MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY — The county’s agricultural twine collection program saw more than 3,500 kilograms of the plastic rope gathered last year, according to a report presented to council.
In his monthly report given during a recent regularly scheduled council meeting, Chris Atchison, director of legislative, community and agricultural service, outlined various program activities.
In all, 3,509 kilograms of twine was collected since the program started in the second quarter of 2020.
“Condition of the twine was reported to be excellent, with very low contamination and some of the best that was collected in the province,” said Atchison.
The twine was shipped to Lethbridge in December and combined with other twine collected elsewhere in the province for shipment to I-90 Reprocessing in Minnesota.
“The twine is being recycled into pellets, which are then sold to various markets to be made into new polypropylene products,” he said. “It can be used for things like binding agent for roofing materials, the automotive sector, or a binding agent for wax.”
The pellets can also be used for the manufacture of decking and flowerpots, he said.
More than 30,000 kilograms of agricultural wire was recycled last year, he said.
During 2020, the county’s ag equipment rental program saw 70 pasture sprayer rentals, 10 skunk trap rentals, three cattle scale rentals, two wire roller rentals, three hay probe rentals, one plastic muncher and one tree planter rental.
In all, 126 pest inspections were conducted in 2020, including 70 for clubroot, 41 for grasshoppers, six for blackleg, and six for fusarium.
There were also 620 weed inspections conducted, including 434 in rural areas.
Atchison’s report also included an update on funding of community groups through 16 grant programs, including: ag related projects, $19,875 allocated; Riparian and Ecological Enhancement (REEP) / Alternative Land Use Services (ALUS), $92,655; Cremona Recreation Board, $136,453; crime prevention, $3,887; Family and Community Support Services, $433,760; health, $48,565; rural community grants, $22,055; rural community halls, $63,783; and transportation $36,375.
In the report on county parks, he said there has been increased usage observed at William J. Bagnall, Winchell Lake, and Water Valley campground, average usage at Hiller’s Dam, and a decrease in observed usage at Davidson Park.
A total of 1,183 fire permits for controlled burns were issued in the first, second and third quarters of 2020.
County officers issued 709 offence tickets in 2020, with tickets totalling $185,588. Most of the tickets were issued in the areas of Dogpound, 135; Wessex, 102; and Fallentimber, 69.
In 2019, there were 1,012 offence tickets issued.
Council accepted Atchison’s report as information.
