By Stu Salkeld The Pipestone Flyer
The County of Wetaskiwin will provide highway patrol services on three of the Town of Millet’s busiest roads following a vote at the regular county council meeting Dec. 18.
The Town of Millet’s request came from a letter sent by town manager Teri Pelletier, and was presented to County of Wetaskiwin council by assistant CAO Jeff Chipley.
“On November 30, 2018, Administration received correspondence from Ms. Teri Pelletier, Chief Administrative Officer for the Town of Millet, formally requesting that the County of Wetaskiwin consider entering into an agreement with the Town of Millet for the provision of Community Peace Officer Services,” stated Chipley’s report to council.
“The particulars of the request from Ms. Pelletier on behalf of the Town of Millet are that Community Peace Officers provide enforcement services of the Traffic Safety Act (TSA) and associated regulations along Highways 2A and 616 within the Municipal Boundaries of the Town for approximately forty (40) to sixty (60) hours per month.
“Administration notes that the request by Ms. Pelletier can be fulfilled by the current level of service that is provided to County citizens through the complement of Community Peace Officers that serve the County. Administration would request that Township Road 475, east of Highway 2A that is currently in the municipal boundaries of the Town of Millet also be included within the agreement as the Millet Transfer Station that is operated by the County is along this roadway and that this roadway used to be a part of the jurisdiction of the County prior to January 1, 2018 when it was annexed into the Town of Millet.”
Chipley noted that Millet has recently undergone some changes in its enforcement department; CPO Chance Trenholm left while Mitch Newton has been hired as the town’s new manager of enforcement services.
He also stated the county and town would enter into an agreement for these services, providing a source of revenue for the county.
Councilors unanimously approved the request.
Chipley also noted that Newton, who previously worked as a bylaw officer for the county, would obviously be moving on.
Another county officer is returning from leave, but yet another has been accepted into the RCMP training depot and is set to also be moving on in February.