Mountain View County council has approved event permit exemptions for two upcoming activities planned at the Olds-Didsbury and Sundre airports.
The approvals came during the recent regularly scheduled council meeting.
The Olds-Didsbury Airport is planning a combined fly-in and show and shine on June 28, while the annual Sundre Mother's Day fly-in is scheduled for May 8.
Both events would typically need permits. However, because the county is currently reviewing its permitting process, administration recommended permits be waived.
“Because of this review administration is requesting both these airport events be exempt from obtaining events permits,” CAO Tony Martens said in a briefing note to council.
“Under Section 4.01 of the events bylaw, an event may be exempt if it is ‘a recognized community organization, an agricultural society, religious or church function, 4-H club, Scouts, Cubs, Brownies and Guides, school or school board, family reunions, or any other clubs or organizations deemed by council to be similar in nature'.”
In a letter to council, Jay Bell, president of the Olds-Didsbury Flying Association said the association and the Mountain View Pistons Vehicle Club will be combining their events on June 28.
The event will “showcase the airport, local aviation and automobile business, and Mountain View County,” he said.
Councillors voted unanimously to allow the exemptions. Coun. Al Kemmere did not attend the April 13 council meeting.
Meanwhile, council has approved $8,297 over each of the next three years to help fund the United Way-Central Alberta “211” information and referral service.
The approval came during the recent regularly scheduled council meeting.
In a briefing note to council, CAO Martens said, “The ‘211' is an invaluable information and referral service that acts as a key community resource navigator for residents as well as service providers. By dialing three simple and easy to remember digits, callers can connect to trained information and referral specialists 24 hours a day, seven days a week regarding social, government, health and community services in over 150 languages.”
Not-for-profit community resource organizations are registered through 211, which assists residents to find information on basic needs, social services, employment resources, legal aid, community and health services, government services and parenting support, he said.
“As per the FCSS handbook, community development activities are an integral component of FCSS and are eligible for funding. Eligible activities include information and referral services, developing directories designed to inform the public of available resources, interagency coordination, and increasing public awareness about community issues,” he said.
Other municipalities involved in funding the 211 system include Red Deer and Lacombe counties.
In other news, council has deferred a decision on the installation of supernet service and upgrades to the wireless system at the Didsbury county shop.
The move came during the recent regularly scheduled council meeting.
In a briefing note to council, CAO Martens said the upgrades are needed to improve service.
“The current network communications connection at the Didsbury shop and administration office causes some processes to be very slow,” he said.
“Council approved a project to upgrade the Internet connection into the Didsbury shop for 2016. This would provide better communications, but in considering the expected lifespan of the shop, a better option would be to install supernet into the building.
“With supernet, the service would be better to start with, and capable of growing with the needs of the organization. Also, while the existing Wi-Fi in the shop is functional, it should be upgraded to allow better speed and functionality similar to the administration building.”
Councillors instructed administration to come back with more information about possible local options for the service.
