Lacombe County is helping Tees Ag Society improve their ball diamond after the group asked for their help.
Lacombe County Council, during its regular meeting April 27, unanimously voted in favour of providing Tees Ag Society with $5,000. The money will come from the county’s Recreation Reserve Budget. The money will be used to buy 47 cubic yards of shale.
“I see this as a very positive initiative to update existing diamonds, this is a regional concept coming from the grassroot users,” said Lacombe County Coun. Brenda Knight. “There is a synergy gained by doing both diamonds at once as they are in very close proximity.”
The Nebraska Hall ball diamond was also approved to receive shale up to $5,000 for their diamond that they are refurbishing.
“Clive Minor Ball has grown to over 100 children playing ball and both of those diamonds were used last year,” said Coun. Knight. “Players are from a broad area, including Clive, Lacombe, Alix, Tees and Mirror.”
County considers RCMP request for funding help
Blackfalds RCMP, to combat an increase in crime in their coverage area, be more proactive rather than reactive and to offset a provincial hiring freeze, asked Lacombe County to help fund a new constable and new corporal position.
Sgt. Whitney Benoit, Operations NCO, told council in her report that this would help the detachment to specifically focus on a crime reduction strategy and address the underlying cause of crime.
Sgt. Benoit said this approach would also have a direct impact on every aspect of the increase in crime statistics.
“There are clear theories and strategies that may be utilized to reduce crime, however, human resources are needed to implement them,” said Sgt. Benoit, adding that 80 per cent of the crimes are being committed by 20 per cent of the population.
Lacombe County Coun. Brenda Knight said she saw merit in the proposal but had some questions.
“I want to ensure the officer would be working in all areas of the county not just for one detachment. Criminals do not recognize boundaries and our detachments need to work together to present good strong cases before the courts.
“Also, I need assurance that the RCMP have enough officers to keep the detachments fully staffed if these new positions are created from within the existing membership.”
Sgt. Benoit said there has been a dramatic increase in crime the last four years in the Blackfalds RCMP Detachment coverage area. They cover Joffre, Blackfalds, Burbank, Chigwell, Clive, College Heights, Joffre, Prentiss, Gull Lake, Gull Lake, Haynes, Lacombe (rural), Lynn Valley, McKenzie, Mynarski Park, Penhold (Canadian Forces Base), Poplar Ridge, Prentiss, Red Deer, Springbrook, Springvale Heights, and Woodland Hills.
They have seen a 65 per cent increase in the number of files, 108 per cent increase in the number of criminal code files, a 78 per cent increase in the number of criminal code cases per member and a 108 per cent increase in the number of criminal code cases per 1,000 population.
The number of members at the Blackfalds Detachment, however, has only increased 15 per cent.
“These statistics make it extremely clear that the resources have not been proportional to the increase in work load,” said Sgt. Benoit.
Lacombe County Council received the presentation for information and referred the request to administration to prepare a recommendation.
