About 60 Mountain View County ratepayers attended an all-councillor open house in the county council chambers on April 16.
The 90-minute meeting saw all seven councillors speak on various topics related to county operations. County department heads, as well as other staff, were also on hand.
Several of those in attendance raised concerns about the need for more dust control on roads, particularly those being used by oil and gas companies.
Alec Macklin said he hopes the county will examine the issue and make improvements.
“I have questions about dust control. There is a lot of dust on the roads in Eagle Valley,” said Macklin.
Carol Brown, who also lives north of Westward Ho, said, “They need more dust control. We have a lot of traffic there. I think they should work with industry.”
Reeve Bruce Beattie says the county is aware of dust control issues and plans to work to address them.
Another audience member suggested that the county make use of remote cameras to monitor road traffic and identify areas where more dust control may be needed.
During the meeting, councillors took turns outlining county projects and plans.
Division 7 councillor Al Kemmere spoke about the county's re-gravelling and re-chipping programs. He said the county plans to re-gravel almost 900 kilometres of roads this summer.
Division 2 councillor and deputy reeve Patricia McKean spoke on the county's recently updated land use bylaw and the ongoing work on new area structure plans. She noted that under the updated land use bylaw, medicinal horticultural operations, including medical marijuana operations, are now required to be located in existing industrial districts.
Division 3 councillor Duncan Milne spoke about snow removal and road bans.
He said the county made use of contract staff to help county staff with snow removal this past winter.
Division 1 councillor Jeremy Sayer spoke about the county's road management program and county road projects. He said one of the major projects for the upcoming year will be the completion of the Acme Road project.
Division 5 councillor Angela Aalbers spoke about flood mitigation efforts in the county. She said Clearwater County, Mountain View County, Red Deer County and the Town of Sundre are working together to plan and undertake long-term flood mitigation.
Division 4 councillor and reeve Bruce Beattie spoke about Mountain View Seniors' Housing and the 2014 county budget. He said work is ongoing to bring a new seniors' lodge to Sundre.
Beattie also outlined council's recent budget deliberations, noting that the county has requisitions of $654,000 to Mountain View Seniors' Housing and $174,000 to Mountain View Regional Waste Management Commission in 2014.
Division 6 councillor Ken Heck spoke about county weed control and roadside mowing. He said the county's roadside mowing procedure now involves two cuts on county collector routes and one on local gravel roads.
