ST. PAUL – During a June 27 County of St. Paul Public Works meeting, council discussed implementing an annual Application Process for MG-30 Dust Control.
Annually, the County of St. Paul has been applying the MG-30 dust control product on roadways with excessive amounts of dust for residential properties, said CAO Sheila Kitz, as she was presenting the item. This requires an “application season" that typically begins in mid-May to mid-July.
The absence of a structured application process and a deadline has resulted in challenges during the application season, she explained.
“When new requests are made mid-application season, this causes a vast amount of doubling back over earlier MG-30 applications as well as budget and time restraints,” said Kitz. “So, our current process provides that the residents that got it the previous year are automatically added to the next year's program.”
The proposed application process will help administration budget better for the applications. Recipients of the dust control would need to re-apply annually to receive the service.
Deputy Reeve Maxine Fodness motioned to refer to the Policy Committee to develop an annual application process for MG-30 Dust Control. The motion passed.
Gideon Lake road oiling
County council also discussed the oiling and repair of Gideon Lake Road with the help of Canadian Natural Resources Limited (CNRL), specifically the section between Range Road 73 and Range Road 74.
During a previous meeting of the County’s Heavy Oil Committee with CNRL, the road was among the roads agreed to by both parties for oiling and repair, said Public Works director Scott Jeffery, as the roads “have been impacted by CNRL’s business over the years.”
He said CNRL hauled 40 loads of water from March 2023 to May 2023. But there is no agreement with CNRL regarding repairs.
Jeffery said CNRL is willing to contribute 40 per cent to the material costs required for the road repair rather than the full cost. The estimated cost for the repair materials is $121,257.60, based on a price of 1,632 tonne at $74.30 per tonne, with CNRL’s proposed contribution amounting to $48,503.04.
Reeve Glen Ockerman suggested referring the matter back to the Heavy Oil Committee since it required more in-depth discussion that couldn't be adequately addressed during the meeting.
Fodness motioned to refer the matter to the County's Heavy Oil Committee. The motion passed.
Waste truck replacement
Other discussions during the meeting also included the Council deliberating whether to start the ordering process for the replacement of its two waste trucks.
Jason Storch, director of Community Services, said the County’s 2008 Western Star roll-off truck is slated for replacement in 2024, and a new unit is estimated to be between $300,000 - $350,000.
In addition, the County’s 2015 Peterbilt front-load truck is also slated for replacement in 2025, with a new unit estimated at $500,000.
Storch said if the County starts the process of ordering the waste trucks now, the trucks are expected to be received in 2024 to 2025, explaining it will at least take one to two years to receive a unit after the order process, while a front-load truck will take longer,
Kitz clarified beginning the ordering process does not mean the County has committed to buying units, following concerns from Ockerman regarding the price.
Storch also said that it would be still up to the Council to decide if they choose to buy new units to replace the trucks, explaining starting the process early on will only hasten the ordering process if council does decide on replacements.
Coun. Kevin Wirsta motioned to begin the order process. The motion passed.
The County usually contributes $120,000 annually to waste equipment reserves and will have $730,000 in reserves at the end of the year.
Track and field timing system
County council also went over a $1,500 request from the St. Paul Athletic Association (SPAA) to buy a new track and field timing system.
According to a letter from SPAA president Jonathan Randall presented to Council, the current system used by the association “was obsolete long ago and has reached the end of its life.” The systems cost between $10,000 to $12,000.
County council approved to contribute the $1,500.
Hillside Estates sign installation
County council also addressed a request from several Hillside Estates residents to cover an estimated cost of $1,500 for the purchase and installation of a 5’x8’ metal sign at the intersection of Sec. Hwy 881 and Armistice Road.
Coun. Ross Krekoski told council the sign has already been installed and that the cost was more than they anticipated, adding the residents can provide receipts.
The location of the sign will act as a landmark to provide directions to the emergency services in the area, according to CAO Sheila Kitz. She said that a resident told her that when an ambulance was in the area “the ambulance didn’t know where to go.”
Deputy Reeve Maxine Fodness said there was a prior request from Crestview Beach for a sign and that the council denied the request due to precedent concerns. She motioned to file the item for information. The motion was defeated
Krekoski then motioned to approve the installation of the sign as it has already been installed. The motion was approved.
Coun. Darrell Younghans motioned to deny paying the requested $1,500 amount. The motion was approved.
