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A Free Weekly Publication Serving All of Beaver County Wednesday, February 23, 2022, Volume 15, Issue 8 Wednesday February 16 2022 Volume 15 Issue 7
County examining options now that ATB to close in Ryley Patricia Harcourt Beaver County council discussed a notification received at the February 16 regular meeting that ATB Financial intends to permanently close its Ryley branch as of May 2022. “There are no plans to set up an agency in the village; however, staff at the Tofield branch will attend the Ryley branch periodically to assist seniors and clients with limited mobility,” stated county intern Ethan Forrest, in his report to council. “A regular day will also be set aside for clients to meet with a financial advisor.” He added that, “the county has been advised that its accounts will automatically be transferred to the Tofield branch,” he said. “However, administration is investigating whether ATB will allow the county to make its deposits on the days it opens the branch in Ryley for special appointments.” But administration also wants to investigate other options. “In any event, in the pst the county has been asked by other financial institutions in the region to bank with them,” he said. In the past, “council has indicated interest in looking around for professional services…This might be a good time to do that.” The ease of electronic services means that “administration believes it may be beneficial to issue a Request for Proposal for banking services. “The process will begin in March with the intent to review the RFPs with council in early May,” he said, adding: “Cash control and health and safety policies will also be reviewed to
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ensure the safe handling of cash and other negotiable instruments.” Deputy Reeve Gene Hrabec (Division 3) expressed regret at ATB’s decision. “They decided to close the bank without consulting the owners,” he said, calling himself “an ATB owner.” Hrabec also noted that there are a “significant number of seniors in Ryley” who will be adversely affected by not having a bank in their village. “I’m pretty disappointed that they are closing here,” he said, from the county service centre located in Ryley. Division 4 Councillor Barry Bruce said he echoes Hrabec’s sentiments. “I’m very disappointed,” he said, noting there is “a lot of history” wrapped up in the bank’s belonging in the community. And he called the closure “a continuation of the policy of abandoning rural Alberta,” adding: ”It’s the death of a thousand cuts.” But Division 2 Councillor Lionel Williams
didn’t agree, stating he can “appreciate ATB’s situation.” He said the bank hasn’t so much abandoned rural Alberta as “we have abandoned rural Alberta ourselves,” pointing out that there are fewer people living here than there were 20 years ago. “The kids don’t stay,” he said, highlighting the need for economic development in the county. Division 5 Councillor Dale Pederson suggested the county invite another financial institution to set up in Ryley. Reeve Kevin Smook (Division 1) said that “one of the positives of ATB is that they are everywhere,” adding: “They have their reasons for moving. And, although it’s not a popular decision, “they made a business decision.” Smook also said that “the county has been a big customer and we’ll have to make a decision.” But it served as a community hub, he said, calling it “a sad day for Ryley and Beaver County. We will look at our options.”
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2 - Beaver County Chronicle, February 23, 2022
Rising costs influence decision to extend gravel crush contract Patricia Harcourt Beaver County Council purchased 2021 and 2022 gravel overcrush at a total cost of $87,043 at council’s Feb. 16 meeting. Director of Transportation Dan Blackie informed council that the county’s current gravel crush contractor, McDonald Aggregate, had overcrush left over from the 2021-2022 contract for this total cost. “Due to the rising costs administration recommends purchase of this as inventory,” stated Blackie, in his report. He also noted that the “gravel is already located in a pit with our current stock (so) not extra staffing will be required.” He added: “Due to standard accounting practices, the gravel crushing will be paid from reserves. Once the gravel is placed on the roads, a tax levy will be used to reimburse the reserves.” Council also approved the purchase of three new John Deere 872Gs with six year/90,000 hour warranties. Also, three new snow wings and three new lift groups from Brandt at a cost of $556,000 each, totalling $1,668,000 plus GST. Three county-owned graders will be traded in to Brandt for three John Deere 872G motor graders, including a 2018 for $218,000 (machine plus wing); a 2018 for $210,000 (machine plus wing); and a 2016 for $188,000 (machine plus wing, packer). Blackie also indicated that prices are going up for these items as well. “Everything’s gone up,” he said. “Since last week, they’ve gone up again…So I’m glad I locked (the price) in.” The recommendation was to trade three older Brandt graders for three others. “All have options to put packers on but down the road on that,” he said, to a question from Deputy Reeve Gene Hrabec (Division 3). Councillor Barry Bruce (Division 4) stated that he used to sell farm equipment, and agreed with Blackie: “The cost of a new grader is just going off the charts.” Blackie said the snow wings being purchased have been used for 15 years on average bringing the cost to $2,000 per wing per every year. The county’s current snow wings have been used for 20 years and need to be replaced. “The current units have never had lift groups, they have been using the
