Near miss prompts action

Times Contributor  

 

A near miss accident occurring just before the intersection of TNSP 252 and RR 265, prompted a Wheatland County ratepayer to call for a four way stop sign. A vehicle with two passengers recently slid through the intersection, while attempting to brake to a stop that caused the vehicle to roll and enter the ditch. Fire and emergency crews from Strathmore Rural and Rockyview County responded. The Wheatland County ratepayer said when he looked at the wreckage, he considered the occupants were lucky to be alive.

The topic of speed occurring through this particular intersection has been mentioned several times in county council meetings. The traffic picks up in the summer with people heading to the Lyalta ball diamonds and community hall. The north and south access have stop signs posted, but the ratepayer suggested a four way stop would force traffic to slow down. A visual inspection indicated that vegetation straddled a landowner’s property and the county road allowance.

“I suggest public works review the intersection and co-ordinate with the landowner to trim the trees, increasing visibility to the east and improve things for the southbound traffic,” said Councillor Ben Armstrong. 

Council approved that the intersection be placed on the public works winter work schedule and remediation measures be implemented. 

 

Job Satisfaction Survey commissioned

County administrators want to know how satisfied county employees are with their workplace. Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Alan Parkin suggested an independent survey be commissioned that will cost about $2,560.

Parkin told council the survey will help provide policy direction and strengthen organizational decisions. The survey will include an observation component that may identify areas for improvement. Having an independent administration of the survey can identify things that may be overlooked by someone immersed in the day to day work schedule, provide impartial results and encourage open dialogue by staff members. Parkin said the results would be correlated and presented to council at a later date. Council asked Parkin to contact possible assessment providers and bring back the survey package questions for council approval. 

 

Gleichen water tower completed

County staff reported the historic restoration of the Gleichen water tower was complete, except for the removal of a ground level utility building. They hope to have volunteers remove the building and clean up the site in the near future. There was a 50/50 funding split for the project with $354,000 received in grants and the county providing $312,000. There is a reserve of $40,000 still remaining.

 

Eagle Lake parking

Transportation staff reviewed the issue of parking and boat unloading on the Eagle Lake access road, stating it was possible for the east-west road to be widened and a parking lot installed on the north side with a south entrance point into the lot. Councillors suggested the lot have a sloped grade that would facilitate loading and unloading of boats and enough room to turn around vehicles with boat trailers. Staff said the project would be delayed six months while they gained approval from Alberta Environment. The funds for the project will be included in next year’s budget.

 

Broken vote on MDP consultation cost

Council was split four votes to three in favour of award Dillon Consulting an additional $1,500 for revising the Municipal Development Plan, after the public hearing and passing of the second reading. The money will come out of the Planning and Development budget to cover the revisions, tracked changes and the legal review.

“We asked them to do the work. It wasn’t included in the original proposal,” said Councillor Ben Armstrong. 

“I feel we are giving them more money to do a bad job. I am not in favour of it,” said Councillor Alice Booth. “I felt it didn’t cover the necessary issues and I was unsatisfied with the product.”

Councillor Brenda Knight took exception to the assumption there would be no changes between second and third readings, and felt the consultants could have anticipated the reviews and should have included the possibility in the original proposal.

Parkin said the appropriate time to present concerns would be when the consultant was present to address them.

“We asked for the changes. It cost us $1,500 and that’s just the way it is,” said Reeve Glenn Koester.