WETASKIWIN COUNTY COUNCIL

By Linda Steinke

Viola Beach Boat Hoists
“The Day Use area at Viola Beach is in excellent condition. Several patrons have started using this area as their own private beach.” The County wants to ensure that the public swimming area remains such. Pictures indicated that some hoists hadn’t been moved in a number of years.

A number of complaints are being received at the County Office regarding misuse of the area. Council approved the “removal of all unauthorized boat hoists within the Viola Beach Park to the Municipal Reserve south of the roadway until September 30, 2008 at which time unclaimed hoists can be disposed of. A notice shall be sent to the Viola Beach area indicating the County’s plan along with the deadline as well as posting a notice directly on the hoists.”

Administration will also apply for a License of Occupation (LOC) in front of Viola Beach.

Contract Truck Haul Rates
Contract truck haul rates in the County have not been revised since November 1, 2005 and truckers have told administration that the rate is too low. There has been some difficulty hiring “local haulers as our rates are not comparable any longer and we do rely on these truckers to do our winter gravel hauls,” noted Dave Dextraze in his report.

Rates used by neighboring municipalities were investigated.

Council approved a haul rate increase effective January 1, 2009 for County contract gravel haulers to compensate for rising fuel, labor and equipment costs:
-$0.90 per tonne loading factor
-$0.24 per tonne per loaded mile hauling factor.

Winfield Agriplex
Council voted to charge $1000 per day for use of the rodeo grounds for any event that is not a community event.

Census
Administration will investigate the advisability of conducting its own census. Currently some grant funding is based on federal 2006 statistics, which reports a decline of approximately 1000 in County population. The per capita funding is hugely impacted. Council will consider the options in the near future.

New Stop Signs
Stop signs will be installed for “north and south bound traffic at the intersection of Township 454 and Range Road 264 to reduce the risk of motor vehicle accidents.

County Fuel Purchases
After fuel price comparisons by administration, Council voted to enter into a one year contract with Wetaskiwin Co-operative Association for its fuel. A savings of over $2600 is anticipated over the course of the year.

County Parks
“Our County parks are looking good, and everything is going well,” said Steve Majek, Director of Ag Services.

Mound Red Park shows the highest rate of County users (34%).

Ag Services Info
*All N/S roads south of Highway 13 have been roadside sprayed since July 19. Spot spraying is continuing throughout the County.

*Roadside mowing—one pass has been completed. The second pass is underway.

*Approximately 86 cases of strychnine was dispensed from the Agricultural department.

*A 15 acre plot demonstrating the shelterbelt trees available in the County is being created. Watch the Pipestone Flyer for details.

*Under the Agricultural Pests Act the wild boar is a declared pest throughout the province. It does pose a threat to the safety of people and property. Any wild boar producers in the County are reminded to be diligent in ensuring their animals do not run at large.

*Landowners with “No Spray Zones” are still required to control the weeds on their property.

Subdivision Reserve Allocation
In the County of Wetaskiwin a developer must provide to the municipality, without compensation, 10% of lands being subdivided for municipal reserve. An option available to the subdivision authority is to require a cash equivalent for the required area.

Director of Assessment Services, Pat Dumont, compared several land sale values during the past year to advise Council.

Council updated its “cash equivalent policy” to reflect current values. Farmland values used for municipal reserve cash equivalents are as follows:
Type 1: arable (black soil group) Range 26 east
Reasonable Farmland Market Value: @$2220/acre ($352,000
per quarter section)

Type 2: arable (grey wood soil group) Range 27 west
Reasonable Farmland Market Value: @$1425/acre ($228,000
per quarter section)

Type 3: native pasture (treed)
Across County of Wetaskiwin
Reasonable Farmland Market Value: @$1225/acre ($196,000
per quarter section)

Alder Flats Lot Sale
Adjacent land owners to Block 2, Lot 4 in Alder Flats purchased by tender the lot for $7000.00. It has an assessment value of $6,640.

Tourism Investment Symposium
A County representative will attend the Tourism Investment Symposium on September 30 in Edmonton. It is an “opportunity to showcase tourism investment opportunities” from the area. Prairie Breeze Inn and Central Alberta Railway Museum will be showcased.

“The County will be well represented to over 200 investors,” said Susan Durk, General Manager of Prairie Breeze Inn.

Of Interest…
*Mr. Robert Riddett is returning to West Central Planning Agency as Interim Manager due to the resignation of Andy Haden. The Board is searching for a replacement.