old style four arm attachments,” he said, which need at least three people to hook them up and have been adapted from grader to grader. “Administration recommends upgrading these to proper lift groups so that the operator can safely hook and unhook as needed alone,” he said. A motion by Lionel Williams (Division 2) to approve the purchase of the three graders and attachments at the given price was approved. Council then turned to the 20232024 gravel crush with administration recommending that a two-year extension be granted to existing contracts (with attached rates and quantities for the east and west ends of the county). The request for a two-year contract extension came from McDonald Aggregates on January 18, reported Blackie. The current contracts end after two years on December 31 of this year. However, the contracts allow for an extension of the term for a period of up to two more years using two one-year term renewals. “Administration has been very happy with the product that McDonald Aggregates have provided and all of the 2022 product crushing has already been completed ahead of schedule for our use,” stated the report to council. Blackie again pointed out that pricing increases could become an issue and recommended locking them in for two years with the current contractor. “It’s good quality,” he said, of the gravel crush, noting the “struggle” the county has had with the current rise in fuel and steel. Blackie felt it was a good idea to approve the prices offered by the fall due to these concerns. “I still feel this is really good prices,” he said, and testing the product “as you go” has shown a low failure rate “considering the wet summers.” Blackie felt getting this submission for a contract renewal was good for the county, “so it can be dealt with now.” Deputy Reeve Hrabec (Division 3) agreed: “I think it’s good to have all our ducks in a row.” “We know the prices are going up so the more we can lock (them) in the better, said Blackie. A motion by Bruce to go with administration’s recommendation was passed.
Claystone Waste e is a municipally con ntrolled corporation established in 20 20 by the Town of Viking, Vikin 2020 ng Town of Tofield Tofield, Village of Ryley, Village of Holden and Beaver County. Claystone Waste is committed to being a responsive community partner and to operating with the highest standards of environmental and operational excellence in the delivery of waste management services. Claystone Waste operates the following facilities:
Beave ver Regional Landfill 50117 17 Ran ange Ro Road 17 173
780. 0.663. 3.2038
The Beaver Regional Landfill is open six days a week, k, Monday to Saturday. It is an engineered, sanitary class 2 landfill that
accepts municipal solid waste from Beaver County and the surrounding municipalities, as well as significant volumes of class 2 non-hazardous industrial wastes. In addition to the regional landfill, Claystone Waste operates five transfer stations. County residents can bring bagged household garbage, e, and other dry waste, such as broken chairs, furniture, e, mattresses and scrap wood for disposal. The location and hours for each transfer station is noted below:
Kinsella Transfer Station 46418 18 Ran ange Ro Road 113 13
x x
Wednesdays: Fridays:
780. 0.663. 3.2038
11:00 am to 5:00 pm 11:00 am to 5:00 pm
Viking Transfer Station 12503 To Town wnship ip 480
x x
Tuesdays: Saturdays:
780. 0.71 718.79 7956
10:30 am to 5:30 pm 10:30 am to 5:30 pm
Tofield Transfer Station 51032 32 Ran ange Ro Road 191
x x x
Wednesdays: Fridays: Saturdays:
780. 0.662. 2.27 2731
10:30 am to 5:30 pm 10:30 am to 5:30 pm 10:30 am to 5:30 pm
Lindbrook Transfe fer Station 51008 Ran ange Ro Road 201 x x x
Tuesdays: Thursdays: Saturdays:
780.662. 2.270 704
10:30 am to 5:30 pm 11:30 am to 6:30 pm 10:30 am to 5:30 pm
Ryley Transfe fer Station 50117 17 Ran ange Ro Road 17 173
x x x x x x
Mondays: Tuesdays: Wednesdays: Thursdays: Fridays: Saturdays and STATS*:
780. 0.663. 3.2038
9:00 am to 4:30 pm 9:00 am to 4:30 pm 9:00 am to 4:30 pm 9:00 am to 4:30 pm 9:00 am to 4:30 pm 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
* Pl Please note te th that all tr transfe fer sta tati tions ex excep ept fo for th the Ryl yley Tr Transfe fer Sta tati tion are re clo losed on Sta tatu tuto tory ry holid idays ys.
Administration Offices 50117 17 Ra Range Ro Road 17 173 (S (Secon onda dary Hi Highwa way 854) 4) 780. 0.663. 3.2038
Box ox 32 322 Ry Ryley, y, AB T0B 0B 4A 4A0
Toll Fr Free 1. 1.855. 5.22 221. 1.2038
Administration offices are open Monday to Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm and are closed from 12:00 to 1:00 pm.
