Spring 2021 Newsletter
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SPRING 2021 NEWSLETTER SPRING NEWSLETTER STARLAND COUNTY STARLAND COUNTY PB SPRING NEWSLETTER SPRING NEWSLETTER 1 CONTACT INFORMATION starlanD county office 217 North Railway Avenue PO Box 249 Morrin, Alberta, Canada T0J 2B0 Phone: (403) 772-3793 [email protected] f. murray marshall Division One T: (403) 665-2479 Public Works Projects [email protected] summer of 2021 steven Wannstrom - reeve • 2 miles of road construction - Walker Road Division Two Removing old timber bridge, replacing with T: (403) 823-7361 • new bridge size culvert - BF # 8593 [email protected] • Removing old culvert, replacing with new bridge size culvert - BF # 74375 bob sargent - Deputy reeve Division Three • Finish archaeology work - Morton Gravel Pit T: (403) 820-1509 • Haul road improvements - Morton Gravel Pit [email protected] • Stripping top & sub soils, removing overburden - Morton Gravel Pit jacqueline Watts Division Four • Road repairs - 18-4, North of Hwy 576 C: (403) 820-5451 • Road repairs - 19-5, North of Hwy 9 [email protected] • Miscellaneous road repairs - 16-2, 20-5, 21-0 • Crack filling, patching and line painting john rew Delia Access, Division Five Horse Thief Canyon Access, C: (403) 820-0320 Dinosaur Trail Campground Access, [email protected] Craigmyle Resource Road • Re-gravel 160 miles with approximately 40,000 yd3 • Public works crew will do various signs, culverts, mowing, road repairs STARLAND COUNTY STARLAND COUNTY 2 SPRING NEWSLETTER SPRING NEWSLETTER 3 GREETINGS StarLAND COUNTY RESIDENTS! since the election of Setting a vision for the next decade provides us council in october 2017, with a long-term vision for the future. starlanD county has In the short term, we face challenges during the final phases and aftermath of the global COVID-19 haD some serious issues pandemic. But ultimately, we see a lot of potential to Deal With. and have a lot of hope for the future of Starland It has been a rollercoaster of events: the fire at the County because of all the people and businesses Administration Office, Trident’s collapse, a change who have chosen to live and work here. in the Government of Alberta and the continued While doing the Strategic Plan, we looked for downloading onto municipalities, the issue of oil current and future challenges and opportunities and gas companies not paying their taxes and across the municipality. This led us to choose seven the tremendous loss of revenue for the County, priority focus areas: and of course, COVID-19. Moreover, the County has experienced a 22% loss of taxable assessment since 2015, which backtracks us to our taxable 1. economic GroWth assessment levels in the early 2000’s. 2. leaDershiP We have continued to work hard on your behalf 3. communication to sustain the County’s viability and maintain the level of services that you have enjoyed in the 4. community PriDe past. However, with our feet somewhat under 5. service excellence us once again, we are planning several capital projects for 2021 as well as continuing our regular 6. financial sustainability maintenance and upkeep of the County roads, 7. sustainable infrastructure bridges, waterlines, cemeteries, recreation areas, etc. In addition to 2-miles of road construction, This plan is already moving to the next stage. We two bridge file replacements and one removal, and are creating action plans to move our vision into some waterline replacement and infrastructure reality with concrete tasks. It is time to roll up our improvements, we are also working on opening sleeves and do the hard work together as Council our own gravel pit to lower the cost of our gravel and Administration. We believe that it will make program. the difference to the future wellbeing of all of us To help us understand the needs and expectations in Starland County. You can read the full Strategic of our residents, the County conducted a survey Plan on the County website at earlier this year. From this survey we gained a better www.starlandcounty.com. understanding of the County’s priorities and needs. We then used this information to establish our Starland County Strategic Plan 2021-2031. The Strategic Plan was recently adopted and was announced through a news release to the media. STARLAND COUNTY STARLAND COUNTY 2 SPRING NEWSLETTER SPRING NEWSLETTER 3 COUNCIL GREETING CONT. A major part of both the survey results and of our Strategic Plan is to improve communication, both with our residents and within our organization. Hence, the development of this new newsletter. We hope you will find it both interesting and educational. Our plans at this point include a Spring and Fall production. For updates from the County, please check our website regularly or follow us on Facebook. Also, municipal elections will be taking place throughout Alberta this fall. If you are interested in running or nominating a candidate, nominations are now open until Nomination Day on September 20th, 2021. Contact our Administration Office for further information. Spring is fully upon us, most of the crops are