Two residents approached council to request re-consideration of the invoice they received for a sewer blockage repair. It was their contention that the blockage was within the Village’s sewer line.
Town Foreman Bill Hnybida, however, reported the blockage was in the homeowners’ line. An independent contractor who worked on the problem also gave the Village a letter indicating the blockage was fully within the homeowners’ sewer line, therefore council was not able to give the home owners a break on the bill, as the Village’s bylaw is specific that homeowners are responsible for costs in such situations.
Two neighbours approached council to request alley grading behind Lount Crescent to alleviate an ongoing flooding problem. Both parties agreed that simply adding more gravel would not help. Council agreed to the request and when the alley dries up, work will commence to alleviate the problem.
• A cracked hot tub was dumped off at the gates to the recycle centre. The tub will now have to be cut up and disposed of at the expense of Beiseker taxpayers. There are proper ways of dealing with unwanted items and council has decided to install a video camera at the site.
• The dumping of various large items, including furniture, in Beiseker’s back alleys is becoming a problem. Such items are collected by the Village twice a year, and in between, residents are asked to haul the items to the recycle site themselves. However, in a bid to clean up some of the alleys, Village staff will pick up items for a fee. If necessary, a letter will be sent to the offenders letting them know staff will be picking up the items, and residents will be billed.
• Chief Administrative Officer Jo Lambert informed council that County councillor Greg Boehlke has agreed to set up a meeting with Deputy Mayor Ray Courtman to discuss possible formation of an airport commission.
• Tax notices have been available for pick up, but those remaining will be mailed out now that the Canada Post lockout is over. Residents have until August 31 to pay.
Councillor Al Henuset attended a Wild Rose Community Futures meeting, June 23. This year, loans for just over $1.3 million were made to 34 businesses in the area. This resulted in the creation or maintenance of 124 full and part-time jobs.
Deputy Mayor Ray Courtman attended the recent Kneehill Water Commission meeting where he obtained a copy of a letter that the Village of Linden is sending to the Province urging provincial help for the high cost of water. He requested that Beiseker send a similar letter. He noted the Province has been promising for months that it will look into problems the commission is experiencing, and to date no action has been taken.
Councillor Brenda Hnybida noted the Beiseker and District Recreation Board has received $24,700 from Rocky View County. Applications for funding from the Recreation Board can dropped off at the Beiseker Village Office.
Construction on the paths and trails is continuing, she noted, with tenders now coming in for gravel on the trail on the north road. The path between McLeans and Beacon Heights Park is being taken over with grass and needs to be rebuilt she noted.
Council passed a bylaw allowing the Village to borrow $460,250 to complete the $850,000 Main Street beautification plan. The loan will be paid from provincial grant money over the next three years.
Beiseker council will meet once in July on the 25th, and once in August, on the 22nd. The next meeting of council will be July 25 at 7:30 p.m. in Council Chambers. The public is welcome.
