Serving the communities of Rimbey, Bentley, Bluffton, Winfield, Alder Flats and Buck Lake
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
www.rimbeyreview.com
Volume 16 Number 18
Province won’t back MLA’s funding claim for lodge By Treena Mielke
Creativity: The 34th annual Allan B Olson spring machinery auction sale was held last Monday. John Bugbee, a farmer from Caroline came to the Rimbey sale hoping to find a replacement for a broken Grapple Fork. He successfully bid on the piece of equipment, but the Grapple Fork wouldn’t fit in the box of his small Ford truck. By hammering out the rusty pins he was able to take it apart, and fit the smaller pieces in the back of his truck. APN Photo
Snow removal costs well over budget By Treena Mielke The town of Rimbey has dumped more than $72,000 into snow removal since January, surpassing the $60,000 which was budgeted by over $12,000. From January to April of last year, the town spent only $3,685 on snow removal, in part, no doubt, to the fact not nearly as much snow fell during that time frame. However, acting CAO Melissa Beebe said this is the first year the town has removed the snow in the residential areas.
“Before it was just bladed off to the side,” she said. “Removing the snow is more costly, but it does reduce the level of potholes, thereby cutting down on repair costs. It also makes the roads more accessible.” she added. The town has used contractors to help with snow removal in the past, but in 2013/14 contractors were required more often due to the large amount of snowfall. This year, council also purchased a snowblower and snow blade for $110,335.
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The equipment has a life expectancy of 2025 years. Council is looking for input from the public regarding this year’s snow removal and have published a survey in the Rimbey Review and also on-line with six questions pertaining to snow removal. “We would like to have citizens respond so we know if they were happy with the service level,” said Mayor Rick Pankiw. “We did have an unbelievable amount of snow.”
A Wildrose MLA’s announcement that Rimoka Housing Board has received $13.3 million to build a new lodge in Rimbey doesn’t seem to hold water with either the provincial government or Rimoka. In a press release dated April 15, Joe Anglin, Wildrose MLA for Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House- Sundre, said he had received confirmation from the Acting Minister of Municipal Affairs, Greg Weadick that the community of Rimbey and the Rimoka Housing Board had received $13.3 million for a new seniors lodge in Rimbey. But Emily Woods, press secretary for the Minister said Weadick never confirmed that information with Joe Anglin. “It is unusual for an opposition MLA to speak on behalf of the provincial government,” she said. “The announcement is premature.” However, the government is prepared to make a statement at a later date. “Redeveloping senior lodges is a priority for the government and an announcement on funding for projects will be coming the near future,” she said. Rimoka board chairman Paul McLaughlin agreed Anglin’s announcement was premature. “While an announcement is imminent, there are critical pieces to the decision, funding and approval process, that have not been met. Funding for rural senior’s lodge renewal for projects like Rimbey involve federal funding and we must respect the communications protocol in that funding agreement.” McLaughlin said the board is thankful for Mr. Anglin’s efforts on this project by advocating for its approval, however, his eagerness for a distribution of credit for the facility approval is premature and without merit. “His announcement undermines the board’s commitment to work with the ministry and to leave announcements to a future date when credit can be given.” Continued on page 7
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