The Town of Creighton has a slight issue on its hands – a sloppy, gloopy issue, specifically in the town’s sewer pipes.
Creighton’s public works department has recently raised concerns over high amounts of household grease in the town’s sewer system. High levels of grease were discovered at one of the town’s lift stations, but the origin of the nastiness is not known.
“We’re just trying to figure out where it’s coming from,” said Paula Muench, chief administrative officer for the Town of Creighton. “Someone’s either not putting it in pails and dumping it down into the sanitation system, then it causes issues at the lift station.”
Under existing municipal bylaws, Creighton residents and businesses are prohibited from dumping grease, along with other substances like oil and gas, into drains or sewer pipes. Instead, the town requests that excess grease be stored in sealed pails or containers.
Grease, along with assorted non-biodegradable materials, can congeal within pipes and cause large masses and blockages. These items, sometimes known as “fatbergs,” can harden like concrete and cause extensive damage to sewer infrastructure.
PDAC
Creighton Mayor Bruce Fidler will make his way east for a conference, with promoting mining investment his main priority.
The mayor plans to attend this year’s Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) convention in Toronto. The convention, which will be in March, is the country’s largest mining and mineral exploration trade event.
“I’ve had discussions with a number of different people who have been there and with the way things are right now, I think it’s good timing,” said Fidler.
While delegations representing the City of Flin Flon and Flin Flon-based mining companies have attended the event in the past, it will be the first time that a group from Creighton will attend the event.
The decision was made in part following the meeting with Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River MP Georgina Jolibois, where Fidler said she could be able to arrange discussions between mining companies and municipal officials.
“We talked with our member of parliament as well, and she is willing to set up meetings and that for me and anyone from Flin Flon ... with investors, junior miners, things like that,” he said.
“I think it’s a good chance, to have these meetings and bring the interest to juniors and investors.”
“Now might be the best time,” added councillor Colleen Stallard.
MP meeting
A meeting between Creighton officials and their member of parliament appears to have had positive results.
Members of Creighton town council, including Fidler, met with Jolibois during an official visit earlier this month. Fidler and Jolibois, a former mayor of La Loche, have worked together on regional causes in the past.
“There were a number of things, things that have been working for us in the area, things that haven’t been. I don’t know if she can help or not, but it was more or less general discussion about how things are going around here,” said Fidler.
As a federal politician, Jolibois is able to influence some areas of policy related to the North. Some areas of concern, however, fall under the jurisdiction of the provincial government.
“Some of them aren’t in her area where she has no influence there. It’s more provincial stuff than federal. It’s always nice to have connections with the federal government and keep those,” said Fidler.
“I’ve known Georgina for many, many years now, so if we do need any assistance there, it’s just nice to keep in touch.”