Beaver County Chronicle, February 23, 2022 - 3
Committee of the Whole meetings return per CAO recommendation
County Council re-affirms 50/50 dust control cost sharing policy
Patricia Harcourt
Patricia Harcourt
Beaver County Council will now hold Committee of the Whole meetings once a month with the passing of second and third readings on the formation of a Governance and Priorities Committee. Referred to informally as both CoW and G&P meetings, councillors become committee members during these information gathering sessions. Council agreed to hold the meetings on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 1p.m. However, the first such meeting would take place on Feb. 23 from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Councillor Dae Pederson (Division 5) asked if this meant there would now be two council meetings plus a CoW meeting each month. Interim CAO Rick McDonald replied it would, but he expected the need for two regular meetings of council to diminish over time as councillors get more out of the committee meetings. Beaver County Council had traditionally held Committee of the Whole meetings until a new administration was voted in for the 2017-2021 term of office. At that time, under then reeve Jim Kallal and current deputy reeve Gene Hrabec, the committee of the whole meetings were ended in favour of two regular meetings of county council. One of McDonald’s recommendations during an organizational review of county procedures was to state that committee of the whole meetings should be returned so council could make better decisions in a more efficient manner.
Dust control policy was once more on the discussion table for this year’s season. Beaver County councillors have wrestled with this issue several times over the last few years. The previous council had changed the policy from the resident paying 50 per cent of the product cost to the resident paying 100 per cent. Before the last municipal election in the fall, that policy was reversed back to the 50/50 cost sharing model now in place. Dan Blackie, director of transportation, put a proposal before council at the Feb. 16 meeting. The proposal from Kortech Calcium was eventually accepted by council for the company to supply and apply dust suppressant and mix winter sand for 2022 and 2023. The price for the calcium supply and apply was for $100,000 or $.20/litre; and for the winter sand and mixing for $10,000, or $10/tonne. The two year contract maximum total would be $220,000. Blackie said there were three proposals from different sources for this tender. “Administration recommends that council accept the RFQ from Kortech Calcium Services as they can provide both the dust suppressant application and onsite winter sand mixing,” he stated, in his report. “For the last couple of years we have been mixing our winter sand onsite and have been very happy with the product and the resulting cost savings.”
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Blackie said the approval was necessary now to get letters out to the ratepayers asking if they wish to have dust control done this spring, which was to begin in mid-May. Blackie asked for a second decision, and that was to confirm that the county would continue with the current dust control costing of 50/50 between the county and a resident. “Administration requests of council to confirm if we are to continue the dust control program as we have been where the resident pays 50 per cent of the product cost and the county covers the remainder once per calender year,” he said. “If council wishes to change the pay schedule, administration will bring back the Fees for Services bylaw at next meeting, and dust control application letters to residents will be delayed until the bylaw is updated.” The only new county councillor on council, Division 2’s Lionel Williams, spoke against the county paying for 50 per cent of the cost of the dust control. “I am fundamentally opposed to subsidizing people for certain things,” he said. “I don’t like the way that works.” However, he noted that on the other side of the argument, people who answered the recent county survey stated they wanted the policy to stay as it is with equal cost sharing. Two motions by Division 5 Councillor Dale Pederson were passed to accept the Kortech proposal and confirm the 50/50 dust control application cost sharing.
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4 - Beaver County Chronicle, February 23, 2022
Beaver County Service Centre 5120 - 50 Street Box 140 Ryley, Alberta T0B 4A0 Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Notice of Development Permit
Phone: (780) 663-3730 Fax: (780) 663-3602 Toll Free: 1-866-663-1333 www.beaver.ab.ca Email: administration@beaver.ab.ca
Notice of Public Hearing
The following Development Application has been APPROVED (except where otherwise noted) by the Development Officer under the provisions of Land Use Bylaw No. 98-801, subject to the right of appeal to the Subdivision and Development Appeal Board. APPEAL DEADLINE: March 16, 2022 Application No. 020020-22-D0022 Applicant: Hansen, Paul Location: NE-35-52-19-W4 Development: Ground stack solar array (Solar Collectors) Any person wishing to appeal a decision may do so by serving written notice on the prescribed form (stating reasons for the appeal) and submitting the applicable fee of $200.00 to the Secretary of the Subdivision and Development Appeal Board at the following address. The notice of appeal must be submitted before 4:30 pm on the appeal deadline date shown above, or be postmarked by the appeal deadline date. The prescribed form is available at www.beaver.ab.ca or at the County office. Further information regarding the above decision(s) may be obtained from the County Office, Ryley, Alberta. SECRETARY Subdivision and Development Appeal Board Beaver County, Box 140 Ryley, Alberta T0B 4A0 (780) 663-3730 Due to COVID-19, all appeal hearings will be held electronically until further notice.
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CN Notice
CN Infrastructure Upgrades CN will be adding some infrastructure upgrades to the siding track in Bruce, AB, by extending it ~4800ft. Beaver County and Bruce residents may see some surveying and activity in the coming weeks and months ahead. As more information about the upgrades becomes available to Beaver County, we will be sure to let the residents know.