Mountain View County councillors will soon be meeting with Alberta Minister of Transportation Brian Mason to discuss a number of outstanding issues, including the county's request for the provincial Code of Practice for Asphalt Plants to be reviewed, says Reeve Bruce Beattie.
"We have arranged to have a meeting with Minister Mason in September and one of the issues we will be discussing is asphalt plants," said Beattie. "There is a list of a number of things we hope to discuss with him."
The county recently sent a letter to Mason asking the government to review the Code of Practice, and as part of that review to "set emission standards for asphalt plants" and "require latest technologies as part of operating practices."
Councillors passed the motion authorizing the letter after a number of McDougal Flats residents voiced concerns with the environmental impacts of an asphalt plant set up west of Sundre as part of a nearby highway paving project.
"An updated code of practice will align with the provincial commitment to reduce environmental impacts, taking action on climate change and supporting sustainable communities," the county's letter stated.
"While Mountain View County fully recognizes the importance of gravel and asphalt, it is our position that more can be done to minimize the impacts of these operations.
"Municipalities go to great lengths to mitigate the effect of these activities, on both the environment and area residents. It is not unreasonable to expect the province to set a similar standard."
The meeting with Minister Mason is the result of a new county practice of sending government ministers summaries of issues and concerns facing the municipality.
The most recent summary sent to the ministry of transportation touched on a number of topics:
ï Regarding asphalt plants, the summary stated, in part: "The issue of the Code of Practice regarding Asphalt Paving Plants recently came to the fore in Mountain View County as the Highway 22 resurfacing project contractor processed asphalt at the Alberta Transportation Gravel Pit on Range Road 60 in the McDougal Flats neighbourhood southwest of the Town of Sundre.
"The residents of the area complained of thick smoke and strong odour that was disrupting their quality of life. Complaints to Alberta Environment and Parks were made regarding the emissions to see if it complied with Provincial Code of Practice, which our council believes is insufficient."
ï Regarding rural bridge and strategic transportation infrastructure funding, the summary stated, in part: "Considering that Mountain View County has bridge structures on the 20-year repair and replacement plan totalling $113 million, there may be decisions that have to be made on these bridge structures for safety reasons that could significantly impact emergency services access, residents' ability to access services, and the movement of goods and services.
"If the province deems bridge rationalization as the strategic way forward, it should be a joint effort between the province and municipalities in determining the criteria for evaluating bridge structure need. Placing this burden solely on the municipalities would be challenging to municipal councils."
ï Regarding electronic highway signage, the summary states, in part: "Mountain View County continues to work with our neighbouring rural municipalities that straddle the QE II Highway to develop a common strategy on signage along the highway in an effort to reduce unsightly signage and improvement of the safety component for drivers. It is also hoped that a consistent aesthetic to the road-side can be achieved.
"Mountain View County requests that Alberta Transportation enforce third party sign regulations within the development control zone."
ï Regarding the QE II and Highway 27 interchange, the summary states, in part: "The northbound interchange at this intersection was recently altered in 2014 to an acceleration lane away from a former cloverleaf pattern interchange. However, the alterations provided little in the way of an upgrade as the acceleration lane still requires the merging traffic to yield as it did under the old cloverleaf pattern."
The summary asks the provincial government to "undertake an extension of the northbound acceleration lane to allow for merging similar to the southbound set-up at the same interchange. This would allow for safer merging of vehicles due to the adequate space to get up to QEII Hwy speed and not requiring a yield by the merging traffic.
"Highway 584 west of Sundre beyond the Hwy 22 intersection is in deteriorating condition. The County believes this well-travelled road utilized by area residents and many visitors to the area has become dangerous to the travelling public."
The county is asking the ministry to "immediately evaluate the condition of the road and offer a repair/rebuild assessment."
Reeve Beattie says he is pleased with the new one-page summary practice and hopes it leads to further dialogue with provincial ministries.
"There is a list of a number of things we hope to discuss with him (Minister Mason)."Reeve Bruce Beattie
