Property crimes are “way up,” and “person crimes are way lower,” Athabasca RCMP Sgt. Brian Scott told Athabasca County council at their meeting last Tuesday.
It has been an “extremely busy spring and summer,” said the detachment commander, who added he is short personnel but should have vacancies filled soon.
In June, six members of the detachment were sent down to assist with flood efforts in the southern part of the province.
“Aiding provincial resources has caused significant drain in our local resources here, but we did it — we managed it,” said Scott.
Scott said the Athabasca detachment had its work cut out for it over the past number of months with all of the thefts in the area, and the front desk is even trying to keep its head above water.
He said the detachment clerks “just can’t keep up” with the workload, but added it is “fairly promising” that a third position will be added to the detachment’s administration soon.
Scott said it is “mind boggling” how slow it is for these positions to be filled.
There were 176.4 load cases per member in 2012 at the Athabasca detachment, up from 164 in 2011. He noted, in comparison, the usual workload for K-Division (Alberta) detachments is about 100 cases per member.
“We are one of the busiest in the east Alberta district, and one of the busier detachments in all of Alberta,” said Scott.
So far this year, there have been three fatal collisions, one with an impaired driver, said Scott.
“There’s not a whole lot you can do with those. It comes down to education on the part of the (driver),” said Scott.
County councillor Larry Armfelt expressed his concern for parallel parking in the area, saying those trying to park are at risk of being swiped by drivers from behind them who pass them.
He wondered if more double yellow lines would do a better job to stop drivers from crossing into oncoming traffic.
Scott said he would look into enforcement out on the streets but admitted, “We have been swamped with these break-ins.”
Councillor Denis Willcott expressed concern for pedestrians jaywalking, but also wondered who would be at fault if a vehicle yields for them “illegally,” obstructs traffic and is hit from behind.
Scott said in that case, the vehicle behind would be at fault; the driver ahead would not want to face a $575 fine for failing to yield to a pedestrian.
Councillor Christine Bilsky said she is hoping to see more programs in the Athabasca area geared towards youth, such as the Boyle RCMP-initiated 20 Feet Tall and Bulletproof campaign.
Scott concurred the programs geared towards kids are good to have.
Scott also reported that Colinton General Store owner Ernie Chaves, whose store was broken into July 20, has been left with a seven- to eight-day memory gap as a result of injuries received during a scuffle with the thief.
The sergeant called the on-scene investigation “extensive.”
David James Stewart of Edmonton, 42, was arrested July 26 in connection with the incident.
Scott said there seem to be “fairly significant criminals from the Edmonton area that have chosen to make the Athabasca area their home.”
He said so far this year, 240 prisoners have been processed through the Athabasca detachment.
Property developer Helmut Roeben proposed to county council that water meters in his Bison Ridge residential subdivision “should be installed when the individual homeowners apply at the county for connection to the water line and are ready to set up an account.”
Bison Ridge is a 26-lot development that is part of Deer Valley Acreages, 10 minutes south of Athabasca on Tower Road.
Athabasca County tourism and economic development officer Jodie Pruden has described Deer Valley Acreages as the first country residential subdivision, separated from the county’s more “centred” hamlets, to have regional water access.
The Bison Ridge subdivision has a four-inch water supply line connected to the regional water line.
Roeben said he believes while the developer should be responsible for the construction costs, “It makes sense for the county to have some water meters in inventory as may be required by pace of development or rate of construction.”
He said this would be better “than each developer purchasing the full number of meters (one for each potential lot) years ahead of the actual construction and requirement of the meter.”
Roeben said he contacted Westlock and Lac La Biche Counties, both of which said they provide water meters. The cost is recovered by charging homeowners an application fee for connection.
Roeben asked if Athabasca County could consider applying a similar policy.
“From my standpoint, it’s very reasonable,” said Reeve David Yurdiga.
The county accepted Roeben’s information as presented and will make a decision at a future meeting.
