Whitecourt Town Council briefs

Mar. 8 meeting

Whitecourt has launched a local Volunteer Awards program to recognize community members and organizations that have taken a lead role in Whitecourt and provided their time to making our community stronger. There are five award categories, and nominations will be accepted until 12:00 noon on Monday, April 12. For more information, and an application form, please visit www.whitecourt.ca/Community/ Volunteer-Opportunities. Awards will be announced during National Volunteer Week which begins on April 18.

The Ad Hoc Waste and Recycling Services Review Committee has completed its needs analysis regarding the collection, transportation and disposal of garbage, recyclables and compost. Using data received from the public survey that was conducted in February 2021, as well as information on best practices in the industry, the Committee has made the following recommendations:

• Explore a residential curbside compost program.

• Change the curbside collection schedule for waste, recycle and composting programs to weekly or bi-weekly depending on the season to offset overall costs.

• Add a bin at the Whitecourt Transfer Station for residents to drop off glass items for recycle; • Reconsider bin sizes.

• Explore opportunities for multifamily and commercial recycling.

Council accepted the Committee’s report as information, and directed Administration to bring forward further information to a future meeting.

Council has accepted a recommendation from the Economic Development Committee and directed Administration to initiate the process to rescind the Parking Levy Reserve, and make required amendments to the Town’s Municipal Development Plan Bylaw and Land Use Bylaw. The parking levy is a per stall fee that is collected and held in the parking levy reserve for the use of funding future public parking. The process to amend the bylaws will require a public hearing; formal notifications and advertisements will be published once the date for the hearing is determined.

Startec Service has been awarded the contract to replace the existing ice plant with a new low volume ammonia system at the Scott Safety Centre. The majority of the project, valued at $941,500, is funded through the Recreation Energy Conservation program. Work is scheduled for completion this summer.

Council has scheduled a Special Meeting to discuss the 2021 Budget on Wednesday, April 7 at 3:30 p..m.