Whitecourt Town Council briefs

Aug. 23 meeting

Recent allocation of funds from the federal government will allow the Town of Whitecourt to extend the River Erosion Control Project downstream to include land owned by the Town and the Whitecourt Golf & Country Club. Originally identified as an area in need of protection, the spur proposed near the golf course was not included in the original project due to budget limitations. Development of the spur will require additional engineering and environmental approvals, which will delay work in the area until next year. Construction of spurs along the Athabasca River near the Millar Western Forest Products site east towards 47 Street continues. As previously advertised, access to the Athabasca River from Riverside Trail and 47th Street is closed temporarily to allow construction to proceed. For details on the project please visit our website at www. whitecourt.ca.

The Town of Whitecourt has awarded funds to Community Lunch Box and Timio’s Liquor for projects under the Vitalization Grant Program. The grant program assists property owners in the downtown core and along Highway 43 to upgrade the façade of their building to meet the architectural theme adopted in Whitecourt’s Vitaliza-tion Plan.

Whitecourt Town Council has provided first reading to Bylaw 1521 which will allow the Town to borrow $3 million for continued development of road and utility infrastructure in the Athabasca Flats East area. The project includes the construction of McIlwaine Drive and the extension of Mink Creek Road in preparation for the opening of the new Living Waters Catholic School and future residential development. The expenditure will be recovered as land is further developed in the area.

Following a Public Hearing that was held in June, Council will not be amending the Downtown South Area Struc-ture Plan to remove the requirement to provide utility service and build the road to a paved municipal standard on 47 Avenue, from 49 Street west to 51 Street.

Whitecourt Town Council has approved a request to extend the requirement to develop underground improve-ments in the west Whitecourt area, to serve the Midstream Silica lot adjacent to the Town’s rail spur.

The Province recently announced another round of funding available through the GreenTRIP Program to allow for further capital projects as part of Whitecourt Transit. The Town of Whitecourt will be applying for $620,500 through the program to purchase an additional bus, accessories, benches and shelters to provide future en-hancements and efficiencies to the Whitecourt Transit service.

Whitecourt Town Council has approved a request from the Whitecourt Mountain Bike Association to advance the group $30,000 so that work can begin on Phase 1 of the Mountain Bike Park. The funds will be paid back over 2 years. For more information on the Association visit www.bikewhitecourt.com.

Councillor Darlene Chartrand has been appointed Deputy Mayor from September 1 to October 31, 2016.