High River flood-mitigation berm irks some adjacent homeowners

Some High River residents are upset about losing their view because of a three-metre high flood-mitigation berm.

• Flood mitigation in Calgary, High River gets go-ahead from Prentice

Nineteen residents sent a letter to council saying the seven-kilometre stretch of raised earth one of two berms being constructed on the north and south sides of theHighwood River has lowered their property values.

"We have a neighbour two doors down, he paid over $400,000 for his a year ago, got a big sundeck on the back, and he's been trying to sell it, said area resident Ron LeBlanc.

He's had two people come look at it. They look out the back window and said no thanks, not with that berm."

But High River Mayor Craig Snodgrass said town council and most residents strongly support the berms.

Theres things that need to be done, when you make these decisions, yes its for the good of the whole community, but Im not nave to think that it doesnt affect people differently personally, he said.

But you always have to look at things, whats the best for High River.

High River resident Ginger Noel agreed. I think the berm is a safety measure for the rest of the town, she said.

So, I live in another part of town, so Im grateful for the berm because I think its going to protect where I live next time, and the rest of the town. I think losing a view is a small price to pay to not go through what we did.

Devastating floods last summer left hundreds of people in High River homeless and cost millions of dollars in property damage.

Snodgrass has brought the issue up at council and drafted a letter in response to the complaining residents. But he said its hard to see their point of view.

"I'll show you what a loss of home value is cut a notch in that thing for your view, your home value is nada, he said.