New RCMP member meet and greet

Sharon McLeay
Times Contributor

 

Staff Sergeant Kevin Maguire appeared at the Town of Strathmore council meeting on July 20, to formally introduce himself to council.
“I thought I would come and say hello and introduce myself to you,” said Maguire.
Maguire and his family moved to Strathmore in July and they are gradually getting oriented. He said they were happy to come to Strathmore. He invited council to visit at the office and present him with their concerns. He looked forward to the reporting the good efforts of his staff, and developing a good working relationship with council and the public in Strathmore.
“We are looking forward to a relationship, spending time with you and bringing forward some of the issues of our citizens,” said Mayor Michael Ell.
Maguire said his management philosophy is for officers to interact with the public.
“We are a part of the community and they and they are part of us,” said Maguire.

 

Happy Birthday Canada
Canada turns 150 years old next year, and municipalities and organizations are starting to plan for celebrations.
“As you are aware, next year is Canada’s 150th anniversary and we would like to bring together a committee from the community to plan some events,” said Tracey Simpson, Town of Strathmore recreation manager.
Bylaw 16-11 was put forward to appoint a Canada 150 committee and Coun. Bob Sobol and Coun. Pat Fule were appointed to represent council. Two members from the Canadian Badlands board will also be approached to sit on the committee. Council gave the bylaw third and final reading.
Moving forward, the committee’s goal will be to consult with the community to fundraise and plan events and projects that reflect the interests and expectations of the Strathmore community.
One funding source available to Canadians is the federal Canada 150 Fund. It is currently accepting submissions by Canadian not-for-profit organizations, corporations, trusts, co-operatives and unincorporated associations; business corporations, partnerships, trusts and joint ventures where projects are non-commercial in nature; schools; and municipal governments and their institutions. Submissions must be for funding under $50,000.

 

Power lines go underground
Power lines litter views and interfere with area tree growth, so Strathmore Town Council decided that new construction on the east side of George Freeman Trail should be proactive.
Administration contacted Fortis and negotiated a plan that would place utilities underground, rather than relocating 10 power poles for a 230 metre stretch from Hwy 1 to the commercial Rencor property.
If the poles were just relocated, the town would have to pay $188,000 to place them underground in future development along George Freeman Trail. The town agreed to pick up a reduced tab now for $64,187.47.
The money will come from the financial stabilization fund and some money is expected from the developer.

 

Additional cemetery
columbarium approved
On July 20, Strathmore Town Council approved the purchase of a matching columbarium for the Strathmore graveyard.
“There is a shortage of spaces in the existing columbarium,” said Jennifer Sawatzky with the town. “There are only three spaces left.”
She said considering the space graves take up, as well as offering an alternative choice to residents, this would be a good investment at this time. The cost would be $20,715 plus GST, with $6,000 for a connecting decorative iron arch.
A columbarium niche sells for between $1,700 and $2,100. Each columbarium has 36 niches. Revenue for the sale of the spaces is $68,400, leaving a profit of $48,685.
The Town is looking to take over sales, maintenance of the columbarium that is now done by Wheatland Funeral Homes.