The Municipal District of Opportunity held a regular council meeting in Wabasca on Sept. 14. The agenda was packed with debates over delayed capital projects, frustrating provincial highway decisions, and budget increases for local recreation.

M.D. searches for local peace officers to handle heavy trucks 

The municipal enforcement team presented its monthly report, revealing that the municipality currently has only one active Community Peace Officer on duty, with another waiting in the training pipeline. Councillor Darlene Jackson asked if any local residents had applied for the positions. She said the community’s biggest concern right now is heavy commercial trucks speeding through town, and she hopes officers can be trained to conduct mobile traffic stops. Deputy Reeve Brendan Powell expressed his frustration over the ongoing hiring delays. “When did we start this program, about two years now?” Powell said, noting they only have one full-time officer on the ground. “I would like to see some locals hired.” Administration said that while local candidates are always prioritized, it has been difficult to retain recruits who pass the necessary provincial training. Officials said they want to hire people who are truly capable of doing the job, rather than just filling a vacant position.

Edmonton floods delay Eagle Point Golf Course repairs 

The facility maintenance department provided a frustrating update on several ongoing capital projects. A much-anticipated deck replacement at the Eagle Point Golf Course has been stalled all summer. Everett Gottfried, presenting for the department, said the contractor, ServiceMaster, also works directly for insurance companies. Because Edmonton experienced severe flooding multiple times this summer, the contractor was pulled away to prioritize emergency insurance claims in the city. “I am pretty impatient, but it’s out of my hands,” Gottfried said. In Sandy Lake, a bathroom electrification project also hit a major snag. The utility provider, ATCO, realized the power poles across the road were too short to bring the service over and had to extend them. The project was delayed and reassigned to an intern, but she promised the municipality it will be finished in September. On a more positive note, the Red Earth Creek gymnasium painting project is completely finished. Council said it looks like a brand new facility. “The gymnasium looks like a whole different gym,” Gottfried said. Council suggested adding funds to next year’s budget to paint the rest of the building’s hallways and doors.

Highways abandons Wabasca 4-way stop 

Council expressed severe frustration over the incomplete 4-way stop at the entrance of Wabasca. The paving contractor packed up and left the job just five metres short of the finish line, leaving massive potholes at the main intersection. Everett Gottfried said he asked the contractor why they did not finish the last small section. “Alberta Highways told me so,” Gottfried said. “He’s like ‘I was moving my machine towards it, and they’re like no, you’re done. That’s it.’” Administration said provincial highway officials forced the crew to stop work, leaving the local intersection in rough shape while the municipality waits for provincial approval to finish it.

Tennis court and park budget spikes to $300,000 

The recreation department asked council for a massive budget increase to fix the Wabasca tennis courts. The project originally had an approved budget of $38,720. However, administration could not find a single contractor willing to resurface the courts without putting down a proper asphalt overlay first, which costs over $82,000. Chief Administrative Officer Chad Tullis recommended increasing the budget to $125,000 to cover the asphalt work and a 25 per cent contingency. Jackson initially moved to increase the budget to $200,000 to be safe. During the debate, the conversation shifted to Eli Cardinal Park, where the municipality wants to purchase a mobile washroom trailer. Jackson agreed to a friendly amendment to bump the total capital budget increase to $300,000 to cover both the tennis courts and the washroom facilities. The motion passed unanimously.

Wabasca airport closures and STARS landings 

The Wabasca airport is currently shut down for night flights while crews upgrade the runway lighting to LEDs. A full closure of the airport will happen for three days later this month to complete runway resurfacing warranty work. The closure sparked a debate about where the STARS air ambulance can land in an emergency. Jackson said helicopters land on the grass in Peerless Lake and asked why they cannot simply land in the empty field beside the Wabasca hospital. Tullis said STARS regulations require designated, routine landing spots to be certified helipads, which cost over a million dollars. To solve the issue without a massive bill, the municipality will act as a middleman and pay to have the airport’s fuel tanks inspected every two years. This satisfies forestry and STARS regulations, allowing the air ambulance to safely use the airport instead of the hospital grounds.

Developer requests unprecedented land swap 

A local developer submitted a letter asking the municipality for a highly unusual real estate swap. Philip Tschetter and Jeanette Savoury purchased Lot 563 on Meadow Lane as a tax forfeiture property last year for $26,282. However, when they tried to install a water line, they discovered the property floods constantly with six to eight feet of water. Tschetter asked council to transfer the ownership to a fully serviced, dry lot located at 431 Grassy Way, which was originally priced at $16,107. Administration said tax forfeiture sales are legally final, and the municipality has never done a straight cross-transfer for a new lot before. “We’re kind of breaking new ground with this one,” an administration official said. Powell said the municipality sold a lot that cannot be developed, and they should work to fix the situation. “I think we should try and help out,” Powell said. Council passed a motion directing administration to negotiate a sale and purchase agreement to essentially swap the properties at cost, pending legal advice.

Lakeview Sports Centre closure confusion 

Council discussed ongoing communication issues regarding the Lakeview Sports Centre. When the facility is closed for private events, residents often mistakenly believe the attached public library is also closed. Powell suggested putting up a rope or tape at the main entrance to clearly show the sports centre is closed, while ensuring the pathway to the library remains unobstructed. Councillor Gerald Johnson added that the library should get its own permanent sign. Council directed administration to ensure all public notices, including Facebook posts, explicitly state that the library remains open during sports centre events.

School zones and fire hydrants 

Public works told the council that Wabasca and the surrounding areas will see major updates to school zone signs. Under new provincial rules, school zones are now in effect all day. Any old municipal signs that list specific hours are no longer valid and will be taken down. Finally, Powell said that many fire hydrants in the municipality are becoming invisible due to overgrown brush, trees, and fading paint. Utilities administration agreed to clear the vegetation to ensure a minimum six-foot clearance around all hydrants for emergency visibility.

Armaan Khanna

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter