WHITECOURT TOWN COUNCIL UPDATE

At last week’s Alberta Urban Municipalities Association (AUMA) conference, Mayor Maryann Chichak was re-elected for another 2-year term as the Director of Towns West on the Board of Directors. As well, Mayor Chichak will resume her posi- tion as Vice-President of Towns on the AUMA Executive Committee for another one-year term. AUMA represents urban municipalities including cities, towns, villages, summer villages and specialized municipalities which make up more than 85% of Albertans.

“It is a pleasure and honour to represent municipalities on both the Board of Directors and AUMA Executive Committee,” said Whitecourt Mayor Maryann Chichak. “On a local level, the knowledge I bring back home will greatly benefit Whitecourt residents. As well, the relationships I have the opportunity to build through AUMA with government agencies and provincial government representatives will increase the awareness of Whitecourt on a provincial level.”

Council has approved a request for a time extension for the construction of local improvements on land east of the Holiday Inn to 47 Street in the Downtown South area. The Developer requested an extension of three years on the Development Agreement timelines for the installation of underground and surface improvements. If, however, development takes place on a specific parcel of land in the area, the developer will be required to complete the remainder of improvements at that time.

Construction of traffic signals at the intersection of Highway 43 and Highway 32 south will proceed this winter and the project is scheduled to be complete by the end of February 2017.

The Whitecourt Regional Landfill is working with Alberta Environment and Parks towards approval of a revised operating plan and a 2016 project at the landfill. The proposed project involves implementing environmental upgrades and a new operating philosophy; however, in order to proceed, approvals must be granted by the Province. The existing landfill cell is rapidly nearing capacity, and the facility has had to divert demolition and other single source, large volumes of waste to other facilities. The Town is working on a contingency plan should Provincial approvals or the weather delay the completion