Alix council’s intersection concerns go to ministry

Written by Stu Salkeld

Alix Mayor Rob Fehr presented past councillor Vicki Soltermann with a council-approved gift in appreciation for her years on council Nov. 16. Soltermann did not run for re-election in the 2021 municipal election. ECA Review/Submitted

The Village of Alix’ concerns over a major highway intersection outside their community have been forwarded by the MLA to Alberta Transportation. 

The report was heard at the Nov. 16 regular meeting of council.

Councillors read a letter from Lacombe-Ponoka MLA Ron Orr, who stated he read the letter from Alix village council describing both the municipality’s and resident’s concerns with the intersection of Hwy. 12 and Sec. Hwy. 601, which is located east of the village near the large Rahr Malting plant.

Orr stated he forwarded the letter and concerns to Alberta Transportation and he was told the ministry will conduct a safety review of that intersection, the results of which will be forwarded to village council.

Councillors stated they were happy to hear back so quickly about their concerns. 

The village council heard a resident’s concerns last summer with the intersection, which included speeding, some traffic not stopping at the stop signs on Sec. Hwy. 601 and collisions. 

At the meeting in question several councillors echoed those concerns.

Emergency management

Councillors hosted Janene Anderson, director of emergency management, as she presented the annual disaster services agency report. 

The report informs council of the agency’s activities over the previous year and Anderson informed council the agency meets all of the legislative requirements.

They were also reminded the agency is preparing for the provincially mandated live exercise in 2022. 

In the past, live exercises may have been described as a “mock disaster.”

The live exercises are held to allow the agencies involved to test their preparations for an actual disaster. 

Councillors accepted the report for information.

It should also be noted that councillors heard over 40 more Alix homes now have their proper residential numbering. Emergency services providers had noted earlier in the year some homes in Alix were difficult to locate.

Utility tweak

Councillors approved third reading of Bylaw 468/21, the Utility Bylaw. It was noted the bylaw cuts the residential garbage collection rate by $2.50 and increases the residential water rate by the same amount in an effort to get full recovery for services.

MAP compliance

Councillors were presented with a report on the village’s 2021 Municipal Accountability Program (MAP) report; this was conducted by Municipal Affairs earlier this year and resulted in a few deficiencies which were described by village staff as “minor.” 

The staff report stated deficiencies were found in the following areas: pecuniary interest, procedural bylaw, consolidated land-use bylaw, five-year capital plan, three-year operating budget, municipal assessor and planning documents.

The current report noted all the deficiencies had been addressed. 

Staff noted MAP reviews are conducted at no cost to municipalities and municipalities have one year to address the deficiencies found by the provincial government.

Fire department report

Mayor Rob Fehr submitted his regular report on the Alix Fire Department. 

It was noted a volunteer drive is still in progress as some members have resigned due to training concerns, so numbers in the department are down slightly.

Councillor appreciation

Mayor Fehr presented past councillor Vicki Soltermann with a council-approved gift in appreciation for her years on council. Soltermann did not run for re-election in the 2021 municipal election.

 

Stu Salkeld, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

ECA Review

About the author

Stu Salkeld

Stu Salkeld, who has upwards of 28 years of experience in the Alberta community newspaper industry, is now covering councils and other news in the Stettler region and has experience working in the area as well.

He has joined the ECA Review as a Local Journalism Initiative Journalist.

Stu earned his two-year diploma in print journalism from SAIT in Calgary from 1993 to ’95 and was raised in Oyen, Alta., one of the communities within the ECA Review’s coverage area.