WOODLANDS COUNTY-Woodlands County's mayor or in the case of his absence the deputy mayor will be responsible for reviewing any media release outside those sent out by individual departments as part of their day-to-day operations.
That is how chief administrative officer Gordon Frank described the municipality's new communication policy.
The issue first came to council's attention in July when mayor John Burrows questioned the procedure of the creation and release of official media statements as more often than not comment from the mayor is included.
Councillors unanimously approved the policy as part of its Aug. 4 meeting conducted via teleconference.
Whitecourt Central Coun. Ron Govenlock asked what determined if a media release was the day-to-day variety.
"Who makes that decision because the wording in section 4.2.1.1 says the mayor or deputy mayor will 'review all media releases'," he asked.
Frank responded by saying while that is true the section goes on to state that the mayor or in his absence the deputy mayor would review a media release when 'official statements are made'.
"For example, we will do a media release stating the Blue Ridge splash park is open or when we explain some of our operational requirements, an official comment from council is not needed and as a result wouldn't have to be reviewed by the mayor," he said.
Govenlock, who said he would vote in favour of approving the policy, still believed more work needed to be done to clarify when a release would need the mayor's approval.
Municipal stimulus program
Councillors approved accelerating the five-year road assessment/capital plan to take advantage of the Alberta Stimulus Program (ASP) funding. Whitecourt East Coun. Jim Rennie was opposed.
Infrastructure director Andre Bachand stated that the ASP while being a provincial program, the amounts municipalities receive and how it is administered is linked to the federal Gas Tax Fund (GTF).
Woodlands County's ASP allotment is $564,104. Project applications under the ASP must be submitted by Oct. 1 and must be complete by Dec. 31, 2021. Council approved the five-year plan at its July 2021 meeting.
Year-one of the plan is to start the repairs to Horn Road, near the Town of Whitecourt. The damage was caused by several culverts that failed in the spring.
Most notably Bachand said the funds would go towards a geological investigation, ROW survey and preparation of a drainage plan.
Rennie said he would support the program contingent on the condition that any remaining funds, would be used to complete dust control on Range Road 120, in which he has received several complaints.
Bachand noted they are using a new dust control product on Range Road 120 and they need to see if the section of the road they applied it to shows the results they hope, before committing to finishing the rest of road.
He estimated, if and when that happens, the estimated cost to complete the project would be about $85,000.
"Given that we just applied the product [July 28] it needs to be monitored for some time," Bachand said. "Come October, if it is looking good, we would recommend that we include its completion in the 2021 operating budget."
