The Town of Hanna council approved the sale of a pile of asphalt scrapings in order to generate revenue for another project. The resolution was passed at the Oct. 14 regular meeting of council.

Councillors heard a presentation from Director of Public Works Brent Olesen who had a request to sell a pile of asphalt millings and use the proceeds to crush existing stockpiles.

“The town has received a request to purchase our existing stockpile of asphalt millings. Currently, the town has several piles of millings stored at the ATCO camp area,” stated Olesen’s report to council. “These millings are remnants from previous road maintenance projects.

“Local companies typically sell their millings at a rate of $18 to $22 per cubic yard, depending on quality and composition. Based on this market rate, the town could generate sufficient revenue to fund the crushing of the larger existing stockpiles without requiring the use of budgeted tax dollars.

“Crushing the material would make it reusable for future road or infrastructure projects and would clean up the current storage areas, which have become unsightly and occupy usable space.

“The proposed approach would therefore allow the town to repurpose existing materials efficiently and fund clean-up work through self-generated revenue, eliminating the need for an additional budget allocation.”

Readers should note asphalt millings are the material left over after certain road maintenance techniques are employed. They are often reused in other road or construction projects.

During discussion Olesen noted the asphalt millings are in demand. “I’ve had some interest in the millings, which lots of people are interested in, but this is a unique interest,” said Olesen at the meeting.

Olesen stated the interest is from an outfit in the Hanna region which is interested in buying a substantial amount of the millings, about 30 loads.

Olesen noted Special Areas gave the millings to the Town of Hanna with the understanding that the material would not be sold in such a way that it would compete with local businesses. However, Olesen observed that there are no millings for sale locally.

He stated that some millings are available in Drumheller at the landfill.

As councillors discussed the proposal Olesen noted that if councillors approved the sale he would discuss this issue directly with Special Areas to assure them that the sale was not competing with local businesses.

As well, it was noted that both the Town of Hanna and Special Areas have piles of millings stockpiled, but that this proposed sale would include only the Town of Hanna’s material.

Councillors passed a resolution to approve the sale of the town’s asphalt millings as proposed.