ATHABASCA – Speeding, stray animals, and the community standards bylaw continue to be the most common occurrences the town of Athabasca’s peace officer, Kevin Rowan, deals with.
During the May 20 council meeting, Athabasca’s seven councillors got their monthly update on what issues Rowan saw during April.
School zone patrols continued to be a large focus for Rowan, according to his report, with the town’s two rotating speed monitoring signs being located at the Whispering Hills school zone, and the other on 53 Street just south of 47 Avenue.
In total Rowan handed out 24 tickets, including 11 speeding tickets, four tickets for operating a motor vehicle or trailer without certification, and three tickets for failing to provide registration.
Councillors asked Rowan if he had been patrolling down along the Athabasca River, following a comment from Coun. Jon LeMessurier who said he had been hearing talk of a variety of impromptu encampments since the shelter closed down.
“I try to do it once a shift if I have time; if there’s anything that comes up from it I like passing that up to the RCMP so they have full information as well,” said Rowan.
Warmth fires are one of the things Rowan is looking for when he walks the area — without the Grand Union hotel or the Athabasca Cares Community Housing shelter open, the town has seen an increase in burn spots along the river as people try to stay warm at night.
“I look for if they’re starting fires or anything like that, I’ve found barrels used for fires and things like that. There are sparks, there are overhanging trees, it’s still the same kind of issues.”
Rowan said the fire potential was something that concerned him, and he was working with public works and the fire department to address those issues as he came across them.
Animal control has continued to be a concern for the town, which struggles to house stray animals or surrenders, given how busy the Second Chance Animal Rescue Society has been.
Rowan delivered an at-large cat to SCARS, but when it comes to dogs, the shelter is routinely at or above its capacity, which can leave the town in a bind.
“Every time I have a complaint where I might have to impound an animal, I contact them first so I can make a decision as to what I’m going to do,” said Rowan.
