a permit,” said Yemen.
    He said that they can issue permits to hunt or trap them, however the animals cannot simply be disposed of. The fur has to be properly processed. The problem is that the market for beaver pelts is weak.
    Jim Mitchell of the Alberta Trappers Association agrees the market is soft and if left unchecked the beavers can do significant damage.
    “I agree that the current low price of beaver is the root of your problems.  If beavers are not controlled they will certainly alter the landscape, often causing much damage by flooding and tree removal and in addition with high populations they are often susceptible to a bacterial disease called Tularemia which can cause problems to humans and water quality,” he said in correspondence with Mayor Yemen.
    Mitchell says the association is supportive.
    “I applaud your efforts to bring this issue to the government and unfortunately moral support is about all we can give at this time… The government of Alberta is well aware of our concerns which echo yours however no one seems willing to put up some funds to make management viable,” he states.
    Mayor Yemen said they have brought their concerns to the local MLA.
    “I sent it to Rick Strankman because lack of action by the government is his thing,” said Yemen.