Alix saw avalanche of snow shovelling warnings this winter

The Village of Alix saw an avalanche of snow shovelling warnings last winter, heard councillors during a report at their June 3 regular meeting.

Councillors heard the regular quarterly report of Manager of Community Peace Officer (CPO) Services Mark Sproule during the meeting. 

Sproule attended the meeting via an internet connection.

The head CPO stated that during the first three months of 2020 bylaw officers only handed out two tickets within the Village of Alix. 

However, the CPOs issued 101 warnings, and of those warnings over 90 of them were related to sidewalk snow removal.

The village’s rules on shovelling of public sidewalks adjacent a private property notes, under Bylaw 279-98, removal of snow is to be completed within 48 hours or the Village may remove and clear away the snow and recover the expense from the owner/occupant under the provisions of the Municipal government Act.

Coun. Barb Gilliat stated she heard a lot about the snow removal warnings from residents.

Village Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Michelle White stated the village office received a fair amount of public feedback after the CPOs issued warnings.

During the report, White asked if the coronavirus pandemic has been affecting the CPOs.

Sproule stated that yes, it has affected how CPOs do their jobs in certain ways. 

He noted officers were given increased discretion in relation to stopping vehicles, specifically encouraging officers to focus on issues of public safety.

It was also discussed at the meeting that CPOs do not patrol Alix on evenings or weekends. 

Sproule noted citizens who have complaints can contact the CPOs through the village office and file a report, and it will be investigated.

Councillors accepted the report for information.

 

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.