Woodlands County Council recap

Woodlands County Council discussed the following items at their regular meeting of Council:

Heidi Magus, Program Manager with Barrhead Community Victim Services provided Council with the 2019 annual report for Barrhead Victim Services Unit (VSU). The VSU saw an increase in files, by 34 cases from the previous year, and served 186 people. Woodlands County allotted to ~5% of files. Most of the cases are family violence, assaults, sexual assaults, threats, harassment, theft/ fraud, and next of kin death notification. Magus sites a successful year was contributed to the continuing partnership and relationships with the Barrhead and Swan Hills RCMP detachments.

After a road tour through parts of the municipality, Council discussed the challenging conditions residents and businesses are facing and how Woodlands County will address the deteriorating roadways. With many problem areas and recognizing that long-term solutions and a plan need to be created before making financial decisions, Council requested a comprehensive report to review at their July 21, 2020 meeting. This report will assist Council when determining priority areas, roadways which require more than minor repairs, and create plans to address the worst areas in coming budget years.

Two major road concerns and closures, Bison Road and East Mountain Road received repair proposals, which closed on June 22. The lowest bid was quoted at 86% over the engineer’s estimate. Council rejected all bids and has directed Administration to have the engineers conduct site surveys, determine quantities for a simplified bid process and retender the culverts separately for a two-week bid period.

The engineering consultants have recommended that East Mountain Road remain closed, however, Council understands that the new bid process will delay time for repairs and requested that East Mountain Road be opened to the public and monitored daily for any further erosion or safety concerns. The roadway will be open for light vehicular traffic by the start of the weekend. For those travelling in the area, speed has been reduced to 15km/hour in the repair zone and a 50% road ban has been imposed between Hwy 43 and Range Road 120. The road will be closed on short notice if heavy precipitation or deterioration of the surface occurs.

While plans are being created to find solutions to road issues, Woodlands County is piloting new products in test locations. Range Road 120 will be used to test an enhanced calcium polymer which acts as a coagulant and bonds particles together in the road, reducing the need for a grader to smooth the roadway. Weather dependant, this product will be applied with the assistance of the supplier in the coming weeks.

Council reviewed two (2) Councillor Code of Conduct complaints, however, found no merit to the allegations and accepted the reports as information.

Woodlands County municipal offices are currently open to receive tax payments only; however, Administration is available during regular business hours, Monday to Friday, 8:15 am to 4:30 pm at 780- 778-8400 or toll-free 1-888-870-6315. For the public’s added convenience, offices will be open through the noon hour until July 3.. Municipal offices will be open to the public for all services, commencing Monday, July 6 at 8:15am. For those visiting administration buildings, continue to follow all current public health orders.