Amendments to Innisfail’s Solid Waste Collection and Disposal System Bylaw passed second and third reading at the July 11 town council meeting.
The amendments will introduce a three-bag limit for residential garbage pickup, as well as an additional $1 fee for over the limit tags.
Coun. Tracey Walker asked whether the changes to the transfer station’s hours of operation would have to be referenced in a future amendment.
Changes to the transfer station’s hours do not need to be referenced in the bylaw, Innisfail CAO Helen Dietz responded.
“Fees are addressed by bylaw but not the actual hours of operation,” she told Walker.
As of Aug. 1, the station hours will change to 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Bob Schulz, director of operations, gave council the opportunity to defer the decision until he completed a report on the transfer station’s use since the town’s curbside recycling program was introduced. The reduction would lead to an amended fee structure at the station.
Dietz told Innisfail Mayor Jim Romane that any amended transfer station fees could be addressed at a later date.
“If we propose further changes to the waste transfer station we will bring that amendment at that time,” she said.
“It would have been kind of nice to have this done at the same time,” Romane responded.
The changes to the transfer station’s hours would not come into effect until August, meaning the old rates would still be in effect until then, Dietz explained.
Coun. Derek Baird asked Schulz if exceptions could be made in the case of people moving into new homes.
“Is there going to be some leeway that way somewhere?” Baird asked. “You could imagine what could essentially happen.”
Schulz said the cases would be addressed individually.
“Either we’ll pick it up ourselves or I’ll just direct Waste Management to pick it up,” he said.
Both second and third readings passed unanimously.
Temporary road closure approved
Innisfail Town Council approved a request from Fourlane Ford to shut down the service road adjacent to 50 St. later this month for a car show.
The service road will be shut down from 44 Ave. to just east of Home Hardware from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on July 23 for the Fast and Fun Ford Car Show. To ensure traffic continues to flow during the show, no parking signs will be placed on both sides of 50 St. between 47 Ave. and 44 Ave. Road closed signs would be placed at both ends of the closure.
A number of councillors said they were confused by the use of a block party application.
“To me this doesn’t sound like a block party,” Walker said.
Bob Shultz, director of operations, said the form was used simply because it had the needed information regarding road closures and barricades.
“I just used that form so they can pay a deposit and come pick up the barricades and bring them back,” he said.
The motion carried unanimously.
FCSS board term extensions approved
A plan to extend the term of two Family & Community Support Services (FCSS) Board members by one year was approved by Innisfail Town Council on July 11.
The board was created in December and all four board members: Teresa Ainscough, Kathy Calkins, Mary Fleming, and Meghan Jenkins were appointed for two years. One board position is currently vacant. On June 22, the board discussed extending some of the terms to provide a staggered retirement schedule.
After a brief discussion, council approved a motion to extend the terms of Fleming and Jenkins by one year.
Triathlon routes approved
Innisfail Town Council has approved a request from the Innisfail Triathlon Committee to use a number of area roadways for the Sept. 10. event.
The committee, which was formed by a group of residents late last year after the 2010 triathlon was cancelled, is expecting about 250 participants to attend the 2011 event. The triathlon’s swim component will be held at the Innisfail Aquatic Centre; the run component will meander its way through town streets; while the bike portion will use a combination of Red Deer County and town roads.
The committee’s request to use a portion of Hwy. 54 for the bike route had already been approved by Alberta Transportation.
Indians beer garden gets go-ahead
A request by the Innisfail Indians senior baseball team to host a beer gardens during their July 22 home game against the Beiseker Canadians received council approval on July 11.
The beer gardens will be set up from 6 p.m. until 11 p.m. south of the tennis courts.
Innisfail Mayor Jim Romane initially suggested administration inform the Indians that overnight parking of campers would not be allowed in the area, so as not to extend the drinking.
“We do allow camping for special events, but I don’t think this counts as one of those,” he said.
Coun. Brian Spiller said allowing overnight parking might be a good idea if anyone attending the event has had too much to drink.
Innisfail CAO Helen Dietz said overflow camping is allowed in the area if the campground is full.
Elwin Weins, development officer, said campers are normally sent to the arena in overflow cases, regardless of the nature of their visit.
Romane said he had no issue with using the arena area for overflow parking. His issue was allowing the campers to park near the swimming pool.
“I’m concerned about that area and its proximity to residents,” he said.
