ST. PAUL – Water rates in the hamlets of Lottie Lake, Ashmont, Mallaig, and those connected to the water system outside hamlet boundaries have been increased.
During the Nov. 22 County council meeting, council amended the Utilities Bylaw to reflect the increase in water rates, which will take effect on Jan. 1, 2023. The water rate increase reflects the Highway 28/63 Regional Commission increasing its rates from $2.46 to $2.51, a $0.05 increase per cubic metre, according to County administration.
This increase includes the increase in the monthly water rates for pressurized system customers in the hamlets of Lottie Lake, Ashmont, and Mallaig. As well as the non-pressurized system customers outside hamlet boundaries in the County of St. Paul Regional System.
A previous increase in water rate for users along the Elk Point/St. Paul water line to $1.03 that was approved last year at the Dec. 14, 2021, council meeting was not highlighted as a change in the Utilities Bylaw since it was made effective on Jan. 1, 2022.
Rates were also increased in the Lafond Waste Water Transfer Facility and Ashmont Lagoon from $3 to $4 per cubic metre.
Gate update
An ongoing issue regarding a gate placed across a public roadway in the Ashmont area continues to come before County council, with landowners now taking steps to make the road private in order to keep the gate up.
During the July 26 public works meeting, landowners in the Ashmont area asked County council for permission to have a gate installed along a public road, following incidents endangering the safety of the residents.
RELATED: County residents request gate on public road to combat rural crime
In the summer, residents reportedly experienced incidents of crime on their properties and were “concerned and worried for their safety.”
After the gate was installed – without the approval of the municipality – landowners were advised to either remove the gate or form a condominium association.
During a delegation at the Aug. 9 council meeting, residents appealed to the County to allow the gate to remain. County council maintained its position of not allowing the gate to remain without proper steps being taken.
RELATED: Ashmont residents appeal to County of St. Paul about installed gate
In October, County administration met with some of the landowners to speak about the available options.
At the Nov. 22 regular council meeting, CAO Sheila Kitz said the landowners chose to create a “modified subdivision plan” to privatize the road leading to the subdivision. This option requires a road closure, achieved through a road closure bylaw, Bylaw 2022-22.
Council gave first reading to the bylaw at the November meeting. The bylaw requires approval from the Alberta Minister of Transportation before County council can pass the second and third readings of the bylaw.
When the road closure bylaw is passed, the road leading to the subdivision will be private, which will allow landowners to legally gate the road.
County council also motioned to direct the landowners to remove the gate until the process of closing the road is completed and the land titles are changed.
ConExpo
County council has denied a request from the Public Works department to attend a conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2023.
Council discussed the request to approve the Director of Public Works and a Public Works staff member to attend the ConExpo in Las Vegas, during last month’s council meeting. The cost of flights, hotel, and conference registration would have been paid by the municipality, had the request been approved.
ConExpo is North America’s largest construction trade show held annually in Las Vegas. Registration for the Expo would come at a cost of $679 (USD) per person, and direct flights could cost up to $1,300 for a roundtrip per person. Hotel accommodations range from $106 to $861 per night.
After brief discussion of the cost, County council denied the request.
RMHC 2023 Winterland Invitational
County council will sponsor $500 to the Ronald McDonald House of Charities (RMHC) 2023 Winterland Invitational Peewee and Atom hockey tournament taking place in the Lakeland region.
The 2023 RMHC Winterland Invitational will be once again hosted from Feb.17 to Feb.19 in Bonnyville, Cold Lake, Elk Point, and Glendon. There will be 48 teams participating in the U9, U11, and U13 categories.
According to information from the RMHC website, the RMHC is a charity supporting “families seeking vital medical treatment for their seriously ill or injured child.”
