Bashaw Council: Council hears snow removal compliments

Snow removal is always a topic of conversation in a rural community, and it was no different at the Town of Bashaw regular meeting Jan. 15. Councillors heard a report on how snow removal has been going in the community this winter.

In a phone call to the ECA Review Jan.23 Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Theresa Fuller stated this is Public Works Foreman Rick Schmidt’s first snow season with Bashaw, and things have been going quite well when it comes to clearing the municipality’s streets.

“It’s actually been significantly better than last year’s snow removal,” said Fuller.

Even though the Town of Bashaw is short one Public Works staff right now according to Fuller, Bashaw’s streets are clear of snow as of this writing and the town office seems to have received fewer public complaints regarding snowy streets. The CAO stated public complaints about snow removal are a practical indicator of how the service is proceeding.

Fuller stated snow removal overall seems to have been going relatively well this winter besides some mechanical issues.

Schmidt’s regular report to council expanded upon these. “The grader is repaired structurally now, but oil leaks in the front drive system are still an issue,” stated the foreman’s regular report. “We are still working on this as we get time between uses.”

Fuller noted she was also happy with a new strategy Schmidt used for clearing snowy roads on the weekend; plowing on the weekend turned out to be a good idea.

Schmidt noted snow removal was hampered by Public Works staff also having to work at the arena at the same time.

Tweaking a grant

Fuller confirmed councillors unanimously passed two resolutions to remove two projects from the 2024 Local Government Fiscal Framework (LGFF) operating grant and replace them with a different project.

It was noted in Fuller’s report to council that two projects, a computer replacement and office window upgrade, were to be removed from LCFF’s operating grant and replaced by software, tablet and GPS device for municipal infrastructure management instead. She noted the first two projects didn’t work out as planned.

The first two projects added up to roughly $10,000, while the replacement project is priced at $8,000.

For a rainy day

Councillors unanimously approved transferring some revenue to reserve accounts.

Fuller’s report to council noted the town sold several pieces of surplus equipment in 2024, including the street sweeper ($2,470.63), tandem truck ($11,768.15) and ladder truck/sand screener ($11,102.50) for a total of $25,341.28.

The CAO noted it’s best to place the cash in a reserve account with the possibility of it being used in the future for new equipment.

Public Works report

Schmidt reported that water and wastewater testing is being conducted as required, adding that two Bashaw Public Works staff are being trained in this area.

One lift station faulty pump was replaced while another lift station’s faulty pump requires the same attention; a replacement is in the works.

Schmidt reported the skate sharpener is being used regularly now that it’s been moved back into the arena.

The foreman reported that rental building renovations are complete; he added that eavestroughs were blocked with ice which caused a flood into the building during a warm period in December. He added that new heat tape is required.

Closed session

After councillors exited closed session and reentered the public meeting, the CAO confirmed they passed the following resolution: that the Town of Bashaw increase its rental rate for a building it leases for health purposes by $50 per month according to the lease agreements.

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.