Caroline Royal Purple and Elks Host Alberta Elks/Royal Purple Walk For Children

Walkers, supporters and family members posing before the walkathon

The annual Alberta Walk for Children was hosted by the Royal Purple and Elks Lodges of Caroline on Saturday May 27, starting and finishing at the Caroline Elks Youth Centre. 24 walkers registered for the walk which took participants through some of the parks and playgrounds in Caroline. Reportedly, some of the younger participants would have preferred to stay at the playground rather than keep walking. The event, which was blessed by sunny weather, culminated in a beef-on-a-bun dinner at the Youth Centre. Next year's walkathon will take place in Red Deer.

Local family who has received help from the Elks and Royal Purple Fund For Children: Breana and Barry Langendoen's daughter Noela received extensive coaching with her speech, greatly improving her ability to communicate with other people. Barry expressed his gratitude at the windup of the walkathon event in the Elks Youth Centre in Caroline and presented a card from his family to the Elks and Royal Purple. Richard Foesier from the Caroline Elks accepted the card and expression of gratitude

Donation to Walk for Children: Dan Leroux from the Sundre Elks Lodge #338 presented a cheque for $1000 to Walk for Children Coordinator Diane Wilson (left) and Caroline Royal Purple/Elks representative Val Staben

HIGHLIGHTS OF COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING, MAY 9, 2017

By Marianne Cole

1. Development on County land in Caroline.

 > Phase 1 (planned for the northern part of the property) included the creation of 11 industrial lots and the county’s lot for its salt/sand storage facility.

> Phase 2 includes the southern portion, along Highway 54, with 10 proposed highway commercial lots.

> Phase 1 development has been approved by council but Phase 2 development was contingent upon the county and village receiving the Small Communities Fund (SCF) grant. This was unsuccessful.

> About 75% of Phase 1 infrastructure construction was completed last fall but weather prevented completion. Northside Construction Partnership is scheduled to return shortly to complete the earthwork. Then the construction of the salt/sand storage facility will proceed.

> Discussion took place on servicing the lots in both Phase 1 and 2, focussing on the impact on Caroline’s water/sewer system as well as receiving approval from Alberta Environment re the impact on nearby wetlands.

> A motion was made directing administration to discuss Phase 2 development with the village, investigate the water/sewer implications, and bring back a more detailed report for approval.

2. Land Use Bylaw Amendment passes first reading.

 > This draft bylaw would establish penalties and definite courses of action for those whose developments contravene development bylaws (encroachment on neighboring properties, not abiding by building permits, etc.)

> Action here is usually complaint driven and begins with a letter informing the offender of contraventions. This is followed up, if necessary, by further action and penalties.

3. Condor Community Centre Request.

 > Council approved the granting of $18,000.00 to assist Condor Community with renovations to their hall. (Approximate cost $53,000. The community has the remaining funds.)

4. Compassionate Care Hospice Society Letter of Support.

> The Society was formed in 2016 and is now actively working to establish a hospice center in Rocky that would provide compassionate, quality comfort care for people with a life-limiting illness and their families.

> Steve Taylor, Vice Chair of the Society attended council to ask that a letter of support from the County be sent to Alberta Health Services on behalf of the Society. This request was granted.

5. Town on Rocky Recreation Master Plan

> Roger Smolnicky, Director of Recreation for the town, and a representative from McElhanney Consulting were present to discuss the process the town is engaged in to provide a framework for future recreation programs used by the town and county.

> Recently a survey re. the available facilities and usage was completed with an approximate 60-40 % split of town-county respondents.

> The results of this survey will be presented to the town on May 16 and to the county following that (likely May 23).

6. Clearwater Broadband Foundation.

> Michelle Swanson, Chairman, made a brief presentation regarding the CBF’s previous request for funding and the county’s subsequent request for a review of the CBF’s proposals.

> Part of the county’s review included getting legal opinion regarding the CBF’s non-profit status and the county’s legal ability to provide a loan to a “for profit” organization.

> Significant discussion took place on the possibility that the legal firm may not have investigated the “non-profit” status as fully as it could have. (It did not investigate the O’Net/Olds Institute system which has non-profit status.)

> Discussion also took place on Michelle’s suggestion that a “Tech Review Committee” be established with the town, county, and the CBF each arranging for a tech consultant to be part of the committee that would evaluate the pro’s and con’s of fibre optics and tower systems. Currently there seems to be a distinct difference of opinion on council on the benefits of each system.

> In the end Council passed a motion to not approve the loan to the CBF. They also passed a motion requesting an administrative report on the available options to improve broadband services in Clearwater County.