RCMP communication questioned
Councillors are demanding better communication from the Athabasca RCMP after a 12-year-old Edmonton boy’s body was found in Calling Lake on Thursday, Aug. 6. Councillor Darlene Jackson said the community was left in the dark about whether there was an active threat.
“Better communication with the RCMP in Athabasca would have been nice,” Jackson said. “Like there wasn’t any indication that the community was at risk?”
She noted that news travels fast on the “Moccasin Telegraph,” causing people to race to the scene.
“My grandson is around 12, I can’t imagine how devastating it would have been for the family,” Jackson added. Council agreed, and the administration will draft a letter requesting police notify the municipality during major incidents so they can reassure residents.
Bridge replacement considered
The M.D. might replace a local bridge instead of fixing it. During an update on the bridge, administration noted that engineering repairs might cost nearly $1 million.
“So it’d be cheaper for us to abandon that bridge and replace it with a different structure,” the administration said.
Meanwhile, the administration also noted that the province has freed up $300,000 in funding to redo the approaches on the main four-way stop.
Water loss in Calling Lake
A lack of communication left operators scrambling after a live hydrant was opened in Calling Lake, draining water at 29 litres per second for over an hour. The administration said the water plant only produces a maximum of 14 litres per second.
“We were just watching the level change drastically, so we started making phone calls,” administration said.
The situation was made worse because the plant’s remote monitoring system was down due to an internet outage. The municipality is now looking at moving the facility to a dedicated Starlink satellite connection.
Inclusive summer camp subsidy
Council unanimously approved $7,500 to support the “Warrior Within Me” summer sports camp after the organizer, Joel Auger, agreed to make the event inclusive for everyone. The money will be used to subsidize entry fees for all M.D. residents who attend. The total grant will be divided equally among local participants, regardless of their First Nation identity.
Daycare ‘Tech Fridays’ debated
A Wabasca daycare is holding “Tech Fridays,” allowing children to use personal electronic devices for one hour in the morning and one hour in the afternoon. During the meeting, it was questioned whether two hours of screen time a day is too much for kids at a daycare where they should be playing with each other. Parents who do not want their children to participate can opt out.
“If the parent doesn’t want their child to participate in Tech Friday, they can just send their child with a book,” an administration member said.
Golf course power outages
Councillor Robin Guild expressed frustration that the local golf course shuts down completely during power outages. He argued that even if the carts cannot be charged and the tills are down, residents should still be allowed to walk the course and play in the sun. He noted that golfers “not needing any power at all” should not be turned away. Administration said they are actively working on a solution to keep the greens open to maximize use when the grid goes dark.
Old debts written off
Council voted to wipe the slate clean on roughly $86,000 in uncollectable municipal debts and old accounts receivable. The vote required a slightly smaller table than usual, as four councillors had to step out of the room to avoid a conflict of interest because their names or businesses were attached to the list.
Vacant lot discount rejected
A buyer looking for a steep discount on a Wabasca tax forfeiture lot will have to negotiate a higher price. The lot was appraised at $22,400, but the buyer offered only $10,000.
“I don’t agree with this,” Councillor Jackson said. “Like if it’s priced at $24,000, well, you sell it for $24,000.”
Council rejected the offer, with administration warning that selling land below market value could open the M.D. to legal trouble from the previous owner.
Internet upgrades
The Wabasca Desmarais Housing Authority is getting a $17,900 dedicated fibre optic line to fix ongoing hardware issues. Council unanimously approved the capital budget amendment for the project.
Homeless shelter action
Councillor Jackson asked administration for an update on the local homeless shelter. She stressed that the municipality needs to come up with a real plan to help vulnerable residents.
“What are we doing to actually help them?” Jackson asked, noting that the facility should be more than just a place to sleep. Administration replied they would look into the matter.
Community gathering and golf tournament
Council approved a $2,500 donation and the use of municipal porta-potties for an upcoming community gathering. In a separate motion, the M.D. agreed to provide $3,000 to help sponsor a local women’s golf tournament that is open to everyone.
Armaan Khanna
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter