New lifesaving tool for fire department
Sharon McLeay
Times Contributor
The Wheatland West Fire Station will soon have new lifesaving equipment. The purchase of an eDRAULIC Combi Tool was approved by Wheatland County at their last council meeting.
“Wheatland West currently responds to 29 per cent of the calls in Wheatland County and 41 per cent of motor vehicle collisions, often involving extractions of people in the vehicles,” said Judy Unsworth, fire and emergency management coordinator.
Fire crews are currently supplied with AMKUS spreaders and cutters, but new car technology includes a blended boron steel those cutters cannot get through. The new rescue tool will improve speed and efficiency of the crews in their work and gain valuable time in getting people to medical care.
Wheatland West volunteer firefighters donated $9,867 towards the purchase of the tool and the County will provide the remaining $6,578 required.
Wheatland councillor elected chair for major recycling initiative
Wheatland County councillor Ben Armstrong was elected chair for the Southern Alberta Energy from Waste Association SAEWA for 2016-2018.
“SAEWA and the membership welcome Ben in appreciation of the staid support of his leadership to the organization and his commitment to SAEWA objectives and goals,” said a spokesman for the membership.
The association has a membership of 60 municipalities and 12 waste authorities looking to find solutions for sustainable waste disposal and improving waste effects on climate change and reducing greenhouse gases.
SAEWA finished a waste stream characterization analysis in 2015, and along with their developing business plan, they are compiling a waste-to-energy handbook for use by municipalities. They hope to complete a site feasibility and transportation impact study in 2016-17.
Some of the interesting topics the group deals with include agricultural plastic recycling, weed management plans and biomedical disposal.
Cheadle ball diamond upgrade given approval
Land to expand the Cheadle ball diamond was re-designated and approved on Aug. 19 at the Wheatland County council meeting. The upgrade supports several of the County’s policies for parks and recreation projects.
“Staff feels that this application appropriately complements and supports recreational opportunities that will benefit residents of Cheadle, but also the larger County as a whole,” stated planning staff for the County.
The plan is to extend the ball diamond and accommodate parking for the venue.
New use for closed roadway
Wheatland County staff up-cycled a small strip of land along a closed roadway in Rosebud, converting it into to an ideal place for the hamlet’s grader storage. The proposal states the site will fit in with the mobility and transportation policies of the MDP.
County policies state they are required to develop and maintain a safe, efficient and convenient transportation network for residents, workers and the shipment of goods. They considered the use of the land for the grader shop an essential public service that addresses MDP goals and houses equipment for the county transportation network.
Address bylaw review
Wheatland County is conducting a review on hamlet addresses and street signs. The review will be completed by the end of 2016. Its goal is to improve the ease of emergency response in rural hamlets. Addresses will be made at the access to the building structures along a primary road based on Alberta township surveys.