Mountain View County's 2013 capital and operating projects budget, passed at the latest council meeting, includes funding for projects throughout the municipality.The county will spend $100,000 on various minor road and bridge projects, including the repair of culverts in all seven divisions.The county will also spend $40,000 upgrading a popular day park in Bergen.That project will see the construction of additional parking spaces and the building of a new walking trail at Davidson Park south of Sundre.“Davidson Park has steadily gained popularity, on weekends and long summer nights, parking has become an issue,” said legislative service director Jeff Holmes. “The parking lot expansion will accommodate the increased park traffic to ensure the safety of those using the area.“The new trail development will increase the usable park area as well as provide accessibility to and from the Bergen Store provided a safe pedestrian crossing can be obtained.“The trail will need to be cleared, trees and brush removed, mulched and have erosion control added in areas. Stairs will be installed for access to the Bergen Store. A river-view picnic area will be created with additional tables, pest-proof garbage bin and signage.”The county will spend $33,000 to purchase 165 wildland gear coveralls for firefighters in the district.“Wildland gear is designed to protect, but also another important function is to keep the firefighter cool by allowing body heat to escape, so it isn't insulated the way regular coveralls are,” he said.The new coveralls will replace 130 coveralls purchased by the county 10 years ago.The county will spend $7,000 for the development of a municipal sand and gravel strategy.“Sand and gravel is becoming an increasingly controversial issue. It is important that we work with industry and develop a strategy that will see these resources appropriately developed,” administration said.“This project anticipated that we will establish a committee consisting in part of industry representatives to explore this issue. Work will be done by department staff. The budget is for advertising, meeting halls, etc.”Another project involves upgrades of a railway crossing north of Didsbury.“The railway crossing at Rge. Rd. 24 between Bergen Road and Highway 582 is quite rough. This project was proposed two years ago but did not proceed due to the poor condition of the rails and boards in the crossing.“The crossing has been repaired and now operations is proposing digging out both sides of the railway track and aligning the roadway vertically to match the tracks. Currently the tracks are in a hollow, which contributes to the large bump. The road on either side of the tracks would be based and paved.”The budget also includes the $15,000 purchase of a new emergency barricade trailer.“The common theme was there isn't enough barricades when the flood waters rise to close the roads,” administration said. “In the past the county has rented extra barricades and borrowed them from other municipalities and construction companies.“This project would purchase the enclosed trailer to house 20 barricades with stands and 20 road closed signs. This trailer would be locked and stored at the Didsbury Heavy Duty Shop. It would only be used for emergency road closures and not everyday use.“When used in this way the trailer can be deployed quick. Staff will have the confidence that what they need to close and sign a road in an emergency will always be contained within the trailer.”As well as the new trailer, about $15,000 will be spent on mock disaster training. Specifically, the 2013 training will involve a simulated wildfire in the Water Valley area.The exercise will force the evacuation of residents and the county will erect a reception centre in Cremona to care for the residents.“After reviewing incidents like that Slave Lake fire and talking to Sustainable Resource Development, this is a scenario that warrants attention,” said administration.About $34,000 will be spent to upgrade the county's Olds Quonset. That project will include $22,000 for insulation.
