By JULIE BERTRAND
Independent Reporter
Stettler residents that let their animals loose in the street and/or do not pay the town licensing fee might want to rectify those situations.
Town of Stettler Council renewed Alberta Animal Services’ contract at the Feb. 1 meeting and augmented the enforcement hours that the services will provide.
“We’ve been using Alberta Animal Services for five years and it was time to renew the contract with them,” said Rob Stoutenberg, Stettler town manager.
“Council looked at the contract and the services provided and they wanted to increase the number of hours available for bylaw services so that they could take care of noxious weeds and some other concerns.”
“They have also set up in the contract that they meet with Alberta Animal Services twice a year to discuss the education and enforcement programs that they’ll be targeting on for the next season,” he said.
Alberta Animal Services will spend 120 hours per month during the winter and 160 hours during the summer, enforcing animal control and bylaw services, up from the current level of 80 hours a month.
Alberta Animal Services will also take care of snow removal, tree trimming, noxious weeds, unsightly property, unattached trailers, parking enforcement, animal licensing and the cat trapping program.
“Noxious weeds are a concern because they can get out of control in the community,” said Stoutenberg.
“We’ll be working with Alberta Animal Services to provide an education program to the residents so that they will be able to identify if they have noxious weeds in their property.”
“Alberta Animal Services will also be responding to residents’ concerns in relation to noxious weeds in neighbouring properties,” he said.
Council negotiated down the hourly fee of Alberta Animal Services from $75 to $70. This rate will be fixed for five years.
The contract will require an adjustment to the 2011 interim budget in the amount of $28,000.
The contract started on Feb. 1 and will end on Jan. 31, 2016.