ELK POINT – With smoke from northern Alberta wildfires thick overhead, Elk Point town council dealt with another and much closer source of smoke at their July 22 meeting, when Elk Point Fire Chief Bryce Osinchuk was on hand to answer questions regarding the draft of a new Fire Protection Services Bylaw.
The bylaw would replace the Fire Department Bylaw dating back to 1996.
One line in Schedule A dealing with guidelines for acceptable fire pits, read, “Make sure smoke is going straight up,” and Deputy Mayor Wanda Cochrane asked, “How do you control that?” Regarding smoke escaping to neighbouring yards, she also noted, “there’s a difference between occasionally and constantly.”
Coun. Tim Smereka agreed that it is only possible “to make sure it’s the best it can be,” and told Osinchuk, “We don’t want you getting calls every time smoke goes out of someone’s yard.”
“You have to use your discretion on all bylaws,” CAO Ken Gwozdz said. “I understand the concern, but we won’t be heavy-handed, we have a lot more faith in our fire chief. I think we’ll tweak the bylaw and bring it back to council.” He added that while the passage of the bylaw would not require a public hearing, “If we need to, we can.”
Mayor meets Premier
Mayor Tung attended the Alberta HUB Oil and Gas meeting in Bonnyville on June 19 and said he “Grabbed one of the open question minutes. I told her about our water reservoir project and that our grant application had been turned down, and that we are reapplying. She gave me three or alternative ideas, and all this has been passed on to her.”
The event was hosted by the MD of Bonnyville and offered information on the energy sector, oil production, investment opportunities and reclamation in the HUB region.
Subdivision conditions
Council agreed to advise Municipal Planning Services that the two conditions regarding approaches, culverts and crossings and the payment of taxes, have been met for the subdivision of Lot 15, Block 1, Plan 192-1841 and that there are no outstanding taxes on the property. This will complete the subdivision process, which received conditional approval on May 10.
Clear Result
The Town has been approached by STEP regarding an Invest Free proposal on a program by Clear Result aimed at modernizing building and warehouses, reducing operating costs and lowering energy uses. The first phase, onboarding, is at no cost and would introduce the program and its qualifications, review and approve initial findings and give an opportunity investment report. Council agreed to approve the Onboarding proposal and to evaluate moving forward with the program based on the results, but will not support any future costs at this time.
Advisor appointment
Council appointed Mayor Parrish Tung as the town’s Indigenous Relations Advisor, a position that will be an advantage as the town continues to work with Frog Lake First Nations (FLFN) and other Indigenous communities. It was noted that FLDN had a float in this year’s Canada Day parade for the first time ever, with Chief Greg Desjarlais and Director of Operations William Quinney on board, Chief Desjarlais later taking part in the lineup of dignitaries offering words of welcome at the Chinese Drumming event.
Board renewals
Council approved the term renewals of Verona Lea Flanders and County of St. Paul representative Kevin Wirsta to the Elk Point Municipal Library Board.
Regional Fire Committee
With the Elk Point Fire Department now updated to the AFRRCS radios, the Regional Fire Committee approved the sale of the VHF radios they used previously to the Derwent Fire Department, and council approved placing the $3,950 in the Jaws of Life Reserve account.
More meetings
Mayor Tung and council were approved to meet with the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions in St. Paul on July 23.
The mayor and council were also given the go ahead to attend and Economic Partnership Summit on Oct. 2 in Lloydminster.
Development permit
In his CAO Report, Gwozdz said Askiy Hemp LLP has applied and been approved for a development permit to construct a 57,000 square foot industrial facility, on land that currently in the process of being sold. This is a project council has been working toward with the principals of the company for seven years, and was announced by both the provincial and federal governments in May. The first phase of the project, scheduled to start this fall or early next spring, will produce fiber, with the second phase, scheduled for completion three years from now, producing textiles.
