ADAM JACKSON/Black Press
Rezoning request
On May 11, the County of Stettler re-examined an amendment to its land use bylaw. After a public hearing to consider rezoning a 20-acre parcel of land on the east side of Stettler from agricultural to highway commercial and hearing little opposition to it, second reading was given. Third reading will be given once the conditions set by council are met.
Bridge action needed
Council discussed what to do about a bridge erected in 1938 that is showing signs of decay and now has a load weight restriction as a result of wood decay.
“Through Alberta Transportation, we go over and look at the bridges all the time and make sure they are up to standard,” said county CAO Tim Fox. “At this point in time, it has a limited weight load of three tons.”
The cost to replace the bridge is estimated between $500,000 and $750,000. Council agreed that they did not have the funds in place to replace the bridge, so its strength will be continually monitored over the next year.
There are more than 160 bridges in the County of Stettler that soon will need to be replaced.
“Administration will have to sit down and look at our whole file on bridges and set up criteria or policies for replacement,” said Fox.
Fire agreement reached with villages
The County of Stettler approved a fire agreement with Donalda and Big Valley that has been sent to the villages for their approval.
The fire agreement states that the towns will pay a $25,000 annual fee for use of the Stettler County Fire Department’s services.
In the past, the villages had funded a joint fire hall with the county, but with this agreement, the county will look after the entire cost and charge the annual fee.
Project Scope funding requested
The County of Stettler has agreed to request extra funding from the provincial government for rural water servicing (project Scope).
“Basically, we’re just asking them to look at expanding the program,” said Fox.
Previously, the County of Stettler received a $6 million grant from the federal and provincial government to provide water to rural residents in the county.
Council chamber renovations discussed
Council also discussed renovations to the council chambers and voted to bring the matter back to council.
The matter had been discussed before, but was repeatedly put aside.
“One of our major concerns has been that our current chamber is not conducive to the public or to the media,” said Fox.
Revised budget released
A revised 2011 budget was provided to council.
Due to extra costs, including the rise in fuel prices, a new fire hall in Big Valley, annexation costs and erosion sands, the County of Stettler has been forced to increase its 2011 budget by more than $500,000.
Fuel prices alone have caused the budget to skyrocket $300,000 to keep the County of Stettler’s vehicle fleet on the roads.
Pump station improvement tax nixed
Council discussed an extra tax on rural properties to fund pump stations that are being used regionally due to expansion into the rural communities.
“Council felt that to be fair and appropriate that there should be a regional cost so there is no specific cost to the hamlet residences, so it was defeated,” said Fox. “It’s kind of a good news story to the residences.”