With the exception of Criminal Code traffic offences such as drunk driving, the overall crime rate in Sundre has fallen over the past year, RCMP Cpl. Ryan Hodge told town council last week.
Hodge presented the Sundre RCMP statistics for the third quarter of 2011 showing there have been 3,080 service calls up to the end of October, with 1,684 of those calls in town. That compares to 3,483 calls in the same period in 2010.
Crimes against persons, crimes against property and provincial statutes excluding traffic are down, as are motor vehicle collisions.
There have been 49 persons crimes (73 in 2010), 147 total property crimes (174 in 2010), and 64 other Criminal Code (66 in 2010).
There have been 399 speeding/insurance/seatbelt/other provincial tickets issued in town, compared to 337 in 2010. As well, there have been 84 impaired driving charges laid in the detachment area, including 43 in town.
There have been 48 motor vehicle collisions reported, down from 64 in 2010.
Hodge explained the detachment continues to pursue three policing initiatives: traffic enforcement with a focus on impaired driving, conducting police and youth at risk interaction sessions, and undertaking proactive drug enforcement and search warrant execution.
Hodge said the detachment has made several large busts in recent months.
“Of significance, during the third quarter, we have dismantled two (marijuana) grow operations in the rural detachment area and charges were laid in both cases,” he said.
“One was in the Mountain View County, which consisted of a large grow operation northwest of Sundre where 2,100 plants were seized, with a street value of $2.6 million and is linked to organized crime in Calgary. Another was located in Clearwater County, consisting of 400 plants.”
Both matters are now before the courts.
Mayor Clews and several councillors told Hodge there have been numerous complaints from residents concerned with speeding on Main Avenue, Centre Street and other streets, particularly at night.
Hodge said the detachment is aware of those concerns and is planning to work with enforcement partners to address those concerns.
“It's a problem because some people just don't want to slow down,” he said.
The Sundre detachment is currently up to full strength, with six constables, one sergeant, one corporal, two office staff and a victim service unit.
“Thanks for doing such a great job,” Mayor Clews told Hodge.
Skatepark permit fee waiver OK'd
In other council news, councillors have agreed to waive $386 development permit application fees for the $230,000 Sundre skatepark project.
“In the past six months, the Sundre and District Skatepark Society has raised over $118,000 in cash and/or services in kind,” CAO Ryan Leuzinger said in a note to council. “They are awaiting approval of the community facility enhancement program of $105,000. By waiving the development permit application fee it retains the $386 for the project.
“The Sundre skatepark project will become the responsibility of the Town of Sundre once construction is completed. The Town of Sundre does not pay application fees for their own projects; as this will become property of the Town of Sundre it is essentially our own project.”
The park will be constructed west of the AquaPlex on town-owned land.
In a letter to council, project manager Bill Lough said, in part: “In order to expedite construction in the spring of 2012, we would like to complete the base work and drainage for the skatepark this fall. This cost is minimal as it makes use of our donations of service in kind (track hoe, gravel, etc).”
Lough told councillors that the society has already spent $2,500 surveying the property, and that fundraisers are within $20,000 of reaching the overall fundraising goal.
He said organizers would like to break ground this fall to keep up the interest and enthusiasm for the project.
Library presents budget to council
The Sundre Municipal Library is asking the town for $103,607 in 2012, up from $91,000 in 2011.
Library officials presented the library's proposed budget to councillors last week. It calls for total expenses of $190,805, up from $179,782 in 2011.
The budget calls for Mountain View County to contribute $33,984 in 2012.
Councillors passed a motion sending the proposed library budget to town overall budget deliberations for consideration.
Library board member Kathy McBain told councillors the facility is very busy following recent renovations. She said numerous groups and organizations are using the library for regular meetings, including the palliative care group, the art club, and the writers club.
The library's summer reading program was very successful, with participants reading more than 5,000 hours.
The library has been involved in 8,000 interlibrary loan requests this year.
Meanwhile, councillors OK'd the Parkland Regional Library budget, which calls for a town of Sundre requisition of $17,802, which is an increase of $252 over 2011.
