May 25, 2022 meeting
Joe McWilliams
Lakeside Leader
(Compiled from the draft minutes)
Off to Jasper and Red Deer
Councillor Leo Alook made a motion to authorize councillors to attend the 80th annual Alberta Forest Products Association conference in Jasper in September. To accommodate that, the council meeting that week has been switched to the Monday, Sept. 26.
A separate motion approved the attendance by councillors Darlene Jackson and Cheri Courtorielle at the 2022 ladies’ golf tournament in Red Deer, hosted by Brownlee LLP, on June 20.
Minister is invited
Council voted in favour of a Brendan Powell motion to invited Alberta Minister of Health Jason Copping to the grand opening of Wabasca’s Keekenow Seniors’ Facility; also to thank Alberta Health Services for the operational funding. The date of the grand opening was not included in the minutes.
Dog-control
Council voted in favour of a new version of a bylaw “to regulate the keeping of dogs within in the municipality.”
One change in the new bylaw is a doubling ($50 to $100) of the fine for a second offense. For third and subsequent offences, the fine jumps to $200.
Mud bog project awarded
Council voted in favour of a Tahirih Wiebe motion to award the Wabasca Mud Bog project to Davidson Oilfield (operating as 1439000 Alberta Ltd.) for a price of $154,289. The project is to set up a new site for the mud bog event.
Crack-sealing
Council awarded the 2022 crack-sealing contract for Wabasca, Calling Lake and Red Earth Creek to North Lake Contracting. The total amount is $83,925. It breaks down like this: $38,175 for Wabasca, $23,700 for Calling Lake and $22,050 for Red Earth Creek.
Concerned about dust control
Council heard there is “a concern with dust in Peerless-Trout First Nation.“ An application of calcium would help. Administration is to contact Alberta Transportation to inquire about its plan for Hwy. 686.
Admin. will also look into dust control for the road to the Lions Club Campground in Wabasca.
Council was not asked to make any resolutions.
Grader service for Peerless-Trout
Dust is not the only thing on people’s minds in the Peerless-Trout First Nation. There is also “a concern with the lack of road maintenance,” say the minutes.
The reason for the lack of maintenance is the contractor has been absent due to illness. Another contractor was supposed to take over. Admin. will look into it.
One-time water delivery
The M.D. has been asked for a delivery of water to a residence in Calling Lake, but only once. The resident doesn’t need a weekly delivery, council heard.
Council also heard the M.D. does not typically provide this sort of service. It was done once, but was removed from policy “years ago.” Residents have the option, council was advised, of opening a utility account for $50 per month.
Administration will review the policy with the policy review committee of council.
New direction on Calling Lake seniors’ housing
Council voted in favour of rescinding a contract to design and build a seniors’ residence in Calling Lake. The contract had been awarded to SEKO Construction by the previous council, for a price of $2,828,000.
In a separate motion, council voted to contract North Lake Contracting to build four two-bedroom cottages, “and for administration to design site for a total of eight cottages.”
According to CAO Chad Tullis the change in direction came about “based on community input via open house and online survey.” Instead of building a large facility, he says, “we will be constructing smaller, individual, barrier-free senior homes.”
