By Kevin Sabo For the Advance
Residents of the county, as well as the county administrators, will soon be getting an updated bird’s-eye view of the region.
After some discussion at the last county council meeting on June 5 the county has decided to spend around $46,000 in partnership with surrounding areas to get the imagery done. It has been around eight years since the images were done last and the images provide valuable information to all departments.
The imagery helps the various county departments in future planning, as a source of verification on where objects are located in the confines of the county and provides a visual timeline of landscape changes. The project will be conducted by Tarin Resource Services Ltd and funding will come from the restricted surplus.
Other items discussed at the June 5 county council meeting varied:
• The county has agreed to place a “Children at Play” sign on a rural road near the farm of Brian Weeks to get people to be aware of his children playing outside.
• Director of Public Works Bryce Cooke submitted a request for funding for a new zero-turn mower, as the current one has around 1100 hours on the enging and needs to be retired soon. Council approved the purchase of a John Deer mower with side discharge for almost $11,000.
• Due to a county admin error, tax penalties have been waived for an individual who paid his taxes, but no record indicating such was generated.
• Discussion of a Road Use Agreement between county and a rate-payer. Rate-payer will be required to put up a $20,000 security bond and pay for the road work. The bond will return to the rate-payer after a year’s warranty period if there are no deficiencies found in the new road. Council will cost share up to a max of $15,000 after completion and take over road maintenance responsibilities.
• Various committee reports: Castor Rec Board has raised approximately $1,000 in selling equipment from arena. Castor pool needs some repairs. Coun. Blumhagen is joining the board of the Red Deer River Municipal users Group. BREOC update.
• Presentation by Development Officer Todd Pawsey: Intermunicipal development plan in process, 2018 is predicted with “slow development”, requests county support Co-Op’s push to get a generator as fuel supply is a major issue in an emergency. Council directed acting CAO Hepp to draft a letter of support.