RCMP delivers quarterly report to council

Times Contributor  

 

Sgt. Kevin Reilly, of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), presented the September to December 2012 statistics to council. He emphasized that officers will continue to be involved in the community.

“I think it is very important for us to be a visible presence and we hope to do more in the coming year,” said Reilly.

He stated he has been communicating with several service and community groups in town, and was open to meetings with others.

“It will improve relations with us and the community,” said Reilly.

He indicated the various events officers attended, such as Red Serge duties, Canada Day, Strathmore Rodeo, and speaking engagements at the Chamber, service clubs and interagency meetings. The Victim Services program, which works closely with the RCMP, has 17 new volunteers. They are currently training and will be active in the area soon. The Domestic Violence Coordinator position funding runs out in a year, and Reilly hopes funding can be found to continue this good work. 

Mount Royal University students have been participating in practicum programs in the RCMP office. Programs with school students such as DARE, SWAT, in-school lectures and officer liaison are continuing. Langdon School is looking to secure an enhanced police liaison position for their school. The RCMP is hoping to reinstate Bike patrols as they are a major pro-active program in Strathmore. He also gave an update on the initiatives and resources that the Strathmore Detachment had in store for 2013. 

Officers continued to work effectively with other Emergency response servicers. This season’s Check Stop program completed 3,500 vehicle inspections, including roving Check Stops. Generally arrests for other crimes were down, excluding property theft over $5,000 and possession of stolen property, which had increased.

He outlined the various increases in staffing expected for 2013, which would increase RCMP contributions to a safer community.

 

New Town logo

Strathmore Council approved a new town logo that will represent the town on signs and communication materials. The logo is meant to be creative, memorable and unique, and identify with the Town of Strathmore image.

The logo shows an old-style steam locomotive engine and trestle track with tower, on a clouded blue sky and wheat field background. A distinctive head of wheat is also in the background. The logo bottom is worded with ‘Where Quality of Life is a Way of Life’.

It will be used on the town signs, entering and leaving Strathmore. Reflective paint will used to make the sign more visible at night. The logo will also be used on stationary, communication products, town pins and promotional articles.

 

Town withdraws from Canadian Badlands Association

Councillors discussed whether the $6,069.50 yearly fee to the Canadian Badlands Association (CBA) had shown results for the Town of Strathmore. The fee is based on a fifty cent per capita population rate.

“I was not in favour of it last year, and I am certainly not in favour of it this year,” said Councillor Earl Best.

There was discussion about what the CBA presents, and what kind of benefits residents and businesses actually received from being a member. 

Several of the councillors had visited areas, such as Rosebud and Horseshoe Canyon, where signs were posted by the CBA, and noted that Strathmore was not listed as a contributing partner. 

“I would like to see a presentation, and maybe if they had helped with our new logo, it would have meant something to me,” said Mayor Steve Grajczyk.

Council voted unanimously against a 2013 membership and subsequent fee payment.