ST. PAUL – Allocations for Highway Clean-up 2023 have been made following the April 11 County of St. Paul council meeting.
The Boscombe 4-H Club has been assigned for 16 miles of Range Road 95, also known as the County Shop Road. Meanwhile, the Mallaig Ag Society will be taking on six miles of road north of Highway 28, going toward Mallaig.
County council approved Camp Whitney for 13 miles of Moosehills Road. The Murphy Road area, a total of 14 miles, was assigned to Elk Point Outreach.
As for the St. Lina area, up to and around the landfill for three miles, the task has been assigned to the St. Lina 4-H Beef Club. Mountain Moves Youth Center will take on cleaning seven miles of the Ross Lake Road.
The County’s overall budget for the clean-up is $10,300. Groups will pick up litter along the ditches of the specified roads.
The County Highway Cleanup 2023 Fundraiser is set to take place on May 6, weather permitting. Council previously approved an increase of rates to $150/mile and a flat rate of $2,500 for the Ross Lake Road.
Wi-Fi at campgrounds
County council also discussed MCSnet’s request to upgrade the existing Wi-Fi hotspots at the four campgrounds the County operates, for the 2023 season. The campgrounds are Floating Stone Campground, Lac Bellevue Campground, Stoney Lake Campground, and Westcove Campground.
CAO Sheila Kitz said the upgrades will not cost the County anything. “They do provide us with internet service for our buildings out there, and that’s important now because of our online camp reservations,” she explained.
Coun. Darrell Younghans motioned to approve the item. The motion passed.
Bylaw Officer service contract renewal
County council’s service contract with its current bylaw officer, Tammy Goddu, will expire at the end of 2023. Council discussed extending the contract for five years, until Dec. 31, 2028.
According to the agenda, the bylaw officer made a “significant” difference in County bylaw enforcement, including, “the County’s Unsightly Conditions, Noise, Dog Control, Litter, and Land Use Bylaw,” since her appointment in 2020.
Kitz said 627 files were opened during Goddu’s time with the County, with 91 still open or unresolved. She said 27 of those 91 files were opened in 2023.
County of St. Paul Reeve Glen Ockerman said Goddu “looked after lots of the problems we had... deficiencies we had,” expressing his belief the contract has been a success. Ockerman asked fellow council members for options and a decision, such as extending the contract for either three or five years.
Coun. Kevin Wirsta said he liked the idea of a three-year contract, allowing the next County council to decide if they would want to extend the contract in the future or not.
Coun. Dale Hedrick motioned to extend the contract for three years. The motion passed.
