Neighbourhood Notes December 2017

Neighbourhood Notes

December 2017

In this Issue 

Meet your Council P2

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Christmas Hours P3

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Operations Update P5

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Ag Events P6/7

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Transfer Stations P8

Reeves Message This holiday season is a great reminder of a me to be thankful for our community, family and friends. On behalf of Kneehill County Council, administra on, and our families, our warmest thoughts and best wishes for a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year.

A huge thank you to the past councillors who served our community, and welcome to the new and returning councillors. The next four years will be full of engaging conversa ons, and development of strategies for Kneehill County, visioning into the future. We look forward to working together for you.

Council is currently reviewing policies, bylaws and plans in order to make fully informed decisions as the 2018 budget is our first major policy to adopt.

If you have any ques ons please always feel free to phone the County office or your councillor.

Sincerely, Reeve Jerry Wi stock

Your Council Reeve Jerry Wittstock Division 3

Meet Reeve Wittstock: A member of the Kneehill County Council for over 16 years, Reeve Wittstock has been an integral part of many large County projects.

Current Committees and Boards:  Alberta Health Services Advisory Council  Kneehill Regional Emergency Management Commi ee  Aqua 7 Water Services Commission  Central Assoc. Municipal Districts and Coun es  Doctor Recruitment and Reten on  Joint Inter‐Municipal Planning Commission with Carbon  Kneehill Housing Corpora on  Kneehill Regional FCSS  Mayors/Reeves Liaison  Medical Clinic Enhanced Services Review Commi ee  Municipal Planning Commission  Parks and Recrea on Commi ee  Joint Inter‐Municipal Planning Commission with Three Hills

Deputy Reeve Kenneth King Division 7 Meet Deputy Reeve King: A Kneehill County resident since 1983, Deputy Reeve King serves the Agricultural Community through his business King Agricultural Consulting Ltd. Current Committees and Boards:  Kneehill Regional Emergency Management Commi ee  Canadian Badlands  Central Assoc. of Municipal Districts and Coun es  Kneehill Regional FCSS  Mayors/Reeves Liaison  Medical Clinic Enhanced Services Review Commi ee  Municipal Planning Commission  Parks and Recrea on Commi ee  Red Deer River Municipal Users group Contact Information: To contact Deputy Reeve King, call (403) 443‐0285, or email kenneth.king@kneehillcounty.com

Contact Information: To contact Reeve Wi stock, call (403) 312‐6196, or email jerry.wi stock@kneehillcounty.com Councillor Faye McGhee Division 1

Councillor Debbie Penner Division 2

Meet Councillor McGhee: Born and raised in Kneehill County, Councillor McGhee is an active volunteer and served as a Community Capacity Worker before being elected into Council.

Meet Councillor Penner: A resident of Kneehill County since coming to Canada from Australia in 1989, Councillor Penner and her husband operate a mixed farm north of Carbon and enjoy volunteering in their local community.

Current Committees and Boards:  Canadian Badlands  Community Ac on  Doctor Recruitment and Reten on  Drumheller & District Solid Waste Management  Joint Inter‐Municipal Planning Commission with Carbon  Kneehill Housing Corpora on  Kneehill Regional Partnership Steering Commi ee  Municipal Planning Commission  Parks and Recrea on Commi ee

Current Committees and Boards:  Agricultural Service Board  Aqua 7 Water Services Commission  Drumheller and District Solid Waste Management  Joint Inter‐Municipal Planning Commission with Carbon  Municipal Planning Commission  Parks and Recrea on Commi ee

Contact Information: To contact Councillor McGhee, call (403) 436‐1611, or email faye.mcghee@kneehillcounty.com

Contact Information: To contact Councillor Penner, call (403) 818‐3108, or email debbie.penner@kneehillcounty.com

Connect With Us! Follow us on Facebook, twitter and Instagram: @kneehillcounty www.kneehillcounty.com

Councillor Glen Keiver Division 4

Councillor Jim Hugo Division 5

Meet Councillor Keiver: A lifelong resident, Councillor Keiver has served Kneehill County Council for 10 years.

Meet Councillor Hugo: A resident of Kneehill County for over 5 decades, Councillor Hugo works in transportation in the area.

