Wheatland County News
Amy Gregson – Times Reporter
After a three-week break, Wheatland County was back in session with a packed agenda.
With such a packed agenda, here are some highlights of what was discussed.
• The province of Alberta announced March 16 they are freezing the centralization of ambulance dispatchers. Manager of Protective Services Gerald Skibinsky, said the County just has to take a wait-and-see approach before moving workers.
• A clarification was made on the planning moratorium that was passed March 2. The original motion stated that multi-parcel subdivisions are on hold until the Growth Management Study is completed. However, county would still consider first-parcels out and development in hamlets. The resolution was amended to clarify that the Nightingale and Rosebud hamlets are on hold as well, until the Area Structure Plans are completed. County will also consider farmland separation even if it’s not first-parcel out.
• The county decided that a gravel loader retains the right to refuse to load any vehicle with gravel if they see fit.
• The Carseland community annual waste clean up will be happening April 30 and May 1. The community asked the county for trucks and waste bins to help with the clean up. The county decided to have extra bins and staff at the waste transfer site in Carseland. The transfer site is usually closed on Fridays, but the councilors decided to open it on April 30 from 12 to 8 p.m. On May 1, the site will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with extra staff on site to help people dispose of their waste. Councilors asked that people are aware ahead of time of what they can dump and what they can’t and that it must be sorted.
• There are two fire hydrants in Gleichen that aren’t working. Gerry Van Oostwaard from public works said they would look into this problem, because it is a safety issue.
• The sidewalks in Carseland that need repairs will be finished by the end of the year said Van Oostwaard.
• Van Oostwaard also reported that signs for Township and Range Road are in the process of being replaced. Approximately 35 signs across the county had to be changed because they had wrong information. Also, 250 signs had fallen off because the brackets they were mounted on couldn’t withstand winds. The brackets are being replaced and grader operators have been asked to keep their eyes open for missing signs.
• As of March 29, a fire ban was in effect for Wheatland County.
• The county decided they would go with Dillon Consulting Limited to conduct the Area Structure Plan and Growth Management Study. In their proposal, Dillon said they would hold the first set of public meetings in April or May, and another set in August. The first draft is expected in September, with the final draft to be distributed in December.