A rural municipality won a precedent-setting provincial court decision in its long-standing dispute with a construction company over two gravel pits near Blaine Lake.

Judge Timothy White found Geransky Bros. Construction guilty of eight of the nine charges brought against it by the RM of Blaine Lake in connection with gravel extraction and crushing that took place in 2006 and 2007.

Tiffany Paulsen  and John Knox prosecuted the case.

The fine is by far the largest ever levied against a Saskatchewan company for violating the province’s Planning and Development Act.

The RM council is “ecstatic” over the outcome, Paulsen said, noting several developers with property in the area attended court in Blaine Lake to hear it.