Current Committees and Boards:  Agricultural Service Board  Community Futures Wild Rose  Kneehill Housing Corpora on  Marigold Library System  Municipal Planning Commission  Parks and Recrea on Commi ee  Joint Inter‐municipal Planning Commission with Three Hills  Red Deer River Municipal User’s group Contact Information: To Contact Councillor Keiver, call (403) 443‐7738, or email glen.keiver@kneehillcounty.com Councillor Wade Christie Division 6 Meet Councillor Christie: Together with his wife and his son, Councillor Christie operates his third generation family farm, where he was born and raised.

Current Committees and Boards:  Agricultural Service Board  Community Futures Wild Rose  Kneehill Regional Partnership Steering Commi ee  Medical Clinic Enhanced Services Review Commi ee  Municipal Planning Commission  Parks and Recrea on Commi ee  Joint Inter‐Municipal Planning Commission with Three Hills Contact Information: To contact Councillor Chris e call (403) 588‐1992, or email wade.chris e@kneehillcounty.com

Coming Soon: Live Streaming!

Star ng in January, Kneehill County’s Council Mee ngs will be available via live stream! Stay tuned for more informa on.

Current Committees and Boards:  Agricultural Service Board  Canadian Badlands  Community Ac on  Marigold Library System  Municipal Planning Commission  Parks and Recrea on Commi ee Contact Information: To contact Councillor Hugo, call (403) 443‐7317, or email jim.hugo@kneehillcounty.com

Chat with Council Reeve Wi stock invites you to have a conversa on over coffee at the Kneehill County office, crea ng an opportunity for ratepayers to connect.

You can request your Divisional Councillor a end as well.

Please call 403‐443‐5541 to schedule an appointment.

Kneehill County’s Christmas Hours

The office will be closed from Monday, December 25, through to Monday, January 1. Regular business hours will resume at 8:30 am, Tuesday, January 2, 2018.

Rural Addressing Rural addressing is a standard system of iden fying and loca ng rural proper es within Kneehill County. The method of addressing is modeled a er the civic system found in most major ci es. It is also widely used throughout other municipali es in Alberta. Your rural address also allows 911 Operators to help Fire, Police and Ambulance services find your home in the event of an emergency. Always keep your en re address posted by your telephone for quick relay to dispatch.

How your address is determined:  

Questions about your Blue Sign? Contact our Planning Department, 403-443-5541.

Addresses are based on the loca on of the primary access along the allowance.

Each mile of road is divided into intervals of 40 meters, with numbers increasing from North to South and East to West. Even numbers are along the North and West sides of the road allowance, and odd numbers are along the South and East.

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For the purposes of addressing, virtual township roads exist between all sec ons, whether an actual road allowance exists or not.

When there are mul ple accesses, the primary access is used. When there are mul ple accesses along the same side of a road allowance and no clear primary access, the first access is chosen.

When there is one access along a Township Road (Twp Rd), one access along a Range Road (Rng Rd), and no clear primary access, the one along the Range Road is chosen.

When there are mul ple residences located off the same primary access, the first building off the access is designated "A", the second building is "B", and so forth.

Subdivision addresses are also based on the loca on of the primary access on a road allowance. The lots are numbered clockwise using an increment of 4, with odd numbers along the South and East. Even numbers are along the North and West.

Check out our online Events Calendar for more upcoming events at www.kneehillcounty.com!

Winter Safety 1. Prepare for Winter Driving  Consider winter res for be er trac on on icy roads.  Keep a snowbrush and ice scraper in your vehicle at all mes.

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Make sure mirrors, windows and the top of your vehicle are cleared of snow and ice before depar ng. (Failure to do so is a Fine of $155.00.)

Pack emergency items: light shovel, booster cables, flashlight, candles, blankets and warm clothes, snacks, medica ons, cell phone charger with adapter, and water.

Keep your fuel tank at least half full during the winter.

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2. Drive to Road Conditions  Drive slowly and carefully. Accelerate and decelerate slowly.  Do not use Cruise Control.  Wear your seatbelt at all mes. (Fine $155.00.)  Leave enough room to stop safely. Follow 8‐10 seconds behind vehicles ahead.  Keep headlights on for be er visibility.  ALWAYS pay a en on to the road. (Fine for Distracted Driving is $267.00.)

