M.D. council debates rodeo grounds, property sales and sewer pumps

The Municipal District of Lesser Slave River held a Committee of the Whole meeting on July 29. The meeting began with the approval of the May 20 minutes and the addition of a closed session to the agenda.

Upgrades to the Smith rodeo grounds sparked a long debate. Presenters shared a plan for the grounds, which host chuckwagon races in September. The main issue is a lack of infrastructure and not enough space for vehicles and pedestrians to enter and exit safely.

The chief administrative officer (CAO) Kevin Gannon noted that the M.D. has to look at the safety and liability of the facility.

“I think there is a problem having a dump station in there,” the CAO said, adding that the congestion might hinder emergency exits during events.

“It’s always been a congestion point,” Councillor Richard Colborne said.

Council looked at options to add a secondary entry and exit pathway. A temporary fence was also suggested to separate the pathway from the participants. Council unanimously passed a motion for administration to plan a traffic diversion route. It will be brought back to the next meeting for final approval, as the changes are needed quickly before the fall rodeo.

Selling municipal land 

A map showing lands and properties currently owned by the M.D. was presented. The M.D. is looking at which properties it might want to sell or dispose of.

When asked why the M.D. owns certain unused parcels, the CAO said there is no specific answer. He noted there is no real revenue coming from many of them. Some individuals are currently renting a few of the spots, and council has the option to leave things as they are.

Councillor Brad Pearson said there should be a narrowed-down list for better understanding. He also pointed out that the current list was out of order, noting property 143 was not before 170. The presenter explained it was just a spreadsheet export and could easily be fixed.

Councillor Lester Vanhill brought up environmental factors, but presenters said those have been well taken care of. Overall, the M.D. could earn millions of dollars if it decides to sell properties that are no longer in use. A motion was passed to bring a proposed list of surplus properties to the next regular council meeting for a detailed review.

Community hall rentals 

Council looked at updating bylaws and policies for renting community complexes in Flatbush and Widewater. In the past, different groups could rent different parts of a facility at the same time, which led to overlaps. Administration noted a complaint where a community barbecue and a family reunion ended up under the same roof.

“Makes sense to me,” Brad Pearson said about fixing the issue.

The goal is to create a unified rental system where booking a complex gives the renter access to the whole facility. A booking fee and a $500 security deposit will be required to stop last-minute cancellations.

The CAO told council that these facilities are not made to turn a profit, but to provide a service to residents. During this time, the council also briefly discussed dust control and utility rates, noting that services like waste collection at Marten Beach are heavily subsidized and cost the M.D. money.

Sewer grinder pumps 

A long debate took place over residential sewer grinder pumps. The M.D. currently sells the pumps to residents, but does not install or maintain them. Homeowners are responsible for the pipes on their private property.

Three options were presented to council, ranging from keeping the current system to having the M.D. take over full maintenance. A new pump costs thousands of dollars and needs to be replaced every few years.

Councillor Norm Seatter said it might be better for the M.D. to take over the pumps to protect the local infrastructure. He said many people cannot come up with $5,000 in a short period of time, but they could pay a smaller monthly fee on their utility bills.

The CAO said he looks at the social aspect and has empathy for everyone when bills come up. However, if someone does not maintain their pump, it affects the whole community drainage system.

“That ship has sailed,” Brad Pearson said, talking about the days when the M.D. used to take care of the pumps.

Council decided to stick with the current system where the M.D. only supplies the pumps. Sandra Melzer made a motion to bring the revised policy to the next meeting for approval.

Public complaints policy 

A new public complaints policy was brought forward to create a consistent framework for handling issues. The CAO said the M.D. has received 32 complaints about dust control recently.

A clear policy would help frontline staff deal with complaints first, rather than residents going straight to their councillors to fix operational problems. Council approved a motion to bring the policy back for final approval.

Department reports 

Beavers have been causing issues in several areas, leading to blocked culverts and washed-out roads. Two part-time workers and one contractor have helped trap 26 beavers so far.

Gravel crushing is complete in Mitsue and will finish in Smith this week. A cleanup at Devonshire Beach was delayed due to weather but is scheduled soon.

The peace officer department presented its quarterly report. A new officer was appointed, which takes four to six weeks to finalize. Shift times have been slightly changed to better serve the community. The department received 27 complaints and collected $3,038 in the quarter. The sergeant has also returned from maternity leave.

FireSmart initiatives were discussed, with the M.D. looking at possible incentives to get more residents to sign up for advanced home assessments.

Committee updates 

Council went over several board and committee reports. The Tri-Council Health committee shared that after spending time and money recruiting a new doctor to Slave Lake, the doctor relocated to Grande Prairie to work in an emergency room.

The local Chamber of Commerce has a strong membership but is struggling to find people willing to sit on its board. On the Disaster Services front, a recent storm tore part of the roof off a maintenance building.

Council also accepted an invitation to an Alberta rural connectivity forum.

“Anything with AI is a step forward for all of us,” Councillor Thomas Snowden said.

Armaan Khanna 

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter