By Kevin J. Sabo
For the Advance
Property owners within the Village of Halkirk will have more of an incentive to keep their lawns cut this summer.
In a motion put forward by Mayor Dale Kent, the village is raising their rates from $25 per lot to $100, with the costs invoiced to the property owner.
In the event of non-payment, the outstanding tab could end up on the year-end property taxes.
While it is not common practice for village staff to cut residential lots, they will be sent in if a property becomes unkempt, and after written warnings are issued to the landowner by the village administration office.
There are two reasons for the increase.
First, to better account for employee time, as some properties have taken over an hour to do. Second, the hope is that by increasing the rate so significantly, people will find alternative ways to look after their property at a lower cost than the village staff.
Another round of warning letters will be sent out, asking residents to clean up their property and get their lawns cut before village staff are sent in.
“We need to send out a letter and tell (property owners) they need to mow to the property edge,” said Coun. Sherry Jamieson, agreeing with the change.
“There’s a couple places in town that something needs to be done.”
Back-alley gravelling
The Village of Halkirk will be getting back-alleys gravelled this summer. The project was supposed to be completed in 2020, but due to the pandemic, the project was held back.
In total, six to seven loads of gravel will be brought in for the project.
Unfortunately, the project will require the gravel trucks to cross new sidewalks. To mitigate damage, and hopefully prevent cracking of the new sidewalks, the drivers doing the hauling/spreading will be instructed to cross the new sidewalks at the end of their load, when their trucks are lightest.
“They won’t go across any new sidewalks with a full load, said Village of Halkirk Chief Administrative Officer Marcy Renschler.
Emergency Management Bylaw
Village of Halkirk council has passed Bylaw 2021-07, the Emergency Management Bylaw.
The new bylaw establishes an emergency management board, which council will also sit on, as well as the appointment of CAO Renschler as the director of Emergency Management.
The bylaw also establishes when the village/council can declare a State of Local Emergency (S.O.L.E.), which gives them emergency powers.
The approval of the bylaw is required under the Municipal Government Act.
CAO Renschler and council will also be undertaking some online training in the area of emergency management so as to be compliant with the Emergency Management Act.
Halkirk curve
Highway 12 at Halkirk is being realigned, reducing the curves outside the municipality.
The work will occur on the highway from just west of the Hwy. 12/Hwy. 855 north intersection to about one kilometre east of the Hwy. 855 south/Hwy. 12 intersection.
As part of the work, a new access to the village will be constructed, as will a new intersection for Hwy. 12/Hwy. 855 south.
Construction is anticipated to begin in early July, and last approximately four months, weather permitting.
Traffic will be reduced to 50km/h through the construction zone and could be reduced to alternating lanes at some points. Construction will occur on the site from approximately 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
More information about the project can be found on the Alberta 511 web site, by calling 511, or by checking out the Alberta 511 smartphone application.
Gus Wetter grad request
The Village of Halkirk council has approved the Gus Wetter 2021 Grad Class to use the Bullarama grounds for the classes Safe Grad party.
To comply with current restrictions, attendance at the party is being restricted to 100 students, and 10 adult supervisors, plus a DJ.
The party will be taking place on the evening of June 25th.