Farmers near Skylight Hutterite colony rejected the colony’s plea Tuesday, April 19 to allow an easement on their properties so that water could be piped to the colony.

At a meeting held in Vulcan County council chambers, farmers were blunt with Fred Decker, who spoke on behalf of the colony.

“We’re not wanting any pipeline on our land for several reasons,” Noel Hyslip, speaking on behalf of the colony’s neighbours, told Decker at the end of a discussion inside the Vulcan County council chambers.

Decker then thanked those who came to the meeting and quietly left the room with two other members of his colony.

The colony’s neighbours did not want easements on their properties, said Hyslip.

“(An easement) affects me on future development down the road,” he told Decker. “I’m not prepared to give that up.”

Farmers were upset that the colony spent “millions” on infrastructure without proving that water was there first. They told Decker they wouldn’t have built infrastructure on their farms without applying for the necessary permits first.