QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER PUBLISHED BY PARKLAND SUMMER 2017 communicator QUESTIONS, CONCERNS AND/OR COMMENTS? Contact Us To find out more on what’s happening in Parkland County, follow us or visit parklandcounty.com Message from Agricultural Invasive Road Safety: #ExploreParkland Devonian Trail Long-Term Acheson Transit Election the Mayor Services Move Species Construction GeoTours Series Grand Opening Strategic Plan Pilot Project 2017 MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR Parkland County’s Municipal path to ensure long-term sustainability through balance The MDP aligns with our new Long Term Strategic Development Plan (MDP) is and a holistic approach to development Plan, the Capital Region Board Edmonton Metropolitan fast approaching the final Growth Plan, as well as the Parkland County Community stages of being accepted by The MDP sets the future growth direction for the County Sustainability Plan. Other studies that fed into the MDP Council. The current MDP is by identifying where growth will occur over the next include the Community Scan and Analysis Report, 10 years old and is greatly in 30 years. It includes the County's overall development the Future of Agriculture Report, the Wabamun Lake need of updating. The new vision, goals, objectives, and corresponding land use Subwatershed Land Use Plan, the Employment and Municipal Development policies to guide future growth. It also outlines where Industrial Lands Study, and the Edmonton Metropolitan Plan will reflect the current future land uses will be located in the County. In short, Region Growth Plan. state of the County, current the MDP is the foundation that the future of the County legislation and future is built on. If approved by the Captial Region Board, the new Mayor Rod Shaigec direction for growth. Municipal Development Plan will be presented to The MDP Project started in 2013. Since then a great Council for third and final reading on October 10, 2017. The MDP is the main amount of work has gone into completing the necessary municipal land use policy document for Parkland reports and studies to assist in the MDP update. For more on this important document, visit County and provides a framework - "the blueprint" - for Residents have participated in a number of engagement www.parklandcounty.com/mdp. the future development in the County. By taking into events, including open houses, workshops, surveys, and consideration the economic, social and environmental more. We are grateful to everyone who assisted in its factors that exist in our community, the MDP will set a development. AGRICULTURAL SERVICES MOVE BACK TO SCHOOL SAFETY Parkland County Agricultural Services is now located at: Another school year is upon us, and so we wanted • Give cyclists a wide berth. A good rule of thumb 4603 - 47 Ave., Stony Plain to remind parents and cyclists of the importance is to allow one metre of minimum clearance. New Parkland County Agricultural Services Building of wearing high visibility clothing while on the The Parkland County Agricultural Services building is open • Shoulder check before opening your vehicle road. As the days grow shorter we often see more Monday - Friday, 8:30 - 4:30 p.m. from the North door. ^ ^ ^ TO THE COUNTY CENTRE ^ ^ ^ and more cyclists on the road during dawn and • Let kids off away from traffic. Usually, that is the 16A dusk hours when visibility is often at its lowest for 16A drivers. passenger side of the vehicle. As our children return to school, we also wanted to 779 TIPS FOR DRIVERS encourage parents to dress their children in high • Reduce your speed. Be more careful in residential visibility clothing, especially with those who may walk areas where children are present. Respect speed to school or to the school bus. limits in school zones and playground zones. TIPS FOR PARENTS • Stop for school buses displaying the flashing red lights and the extended stop arm. In most cases, Encourage your kids to: traffic in both directions must stop for school • Avoid dressing in dark colours such as black, Tim Alberta buses. Do not continue until the flashing lights Hortons Provincial navy blue or all white. A&W Courts stop. • Obey crossing guards. • Wear bright coloured clothing or more than one 44 ST 44 47 ST 47 44 AVE colour to stand out. Freson Bros. • Never overtake other vehicles within a school Fresh Market 45 ST zone or within a half block of any crosswalk. • Wear reflective markings on jackets or biking 779 • Avoid U-turns and three-point turns in school gear. 45 AVE Parkland zones. Children can have a difficult time School Division predicting these types of vehicle manoeuvres. • Use head lamps or bike lights while traveling at night. 47 AVE NO LEFT TURN ELECTION DAY IS OCTOBER 16, 2017! Check out the back page for everything you need to know about the upcoming election! 