Good news! We (the City) are well on our way to getting the Rose Country Inn site cleaned up—even though it has taken longer than we initially planned. The contractor hopes to get the variance and permit paperwork approved by the Province as early as December 23, 2019, however, it may take longer due to the strict processes in place to ensure the health and safety of the clean-up crew and the general public is protected while removing the asbestos. The contractor cannot start the demolition or begin hauling away debris until they get the variance approved by the Province.
We’ve heard your health concerns related to the confirmed asbestos at the site, and would like to share the following information:
- The site is outside, which offers solution by dilution. The concentration of asbestos that the general public was exposed to due to the outdoor location is very low.
- Water weighs down the asbestos fibres, preventing them from spreading in the air and potentially being inhaled by the general public. Wetaskiwin Fire Services did a fantastic job of fire suppression throughout and following the fire, which weighed down any lingering fibres. The wet summer we experienced this year also assisted in containing any fibres.
- The fencing around the debris prevents people from disturbing the contents, which could cause asbestos particles to be released into the air. Again, the contractor is required to clean up the site in a way that will not threaten the health of the general public.
If you have additional health concerns related to the Rose Country Inn debris, please contact the local Public Health Inspector at 780.312.7942. We will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.