Google Earth vs Orthophoto

Times Contributor

 

The question of approving a $125,000 Orthophoto project came under scrutiny by Wheatland County council on Feb. 4.

“How different from Google is this and is the cost worth it?” questioned Councillor Rex Harwood.

He also questioned why the photos had to be redone every two years.

Senior County Assessor Dennis Klem clarified the multiple functions the mapping provided:

• council uses the maps in planning decisions

• planning assessors utilize maps for spotting new property developments

• transportation staff use it for referencing roads

• all departments use it for historical referencing

• planning and front office staff use them for permit reference and client inquiry

• county and ratepayers can keeps track of oil and gas sites

• it is also available for public searches

• real estate, residential and commercial developers and businesses make use of them

• Rockyford and Standard also benefit for planning purposes

Klem said imagery on Google Earth is delivered through satellite, and while images are crisp in urban areas, the rural areas are not.  When the image is zoomed, it loses clarity. They also present images that may be older than two years old and because Google is market-driven, more recent pictures are in urban areas. The orthophoto gives good clarity on zoom and the dates of images are confirmed. He said once users are familiar with the website, a search takes less than one minute to access images. There may be some businesses interested in purchasing imagery or prints from the site.

Klem indicated the more frequent the photos, the more up-to-date data is presented. He stated the photos are taken in the spring, before ground cover and tree foliage is in place. It is one of the reasons the approval was asked for in advance.

The project is shared through a regional collaboration agreement with the Town of Strathmore, Rocky View County and Wheatland County. The county’s share is $65,000, with $40,000 applied for through grants and the final $25,000 taken from the continuity reserves. Rocky View County would pay $58,000 with $23,000 coming from grants and finally Strathmore would pay $2000, with $1200 supplied through grants. Councillors approved to move ahead with the project, but requested that an agreement between all parties be put in place so responsibility was clear if grant money was denied.

 

2014 Fire Guardians

Council approved the list of fire guardians submitted by staff. 

There were eight individuals from the county office appointed. The rationale was to make sure someone was on hand for the public at all times. Each county area requires two guardians. Both Hussar and Rosebud are short one person. 

Guardians are:

Carseland: Ryan Hauswirth and Frank Volvik

Cluny: Frank and Dany Tschetter

County office: Alan Parkin, Judy Unsworth, Jeff Cyr, Jason Regehr, Pat Lietch, Russ Munchrath, Dave Churchill and James Laslo.

Dalum: Albert and Junior Jensen, Gerald Rasmussen

Gleichen: Mike Burne, Richard and Barb Clarke

Hussar: Corey Fisher

Rosebud: Art Hudson

Standard: Phil Faubion, Malcolm McKinnon

Strathmore/Carseland: Mark Heilman

Strathmore Rural: Trevor Dalstra

 

SAEWA fees

Council approved the $.40 fee per person levy, directed to the Southern Alberta Energy from Waste Association which is supported by 75 municipal participants. The total fee for Wheatland County is $3,314. 

As an update, the association has held their AGM and elected officers and are moving forward with governance work. The association has contracted HDR Corporation to come up with a development plan for the project by spring of 2014.

They have notified some of the membership that their fees are in arrears. Notices have been sent that full payment is required or memberships will be terminated. 

Spring will also sprout an information session for members. Details on the session will be posted on the SAEWA website. www.saewa.ca. 

 

Gleichen water looks and tastes bad but is safe

Transportation and Infrastructure manager Dave Churchill wants to assure Gleichen residents their water is safe to use. Recently the manganese levels have increased, discolouring the water and effecting its taste. Applications of chlorine have been introduced to mediate the situation.

“It is a delicate balancing act,” said Churchill. “…but we don’t want to put too much chlorine in.”

Manganese crystals leach into the water from the banks of the reservoir under low oxygen conditions.  It is something that occurs on yearly basis. Staff have been reporting the changes to health officials and response is there are no health concerns evident.

 

Shortage of mechanics

Advertisements posted by the county for licensed and heavy duty mechanics has generated no candidates with the needed qualifications. Churchill expects that the oil industry has thinned the pool of available talent. Labour statistics show that demand for auto and heavy duty mechanics will increase by 17 per cent by 2020.  It is estimated there are more than 1,000 unfilled jobs across Canada for skilled mechanics. 

One factor is seasoned mechanics are retiring; all of them from the post-war baby boom. Fixing autos used to be a teen interest, but it is becoming less of a draw in a digital age, in spite of the increased digital components put into a working automobile.