53109A HWY 779, PARKLAND COUNTY, AB CANADA T7Z 1R1 T. 780.968.8888 F. 780.968.8413 TF: 1.888.880.0858 2 SUMMER 2017 | PARKLAND COMMUNICATOR AFTER HOURS INQUIRIES If it is after hours and an issue requires immediate attention, please call our after hours line, 780-968-8400. This line is monitored 24/7 and the issue will be followed up on as soon as possible. ROAD SAFETY: CONSTRUCTION You may have noticed while driving around Parkland •4 Drive safely to the road conditions. Uneven County that there is a lot of slower moving equipment pavement, loose gravel, sharp shoulders and on our roads. This is just a friendly reminder to slow temporarily removed guardrails or medians are down and be aware when you see slower moving "hidden" hazards. equipment, road maintenance, and construction. •5 Take safety precautions when approaching slower moving equipment or in construction •1 Slow down and obey the signs in construction zones. zones. Hazards may still exist so please slow down in areas where road repair work is •2 Stay a safe distance behind moving or working underway. equipment. • Be alert and watch out for workers and Parkland County is responsible for all Range Roads and 3 equipment. Township Roads, as well as some subdivision roads. The County undertakes road maintenance activities and several construction projects to care for these roads. ALBERTA OPEN FARM DAYS In August, Parkland County had six farms participate in Alberta Open Farm Days. This is a day where local farmers open their gates to their urban and rural neighbours for a visit to learn more about the farmers who grow their food, an opportunity to share stories, and see demonstrations. Alberta-wide, over 90 farms participated in the open farm experience and culinary events. Thank you to the Parkland County’s farms and families that took part in this year’s Open Farm Days: • Bent River Ranch • Happy Acres U-Pick • Kiwi Nurseries • Multicultural Heritage Centre • Newman Country Farm Retreat • Riverbend Cattle Co. For more information on Alberta Open Farm Days, please visit www.albertafarmdays.com THERE ARE TWO INVASIVE SPECIES CAUSING ISSUES IN PARKLAND COUNTY Now Both the Meadow and Orange Hawkweed have been found in the County and as such we need to ask residents to be on the lookout for these invasive species. Recruiting! Orange Hawkweed reproduces aggressively via above and below ground creeping roots and cannot be controlled by mowing. It can be identified by its bright orange-red flowers with Parkland County Fire Services has openings square edges and their leaves, stems, and buds are covered in bristly hairs. Chemicals are recommended to deal with this for paid-on-call firefighters at several prohibited noxious weed. stations. They will be recruiting throughout Meadow Hawkweed can be identified by its yellow flowers with square edges and their leaves, stems, and buds are September with plans to hire in October. covered in bristly hairs. It reproduces aggressively via above and below ground creeping roots and cannot be controlled by mowing. Chemicals are recommended to deal with this prohibited noxious weed. Landowners must destroy prohibited noxious weeds because they are a serious threat. These weeds GO TO spread rapidly and are highly competitive. Weeds in this category are restricted to prevent establishment www.parklandcounty.com/firefighter in Alberta. TO APPLY ONLINE For more information on noxious weeds in Parkland County, go to www.parklandcounty.com/weeds SUMMER 2017 | PARKLAND COMMUNICATOR 3 NEW LONG-TERM DEVONIAN TRAIL STRATEGIC PLAN GRAND OPENING Parkland County Council approved the new Parkland County Long-Term Strategic Plan this past summer. Saturday, September 23 This 25-year Strategic Plan will allow the County to 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. identify obligations for existing infrastructure and allocate funds for strategic investments necessary to meet future needs for both residents and industry. Prospectors' Point By identifying the priority areas that matter most to 51013 Rge. Rd. 263 residents and the business community, the plan will support administration and staff in developing tactical Parkland County invites you to come plans and business plans to achieve these priorities. out and explore the newest addition to Parkland County’s Long-Term Strategic Plan is based around four key pillars that come to define the County’s our park trail system. The Devonian Trail core vision of: connects from the University of Alberta One Parkland – Powerfully Connected Botanic Garden to Prospectors’ Point. Complete Communities Strategic Economic Diversification Respected Environment Responsible Leadership For more on this important document, visit For information on parks and trails in Parkland www.parklandcounty.com/strategicplan. County, visit www.parklandcounty.com/trails ACHESON TRANSIT PILOT PROJECT To determine the feasibility of offering a transit service in Acheson, Parkland County has undertaken a two year pilot project for transit that will run from April 2016 to April 2018. Two bus routes connect #EXPLOREPARKLAND: GEOTOURS SERIES Acheson to Edmonton with a shuttle service to transfer bus riders from the bus stops directly to the Looking forward to the second part of our popular these hidden treasures and share your experience using business.