Alix council
Alix is gearing up to be the “Pinkest Little Town in the West” after village council agreed to participate in a breast cancer fundraiser.
This is the eighth year for the Wild Pink Yonder and for the first time Alix is on the tour route.
“Over the last seven years we’ve visited some 150 towns throughout Alberta but until now, not yours,” Jane Hurl states in a letter presented to Alix council at its regular meeting on July 6.
Every summer, 23 communities are visited by Wild Pink Yonder. They “pink up” their horses and parade down the chosen community’s main streets.
The 23-day, 500 km horseback ride starts in Stirling, Ab., goes south to Milk River, Ab. and then before ending in Edmonton, stops in Alix on Aug. 24.
Communities that participate will see numerous benefits such as tourism and a “little silly fun,” said Hurl. “Paint the town pink and you can’t help but smile… How do you keep a straight face when talking to a man in a pink mustache?”
The community that wins the pinkest town challenge will get a financial prize, highway signs and a free music concert.
Alix Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Troy Jenkins said the cost to the village is minimal and basically involves feeding about 40 people from the Wild Pink Yonder tour including about 30 riders and 12 volunteers. They would need breakfast, a bag lunch and supper.
Coun. Jody Widmann said the Alix Fire Department has already volunteered to do a pancake breakfast for the group and could possibly make pink pancakes.
Various community groups will help pink up Alix.
All funds raised go to the Cancer Research Institute of Northern Alberta.
Park needs attention
Deputy Mayor Curt Pederson, filling in for Mayor Arlene Nelson, said Gator Park must be cleaned up.
“It’s in bad shape,” he said. “We should keep it up. It’s kind of the centre of town where people go.”
Titles changed
Council approved a revised organizational chart. This will be followed by a new personnel policy, including new job descriptions and remuneration scale.
Council approved renaming three positions to: Director of Public Works, Director of Recreation and Leisure Services and Director of Corporate Services.
“The first step in this process is identifying and properly naming the three direct reports to the CAO,” Jenkins told council at its regular meeting July 6.
The three positions will oversee the three municipal departments and there won’t be any immediate changes in their responsibilities except for additional and expanded input in budget and financial recommendations and monitoring.
CAO Jenkins told council, administration will continue its inventory on the village’s bylaws and policies and will bring recommendations before council in the next couple of months.