in DiD you knoW? the ground and calving is nearing the finish line. We hope Mother Nature blesses the County with • Starland County pays an annual requisition some plentiful rainfalls soon to help those crops to the Alberta School Foundation Fund. grow and mature and the pastures to replenish. As The 2021 requisition is in the amount of always, we are very proud of our residents and the $1,803,874.67. communities within the County and thank all of you • In addition, the County also pays a requisition for making Starland County the great place it is! for the separate schools in the amount of Sincerely, Starland County Council $17,165.99. • Starland County annually supports the Marigold Library System. The 2021 agreement is in the amount of $22,188.84. Memberships are available at any local Marigold Library, including Rumsey, Morrin, and Delia, and can be used at all Marigold Libraries. STARLAND COUNTY STARLAND COUNTY 4 SPRING NEWSLETTER SPRING NEWSLETTER 5 MUNICIPAL SERVICES fire & emerGency services supplied from the Craigmyle Rural Water System. Starland Regional Fire Services includes 6 In addition, there are 8 truck fill stations located departments manned by 106 volunteer fire fighters in Rumsey, Rowley, Michichi, Hand Hills, McLaren serving our communities. Dam, Craigmyle, Munson Fire Hall Station, and CLV (Verdant Valley). fire Permits Starland issues fire permits from March 1 to October The water in Rumsey is supplied by underground 31 for controlled burning operations. These permits wells and has been identified as having elevated are free but require you to notify the local fire fluoride levels in the water. Fluoride is naturally department prior to any burning. Note that there occurring in the ground and traces will be found are special regulations for burning brush piles or in all water including ground water, lakes, or water flax straw. wells. Health Canada has determined that fluoride in excess of the 1.5 mg/l may cause dental fluorosis Green flashinG liGhts in younger children. Those under the age of 8-years Starland County Bylaw 1043 authorizes volunteer are advised to refrain from the use of water for firefighters to use flashing green lights in their drinking or in cooking but it is completely safe for vehicles if they are proceeding to a fire or another washing and cleaning. Persons of an older age are emergency. No person other than a volunteer not affected by the elevated levels. firefighter shall operate a flashing green light in their vehicles Further information is available on our website at www.starlandcounty.com or by contacting the local Health Authority. utilities Starland County has developed and operates more than 400km of water transmission and distribution pipelines throughout the rural area. The transmission lines supply water to the communities of Munson and Morrin within the Starland Regional Water System. The Craigmyle North area is STARLAND COUNTY STARLAND COUNTY 4 SPRING NEWSLETTER SPRING NEWSLETTER 5 MUNICIPAL SERVICES CONT. MUNICIPAL SERVICES CONT. DeveloPment NUisance AbatemeNT BYLAw Please note that improvements to your property, Bylaw 1092 increases Starland County’s control, including the construction of new residences, supervision, and regulation of unsightly properties. additions, or accessory buildings, require the proper The Bylaw includes restrictions on: permits and approvals prior to commencement. • Accumulation of refuse • uncut grass or weeds roaD alloWances & Abandoned vehicles ProPerty maintenance • • Lack of repair or maintenance of buildings, Road AllowANCeS iN The TRAffiC BYLAw structures, or premises The Starland County Traffic Bylaw contains rules and regulations surrounding the use of local roads under the Bylaw, you can be issued an order to and road allowances. All road allowances are clean up property. As a final measure, the County the property of the County, and activity on road can carry out the corrective measures and add allowances is regulated by this bylaw. related costs to the property tax roll. Our Bylaw Services will work with you to try to resolve For example, unauthorized development like clean-up issues. cultivation of an undeveloped road allowance is a contravention of the bylaw. If you are planning any development or use of a road allowance, please check with our Administration Office to ensure you have the authorization to proceed. STARLAND COUNTY STARLAND COUNTY 6 SPRING NEWSLETTER SPRING NEWSLETTER 7 MUNICIPAL SERVICES CONT. Access Approach pOLicy Waste transfer stations If you need a new approach built or an existing michichi Transfer Station approach widened, you must apply to the Open Tuesdays from 1 PM to 7 PM and 1st Saturday Starland County Office. We will gladly assist you in 10 AM to 2 PM determining the proper site distances needed, the standard size and culvert needed, etc. Rumsey Transfer Station Open Wednesdays from 1 PM to 7 PM and 2nd Saturday 10 AM to 2 PM carinG for our cemeteries Craigmyle Transfer Station Starland County has an ongoing maintenance Open Thursdays from 1 PM to 7 PM and 3rd program to beautify the cemeteries.