An emotionally charged town hall meeting in High River Friday night as residents of the community of Sunrise, and area devastated by the flood, voiced their concerns and frustrations to Wildrose leader Danielle Smith.
"…and now the town is charging us for permits to rip our basements out,” said one unidentified resident during the meeting. “You wonder why we all want to be bought out and leave this frickin’ town, because this town doesn't give two rats ass about us.”
The frustration of the neighbourhood’s residents is based in a lack of insurance coverage and fears they will not be able to retrieve personal belongings from their homes. Homeowners are also concerned their homes will be boarded up, with many on the verge of pulling up stakes and relocated from the town.
Friday’s meeting came on the heels of a provincial government hosted information session Thursday night which left many community members frustrated by the lack of acceptable answers to their questions.
"I hold these meetings because I am trying to get the same answers as they are,” says Wildrose leader Danielle Smith. “I am trying to be an advocate for my community and I have a very long letter I will be writing to Minister Fraser to advocate for both Hampton Hills and Sunrise."
Hundreds of homes in Hampton Hills and Sunrise have been declared uninhabitable.
Residents have been told the health hazards are too great for them to keep working and the government is bringing in crews to remove mould and remediate.