FCSS presents proposed budget to town
Family Community Support Services officials presented the proposed 2012 budget to council, which calls for a town contribution of $24,254, which is the same as in 2011.
Mountain View County's 2012 requested contribution would be $47,754, also unchanged from 2011.
Outgoing executive director Wendy Dichrow said the organization has been keeping busy providing seniors with information on programs available to them, and with the new FCSS newsletter.
Councillors passed a motion forwarding the proposed FCSS budget to town budget deliberations for consideration.
Mayor Clews and several councillors commended Dichrow for her years of services to Sundre FCSS. She is leaving the community and is being replaced as director by Marita Stermann.
Councillors approve safety policy
Councillors OK'd an updated municipal safety policy designed to ensure that municipal duties are conducted in a safe manner.
“An injury and accident free workplace is our goal through continuous safety and loss control effort,” the policy states. “Employees at every level, including senior staff and contractors are responsible and accountable for the municipality's overall safety initiatives.
“Complete and active participation by everyone, every day, in every job is necessary for the safety excellence the town expects. The town supports coordination of safety among all workers on the job site.”
The policy also states that the town will ‘provide first aid, cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, workplace hazardous material information system, and transportation of dangerous goods training for public works employees, municipal enforcement and firefighters.
“All employees are responsible for following procedures, working safely, and wherever possible, improving safety measures.”
The policy would not take precedence over Occupational Health and Safety regulations.
Under the assignment of responsibility for the safety section of the policy, the CAO duties include “ensure unsafe conditions are corrected”, “ensure compliance with regulations”, and “promote health and safety awareness.”
The worker duties include “cooperate with the employer through involvement in all aspects of the health and safety program”, “correct unsafe conditions”, “report unsafe conditions”, “make safety suggestions”, and “promote health and safety awareness.”
Municipality partnerships key to community success
In his monthly report to council, councillor Tony Jordan said he attended a recent Alberta Urban Municipalities Association conference on partnering and relationships with neighbouring districts and municipalities and was impressed with the information.
“This is a real key for our community moving forward, however, this view at times seems jeopardized by some stakeholders. We as a municipality must work to ensure fair and equitable relations with all stakeholders,” he said.
Dunk tank rental waived
Councillors passed a motion to provide the Sundre Museum $769, which is the equivalent of the dunk tank rental for 2010 and 2011 Canada Day Celebrations.
“The Canada Day committee met in 2010 prior to the event to determine the activities that would take place during the celebration,” said Leuzinger. “One of the activities new to 2010 was a dunk tank that could be used as a fundraiser for a group willing to organize and man it. Numerous groups were contacted and only the library was willing to take on the task. The rental of the dunk tank was funded through support provided by the Town of Sundre and grants.”
The money will come from the Canada Day fund, set up to help funding July 1 activities in town.
CAO report highlights busy Sundre
In his monthly report to council, CAO Leuzinger updated council on the riverbank stabilization project.
“The formal grant agreement has been received, signed and returned to the provincial government for grant funding,” he said. “The town has received the full allotment of the $2.4 million. Ron (Baker, director of operations) has continued to work very closely with both Stantec Engineering and the provincial and federal bodies who will be involved with this project to ensure that we are meeting all of the requirements that we will face with this project.”
He also gave an update on the eastside servicing work.
“Current construction timelines allow for the extension of the water and wastewater infrastructure, extending to the new hotel, to be completed prior to the end of the 2011 construction season,” he said.
“As per council motion, administration has instructed BSEI to begin the engineering and tendering process for the project that was approved for the east side underground infrastructure project for the summer of 2012.”
He also gave an update on the museum/Elks road development project.
“The wheelchair ramps and catch basin installation portion of the project has been completed and the final pavement patching will be completed along with the museum/Elks road development,” he said.
Other infrastructure projects were also updated.
“Roadway crack sealing and line painting has been completed for the year as per the regular maintenance schedule,” he said. “The water treatment plant construction has been completed and we are now working out the little kinks and inconsistencies that are associated with any new project of this nature.
“Water meter vaults have been installed, which will enable the Public Works department to further monitor water leakage throughout different areas of town.”