3. If you become stranded on the side of the road:  Stay with your vehicle to wait for help.  Make sure your exhaust pipe is not clogged with ice or snow.  Run your engine just long enough to keep warm, while conserving fuel.  Open the window a crack and light candles for added warmth.  Keep your dome light and hazards on to stay visible.

Sign up for our Tax Installment Payment Plan to begin monthly payments, starting January 31, for the 2018 Tax year. For more information, please visit our website www.kneehillcounty.com, or call the office, 403-443-5541.

Join Us! 2018 Council Meetings       

January 9 and 23 February 13 and 27 March 13 and 27 April 10 and 24 May 8 and 22 June 12 and 26 July 17

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August 21 Can’t make a September 11 and 25 meeting?

Follow October 9 and 23 @kneehillcounty (Organiza onal on Twitter and Mee ng) Facebook for live updates!  November 13 and 27  December 11

Operations Update: 2017 in Review Gravel  115,913 tonnes of gravel was applied to roadways in 2017.

Gravel trucks have travelled 209,624 km to apply the gravel in 4760 hours!  A gravel contract includes 150,000 tonnes of gravel stockpiled at the Kneehill County Public Works Yard in Three Hills.

Culverts  Kneehill County performed over 100 culvert replacements.  Drainage in the Hamlet of Huxley has improved with many new culverts and a new ditch installed along Railroad Ave.

Bridges  Bridge deck replacements included 2 wooden decks on dirt trails.  18 Bridge Inspec ons were completed in 2017.  Bridge repairs included two 2 structures with cap and stringer repairs, and one culvert replacement.

Horseshoe Canyon  Pathway built by our crews for access to the canyon floor

Roads  23 km of dirt trail improvements completed in 2017.  2 major slides were repaired by our crews.  Approximately 45,000 tonnes of clay borrow was hauled to Rge Rd 25‐1 for a road rebuild project, slated for 2018.  The Shoulder Pull contract completed 112 kms in 2017.  A spec‐crude mix was applied to Rge Rd 26‐0 (Keiver’s Lake access road) for approx. 1 mile from Hwy 583 to the park.  Micro surface applied to Twp Rd 34‐4 (Buffalo Jump Rd) and Rge Rd 25‐1 in 2017.  Brushing is ongoing this winter. Site‐line concerns at intersec ons will be priority, along with right‐of‐way width concerns.

Keiver’s Lake chip-seal

Pathway constructed at Horseshoe Canyon

Kneehill County is looking for gravel!

If there is a suspected source of gravel on your property, please contact Brad Buchert, Sr. Manager of Transporta on, to discuss tes ng your site. Phone 403‐443‐5541.

Snow Removal Policy: Guidelines        

Generally, plowing will only be undertaken when snow accumulates to a minimum 10 cm.

Plowing may not follow school bus routes.

Sanding or ice blading will be done as required.

Windrows are the responsibility of the landowner.

If the weather is severe and operators are at risk, Kneehill County will halt plowing opera ons.

First Priori es: arterial roads, collector roads, hamlets, country residen al subdivisions, reservoir sites, transfer sites.

Second Priority: private driveways.

A completed Snowplowing Agreement and payment must be received prior to Kneehill County plowing private driveways.

Crews work to repair the slide on Rge Rd 20-5

Kneehill Area Solid Waste Transfer Station Facilities *Winter hours in effect from October 1, 2017, to April 30, 2018.

Unacceptable materials will be refused!

Paint Recycling Allowable items: Latex and oil based interior and exterior paint; wood finishing oils, stains and varnishes; primers and undercoats; spray paint cans; empty paint containers sized 100 ml to 24 litre (5 gallon pails).

Non-allowable items: Any other non‐paint or Household Hazardous Waste materials are not collected. Commercial users or residents with large volumes are encouraged to call ahead to ensure storage availability.

Where: Torrington, Linden, Three Hills, Acme and Trochu Transfer Sites, or at Kneehill County’s yearly Household Hazardous Waste Roundup.

Box 400 Three Hills, AB. T0M 2A0

**Transfer Station Holiday Hours:** Carbon Site– Regular Hours Torrington Site– Regular Hours Linden Site– Closed Tuesday, Dec. 26 Three Hills Site– Closed Tuesday, Dec. 26 Hamlet Garbage Pickup will continue as regularly scheduled throughout the holidays.