A small gravel pit located 10 kilometres southwest of Penhold allowing for up to 50 trucks a day hauling during peak periods, was given the thumbs-up by Red Deer County's Municipal Planning Commission Oct. 16.Approval for the aggregate site, which will offer up to four hectares of mining over two phases, had been deferred at the June 5 meeting so the applicant could prove trucks exiting the site on C&E Trail could be seen from 400 metres away.“Sand and gravel, in spite of some of the perceived or real challenges relating to the operation of trucks, is an important industry,” said Bernie Kolkman, the owner of Berko Services Ltd., a consultant for landowner Ed Bruneau.“It provides a lot of building material to further development of the economy, highways, roads, basements – you name it.”Gravel pits are a vital source of revenue for the government, he noted.“It provides revenue directly to the county through the Community Aggregates Levy,” he said. “So for every tonne that goes out of this particular pit – and all of the others – the county will receive a direct benefit financially: 25 cents per metric tonne.”In order to sort out the sightline issue, the applicant got his neighbour to agree to let him run a road through the adjacent property.Coun. Penny Archibald, who was the only councillor to vote against the gravel pit application, raised concerns with dust control and asserted relying on a third-party agreement for successful operation of the site could create more issues than it's worth.“I don't like people using other people's land. We've got in trouble before,” Archibald said. “It's fine as long as you're getting along. But who knows, next hockey game they may decide they're not friends anymore, and that causes problems.”Coun. George Gehrke said with multiple gravel pits operating along C&E Trail the county has a responsibility to make sure resource exploitation happens effectively.“I don't think we can put the onus all on the gravel company when we have three in the area,” Gehrke said.Archibald wants the road paved in future and says for now the disturbance created by allowing the project to proceed will be a hassle for landowners.“For the people living out there sucking and eating that dust all the time we really have to be in control,” Archibald said.LIBRARY BUDGET APPROVEDThe 2013 – 2015 Parkland Regional Library budget was approved at Red Deer County's Oct. 16 meeting.The projected contributions of the county to the inter-municipal library system are $7.28 in 2013, $7.62 in 2014 and $7.87 in 2015.These figures have dropped from expectations outlined in the 2012-2014 budget.Just over $139,000 will be allocated in Red Deer County's 2013 Community Services Budget.FCSS BUDGET APPROVEDCouncil approved the 2013 Red Deer and District Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) budget, allocating $105,225 for the county's contribution to the cost share arrangement.FCSS is a partnership between the province, municipalities and Metis settlements. While the Alberta government funds 80 per cent of the budget for the Red Deer and District FCSS, partner municipalities fund the required minimum 20 per cent.Because of minor population changes, administrative costs have decreased, in turn.STORM WATER PROJECT AWARDEDThe Willow Street Storm Project, involving the construction of a storm pond and outlet into Piper Creek east of Gasoline Alley, was awarded to M. Pidherney's Trucking Ltd. which came in with a bid of $1,684,394.38.Council voted unanimously to accept the bid, which was the lowest of five offers submitted since the project was put out to tender Sept. 17, 2012.Mayor Jim Wood said the range of bids, which went all the way up to $2.7 million, shows the tender process is working.“It's good to have a number of tenders,” said Wood.Administration had originally expected $500,000 to be spent acquiring land for the drainage pipe, but instead an existing utility easement agreement with Border Paving was amended to include the storm sewer.HEARING DATE SET FOR MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT PLANNov. 20, 2012 was named as the public hearing date for the Red Deer County Municipal Development Plan 2012.“Yes, we need to get it out there and get it on the table,” said Coun. George Gehrke.The public is welcome to attend at 1:30 p.m. at the Red Deer County council chamber.“There are some very important sections for our residents,” said Coun. David Hoar.Informing people about the new MDP will help residents understand the reasons driving future subdivision applications, he said, adding the county needs to pull out all the stops to invite all to attend the public hearing.“We need to do everything we can,” he said.
