Alberta Transportation
The Town heard an update from Alberta Transportation regarding a pair of upcoming projects for the region during the meeting. North central regional director Michael Botros and infrastructure manager Dean Litke were on hand to answer any questions any of the council members had. Powell asked before their presentation about the timeline of the new bridge along Highway 813 just north of the town, as well as an upgrade to 34 Street and Highway 55 East which she said she hopes to see completed next year. "Unfortunately for both projects, we cannot talk about scheduling. That's primarily because the provincial government is operating fiscal restraint, and they are reviewing the budget," Botros said. "This will be one of the later budgets we have seen, with the date being set for Oct. 24. So that's when we will know what is in the 3-5-year capital plan." He said that while they do know that Highways 55 and 813 are important to the town, they cannot speak to where the project is at this time. "As for the Highway 813 bridge, we had a hiccup two-and-a-half years ago. We did have the design done, but the hill did move again," Botros said. "So that required us to go in and do a geotechnical investigation, a much deeper one than before. We collected lots of results, and we had to change the design on the one end which will brace the bridge from any further movement." Powell said the Town's main concern with 34 Street and Highway 55 is the proposal with the right in and right out divider on the north end of the intersection. "We had looked at four-way stops and traffic signals but those came off the table when we looked at site distances," Botros said. "Another issue was big trucks, and if they had to stop at a four way or a traffic signal after coming up the hill, that's going to cause a few problems. We did review the right in and right out possibility, and it will likely work best." After the presentation, Coun. Ida Edwards moved a motion "that council direct administration to write a letter to the MD of Opportunity, Big Stone Cree Nation and Athabasca County requesting Letters of Support for the construction of the bridge to be at the top of Alberta Transportation's three-year plan." The motion was carried unanimously.COP on Rural Crime
The Athabasca Citizens on Patrol continued with its efforts to establish a rural crime committee within the Athabasca region in a presentation to Town council. COP president Rod Kerr and volunteer Regina Shaw paid a visit to the Town after previously visiting Athabasca County at their regular meeting Sept. 26. "We hope to make all the government levels aware and try to get some plans to combat rural crime in place," Kerr said. "This proposal includes the Town of Athabasca, Athabasca County and the Village of Boyle, and we also hope to approach all the neighbouring communities so they can all strike committees in their governments in order to make plans to affect the reduction of crime." He said that it's something the constituents in this area have long been asking for. "We know we are not going to be getting more policeman right away, and we know that the budget for social services is limited. There are lots of things that Athabasca needs at the moment," Kerr said. "But we have to start somewhere, and so if we can have committees struck, and have these committees meet occasionally to discuss strategies or ideas to reduce crime, we can come up with good plans to implement and to maybe have it as a long-term project." After the presentation, council moved a motion made by Coun. Rob Balay "that council direct administration to coordinate a joint meeting with Athabasca County and the Village of Boyle at a time within the next two months to discuss regional issues, including Citizens on Patrol, The Brick School and Regional Bylaw."
