PUBLIC WORKS BRANCH

Agricultural Services

Agricultural Services hosted Agriculture Appreciation Day, with approximately 210 people in attendance.

The department continued its efforts to prevent the spread of clubroot disease in the County. In 2019, 56 canola fields were inspected for clubroot, one of which tested positive. Staff drafted a new clubroot management agreement—public consultation on the agreement has started. They also held three clubroot workshops throughout the year.

Along similar lines, the department completed 74 weed inspections on public and private lands, and issued two weed notices.

Staff mowed 1,595 km of roadside vegetation to improve driver safety.

Agricultural Service Board equipment was rented to 87 ratepayers for a combined total of 120 days.

Environmental Services

Under the Community Organics Recycling and Enhancement (CORE) backyard composting program, approximately 1,676 kg of organic waste was diverted from the landfills in 2019.

Environment Week in June 2019 attracted 720 participants for the week’s activities. Waste Reduction Week in October attracted 90 participants for a vermicomposting workshop, along with the annual Household Hazardous Waste Round-Up and Shred-It event.

Staff held six Mad About Science camps over the summer months, teaching 73 children about the environment and science with experiments, games, and activities.

The department conducted lake, beach, and inflow/ outflow sampling to measure lake health in the County. Staff also successfully completed reports on lake health.

Environmental Services updated the County’s Corporate Green Plan, which governs how internal County departments will reduce their carbon footprints.

14 Lac La Biche County | 2019 in Review Staff began updating the Watershed Management Plan which, when adopted, will introduce environmentallyfriendly practices that promote the health of the County’s watersheds.

Equipment Services

Equipment Services supported all County departments by repairing and maintaining the County’s 300+ vehicle and equipment fleet. The County Centre shop routinely maintained fire apparatus, fleet vehicles, heavy equipment, trucks, trailers, and small equipment.

Equipment services disposed of old equipment and procured replacements, including a grader, street sweeper, plow truck, snow blower, lawn equipment, fleet vehicles, and many other items required to deliver County services.

The department continues to offer valuable experience to Registered Apprentice Program and work experience students by working with local schools.

BOLD CENTER SPORTS FIELD PROJECT CONTINUES INTO 2020

The Bold Center will soon be home to a variety of outdoor sports fields, thanks to a partnership between Lac La Biche County and the Northern Lights School Division. Work is taking place in two phases.

Phase one includes an artificial surface sports field, an eight-lane rubberized track, and track & field facilities. The artificial turf will extend the outdoor season for local football and soccer teams, since turf can be played on without waiting for grass to green. Although phase one began in 2019, due to poor weather, the project will continue in spring 2020, with completion planned for August 2020.

Phase two includes three irrigated ball diamonds and a natural turf sports field. This phase is planned to be completed in 2020, with facilities ready for operation in spring 2021.

The 2019 construction season was another busy one, with the following projects now complete. • The Archery Facility (including water, sewer, and natural gas services, along with an access road). The new building was used to host the 2019 World Archery 3D Championships. • Mission Subdivision Water and Sewer, Phases 2 & 3. • County Shop Expansion (including phase 2, and site services to prepare for phase 3 in 2020). • The Sidewalk Replacement Program in the hamlets of Lac La Biche and Plamondon. • The Hamlet Resurfacing Program (which consisted of back lane paving in the hamlet of Lac La Biche). • The Holowachuk Estates access road (Range Road 134) and walking trail. • The Plamondon-Caslan Connector (north section) up to the first lift of pavement. Construction will carry over to 2020 for final pavement surfacing. • 100 Avenue base and pave in the hamlet of Lac La Biche. • Phase 1 (99 street) and 2 of the Lakeview Crescent Utilities street surface rehabilitation. Phase 3 and 4 of this project will carry over to 2020 for completion. • Grader shop in Craigend for storing County transportation equipment. • 104 Street base and pave with water and sewer, including a natural gas extension. Construction is complete to the first lift of pavement - the project will carry over in 2020 for completion.

All carryover projects from 2017 and 2018 were completed this year, including the following. • Highway 858 Water and Sewer Replacement in Plamondon (phases 4, 5, and 101 Street were completed ahead of schedule and under budget). • Township Road 674 (also known as the Old 46). • The Plamondon-Caslan Connector (south section). • Elinor Lake Road, including repairs to road surfacing, approaches, ditching, and drainage. • The Old Trail walking trail. • The 91 Avenue and Highway 881 intersection improvement.

Several engineering projects are also in progress. • 101 Avenue (Main Street Lac La Biche) Revitalization Plan, including water and sewer. • General Municipal Servicing Standards (GMSS) revisions. • The Regional Water Transmission Line Study. • Bridge replacement in five locations. • The Subdivision Resurfacing Program for five subdivisions, including Young’s Beach, Sunset Bay, Pleasant Acres, John Martin, and Golden Sands. • Sentinal Park water and sewer installation (with upgrades). • Sentinal East storm pond. • Stormwater Master Plan revision. • Highway 881 Crosswalk Lighting. • 95 Street Water and Sewer Network.

