Alberta government turns bridges over to County

Times Contributor

 

Alberta Transportation delivered a letter to Wheatland County on Dec. 7, 2011, stating that bridges on urban road approaches, previously maintained by the province, would be turned over to county public works for maintenance.

“There was some question in the past about who really owns it and now the letter comes that they are turning it over to us,” said Reeve Glen Koester.

Chief Administrative Officer Jennifer Deak said in the past the province made sure there was a road allowance into the rural hamlets from any major highway. Research by county staff hasn’t turned up any written records indicating whether the land and bridges were county owned, or provincially owned.

Gerry Van Oostwaard, Public Works Superintendent, said the department has always maintained the minor bridges.

“The major bridges were always done by Alberta Transportation,” said Van Oostwaard.

Koester wondered if a land titles search would verify ownership, and indicated the county would not like to add another five kilometres of pavement to each hamlet. 

Council members asked for more information to be gathered, and for a letter to be drafted and sent to Alberta Transportation, the MLA and Minister of Transportation, asking why the turnover occurred, and to clarify ownership.

Council members and administrative staff would present their concerns at their next meeting with Alberta Transportation.

A question of phosphorous 

County council was asked to support the Bow River Phosphorus Management Plan and appoint two representatives to the committee. The committee is made up of representatives from different municipalities, environmental groups, industries, and Alberta Environment & Water.

“It is the first of its kind in the province and it is in its initial stages. It will eventually tie into the Southern Saskatchewan regional plan,” said Sarah Schumacher, Agricultural Conservation and Communications Coordinator for the county, who attended preliminary meetings.

The target of the group is to measure the amounts of phosphorus in wastewater, storm water and from agricultural input in the Eastern area, to look at the problems this generates and find ways to reduce the amounts of phosphorus going into the system. The Eastern area designation is land and water from Calgary to Bassano. The committee wants to determine how much is going into the system through direct access and how much from indeterminate locations. There is an estimate that the distribution would be 50-50. The committee wants to reduce the duplication involved in various agencies researching a similar topic. Alberta Environment is providing the funding.

“Why is the region west of Calgary not included?,” said Councillor Ken Sauve.

The concern by council was that farmers maybe unfairly targeted. They also considered an area’s population load to be a factor. 

Reeve Glen Koester felt that the results of this study might supplement the Municipal Development Plan and other water studies being done. Council asked that the terms of reference for the committee be provided to the council before a vote for support was granted.

Boundary dispute at crossroads 

The development plan for 464 new residents in Lakewood Meadows west of Hillview has county council concerned.

The intersection planned for Hwy 817 and the North Boundary road partially affects Wheatland County land and will also affect surrounding residents.

“They are planning major improvements to the intersection and we haven’t had anything to do with that,” said Koester.

Councillor Alice Booth pointed out that the subsequent phases in the development channel traffic flow up through that intersection and emergency access is on the county road.

“If it all goes west and down our roads, there will be a big impact in that area,” said Councillor Ken Sauve. 

Councillor Brenda Knight said the road plan has a future expansion from two traffic lanes to four and would need to include traffic lights. Jennifer Deak, CAO, noted there had not been a traffic assessment plan done, and said a project that big should have had an assessment done.

Council asked a letter be sent by the Jan. 6, 2012 deadline, to address their concerns. Staff and council members will also be attending the Jan. 18 public hearing to question how those concerns will be addressed.

Silent day and night for Public Works 

Pleasant weather is giving the public works maintenance crews a break.

“It’s been quiet over Christmas, very different from last year,” said Gerry Van Oostwaard, Public Works Superintendent.

Gravel crews have been doing general maintenance on their vehicles and stockpiling gravel at the Carbon and Granstock sites. Warm weather melts and freeze has sent sanding crews to the waste transfer sites and various hamlets to deal with slippery conditions.  Van Oostwaard said he has been working on tender preparation for trucks and light vehicles which will be posted in local papers soon. Heavy machinery tenders have been concluded.

He also indicated to council that calls to TELUS had been repeatedly made concerning the timely installation of lines in the county; however, TELUS had not returned Public Works’ calls.

Appeal board member appointments 

Council moved that Division 6 and 7 incumbents Gerald Geeraerd and Ken Williams be reinstated to the Subdivision and Development Appeal Board. In Division 3, George Szakaly is appointed. Incumbents to the board serve a two-year term, on a staggered schedule. Vacancies are advertised, and applicants are appointed and reinstated at council’s discretion.

County’s emergency storm assistance not reimbursed 

Councillors want clarification as to why their assistance in removing snow during the State of Emergency declared by Strathmore in the winter of 2011 was not reimbursed by the province.

All other services were rebated but the cost of the equipment and operator was not covered.

The county’s Disaster Services Coordinator, Gerald Skibinsky, was asked to get an answer and report to council.

Big or small membership fees remain the same 

The 2012 requisition for membership in the Canadian Badlands Association arrived on Dec. 15.

The fee is 50 cents per capita, with a cap at $25,000. 63 municipalities belong to the association, including Medicine Hat and Lethbridge.

“Larger communities get more benefit than smaller ones,” said Councillor Ben Armstrong.

“If the bigger centres pay their whole share, the per capita costs would drop for smaller centres.”

Councillor Alice Booth said the cap was introduced as a way to get everyone on board, and is to be re-evaluated after a three-year term. Booth serves on the board. She said she would bring the councils concerns to the association for consideration.

Sagewood complex ‘Impressive’

Councillors who visited the Sagewood complex on Dec. 20 were impressed by what they saw. 

“It is a real addition to the community at large. It gives me great pleasure to see this and it’s projects like this that make me feel that this job is worthwhile,” said Councillor Ken Sauve.

All but one suite in the senior’s community is sold and there are plans for another $7.6 million addition.

Planning ahead 

The New Year has just begun and County councillors are adjusting their schedules to meet their 2012 obligations. When holidays, committee work, or necessary functions fell on regular council days, alternate days were scheduled for council and MPC meetings. These schedule changes will be posted in local papers prior to their occurrence.