ATHABASCA – Athabasca County councillors voted 5-3 during their Feb. 8 meeting against adopting an amended dust control policy that would have included changes such as requiring full payment by commercial operators, a minimum length of 100 metres as a condition of application and new considerations specifically for RV park routes.
However, they did vote 6-2 to adopt a new full cost rate for dust control of $1,000 per 200 metre application and to amend the cost-sharing rate to $400 plus GST, both of which were proposed within the amended dust control policy. (Previously, the full cost rate for dust control was previously $900 per 200 metres and the cost-sharing rate was 43 per cent.)
Furthermore, they voted 5-3 on an amendment to the above motion to bring back Policy 3406 to either a policy review or committee-of-the-whole meeting in October for further discussion.
The discussion around Policy 3406 began with Division 5 Coun. Tracy Holland, who said she felt the new rates proposed within the amended policy were “quite drastic.”
Although she indicated she was in agreement with changing the full cost rate, she wanted to have further discussion before adopting the policy and perhaps introducing the recommended changes next year.
“I hate to spring this on to somebody right away,” she said.
Division 7 Coun. Kelly Chamzuk agreed with Holland, acknowledging that while costs are going up, she didn’t want to be seen as implementing changes too quickly, given how late it is in the season.
Division 2 Coun. Nathasha Kapitanuk raised a concern about how the amended policy introduced a new 100-metre minimum requirement for application of dust control and how that might affect two neighbours who have driveways within 100 metres of each other if only one of them wants the service.
“I think a conversation should be had around all property-owners that touch the road that’s being done,” she said, adding she believed this issue will come up more as acreages are being developed within the municipality.
Division 9 Coun. Camille Wallach said she was also concerned that if the municipality did not adopt the new rates for dust control this year, they will have to go up substantially more in 2024.
Reeve Brian Hall (Division 8) said he liked the amendments proposed by administration, as they would entail transferring more of the cost for dust control to industrial/commercial ratepayers.
“When we subsidize commercial ventures, we lay that cost back on those residential ratepayers,” he said. “This is one way we can actually transfer some of that cost back.”
Regarding the timing of the changes, Hall agreed that it would have been ideal for administration to bring this policy earlier in the year and not February, but dust wasn’t yet an issue in the municipality and the amendments were still timely and reasonable.
Division 3 Coun. Ashtin Anderson said the cost sharing rate of $400 plus GST really just covers the cost of the calcium, which the county acquires from Calling Lake.
She agreed that the timing was still appropriate for these changes, but she agreed that they should review the policy in the late fall.
Holland maintained that she believed further discussion was needed, then pointed out another concern: that the amended policy included some provisions specifically for RV routes in recogniion of the economic development they bring to the region.
She said she understood that RV parks are not as profitable as some other commercial businesses, but they are still commercial entities and it’s their choice what their profit margins are going to be.
“I think there’s a lot more discussion that needs to take place, and so I would not be in favour of going forward (with the proposal),” she said, adding that with the amount of melting going on right now, dust could be an issue sooner than you think.
Kapitanuk also pointed out that the permits for RV parks specifically state that they are responsible for dust control.
“I question why we are veering away from what their permits are already stating,” she said.
After a half-hour of discussion, council ultimately proceeded with the votes outlined above and adopted the updated dust control rates.