Transportation Services graded 1,189 km of gravel roads in 2019. As part of the annual road re-gravelling program, staff placed 70,000 tonnes of gravel over 300 km of roads. They also completed 9 km of road ditching, 9 km of brushing and mulch removal, and replaced 129 culverts.

The department assisted with the Hamlet Resurfacing and Sidewalk Replacement programs. They sealed cracks along 121 km of paved roads, resurfaced 4 km of oil roads, and spray-patched 900 metres of asphalt seams. Staff also patched potholes and made other minor road touch-ups along 162 km of paved roads.

Transportation Services helped with a variety of capital projects in 2019, including: • Construction of a parking lot and cold mix surface for the Archery Building road; • Preparing the base on the Old 46 roadway; and • Hauling gravel for the Bold Center Sports Fields.

To improve safety, the department changed out and installed 180 road signs while repairing two guard rails. Staff installed three speed indicator units (one in Plamondon, and two in Lac La Biche), and placed three solar-powered crosswalk lights in the hamlet of Lac La Biche.

Transportation Services completed 248 residential dust suppression requests, as well as dust suppression along key intersections and designated gravel haul routes.

CONSTRUCTION SPOTLIGHT: HOLOWACHUK ESTATES PAVING

As part of the County’s efforts to improve access to residential subdivisions, paving Range Road 134 was one of 2019’s biggest projects. Range Road 134 (also known as Birch Drive) is the access road to the Holowachuk’s subdivision and provides a public route to the Beaver Lake boat launch. Work included paving Range Road 134 from the boat launch to Highway 663 (around 0.63 km), construction of a boat launch parking lot, and continuing the walking trail on the road’s west side.

The project started on June 9, 2019 and, despite a very rainy summer, was completed on time and on budget by September 5, 2019. The result is a safer road for residents, boaters, and visitors alike.

CAPITALPROJECTS

Plamondon Hwy 858

Plamondon-Caslan Connector

Holowachuk Estates

Utility Services installed 7,700 metres of polyethylene natural gas lines throughout the County’s operating boundary. This includes the replacement of approximately 2,500 metres of steel gas lines. Polyethylene lines have an estimated 100-year life expectancy before they need to be replaced.

The County secured alternative natural gas supplies to minimize the risk of outages. The County also successfully passed the Federation of Alberta Gas Co-op’s operation and maintenance audit.

Staff continued with hydrant flushing programs in the hamlets of Lac La Biche and Plamondon (and along the Old Trail) to ensure that water is available for emergency responses.

Utility Services installed three smart manhole covers in the hamlet of Lac La Biche. These covers will assist in monitoring effluent levels to minimize main line backups.

Staff assisted with Phase 3 of the Mission Water and Sewer capital project.

The County upgraded the water treatment plant chlorine injection system, allowing staff to be even more accurate with chemical dosages.

Throughout 2019, the County received 9,523 tonnes of waste at the Beaver Lake and Plamondon landfills. 897 tonnes of recycling materials were received—the recycling will be sent to recycling facilities.

Via the Curbside Pickup Program in 2019, the County received 744 tonnes of waste, which were brought to County landfills. 117 tonnes of recycling were collected through the program and brought to the Edmonton Waste Management Centre.

The department closed the Owl River and Elinor Lake landfills according to provincial environmental standards.

The County installed pole sheds at the Beaver Lake and Plamondon Landfills, which will protect crucial equipment from the elements. The Beaver Lake Landfill was also reconfigured to accommodate installing a new scale and transfer station area.

Waste & Recycling Management installed new oil recycling tanks at the Owl River, Hylo, and Craigend transfer stations. They also introduced a new agricultural twine recycling program.

LEARNER’S LICENSE PREP COURSE HELPS TEENS ACHIEVE INDEPENDENCE

Learning to drive is tough and, for many teens, learning the rules of the road exclusively from a book isn’t the best way to prepare for the Learner’s License exam. It can be especially hard for those who learn best from hearing, seeing, or having discussions.

That’s why Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) regularly runs a free Class 7 Learner’s License Prep Course, which helps locals aged 13 to 18 years overcome barriers when learning to drive. The course was originally developed by the Tribal Chiefs Employment and Training Services Association, and ran in the County via a partnership between that organization, Community Adult Learning, Community Futures, Employabilities, and FCSS.

By including lots of group work, games, and videos, instructors kept the course interactive, fun, and well-suited to all learning styles. They made special efforts to address the psychology of test-taking, helping teens overcome their fear of failure. The course was also scheduled right after or during school hours, and at convenient locations inside or near local schools, making it as accessible as possible.

Four Learner’s License Prep Courses ran in 2019 with 75 youth participating. Many of that number received their Class 7 License soon after taking the course. FCSS will continue to run it in 2020 and beyond, helping as many teens as possible achieve independence, become safer drivers, and build confidence.

Transportation Services sealed cracks along 121 km of paved roads in 2019.