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County’s road allowance sale policy gets revised

County of Wetaskiwin tweaks policy, reduces some fees
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The County of Wetaskiwin revised a major policy that deals with road allowances and even reduced some fees at their regular meeting June 6.

Councilors read a report from County CAO Rod Hawken describing revisions and updates to the Road Allowance Closure for Lease or Sale Policy.

Hawken noted that the policy had been brought back from a previous discussion. “Council at that time resolved to table further discussions on the proposed policy to allow Administration an opportunity to present back to Council the current costs in road closure which is as follows:

“1. Application to close an undeveloped road allowance for leasing (Sec 22 MGA) = no charge.

“2. Processing fee to lease an already closed undeveloped road allowance = no charge.

“3. Application to open a previously closed undeveloped road allowance = no charge.

“4. Annual Lease Fee (Sec 22 MGA) = $5.00/year (+GST) – lease agreement is renewed every three years.

“5. Applicant responsible for advertising of Public Hearing for road closure (Sec 22 MGA) to lease = approximately $400 for two weeks in the Pipestone Flyer, cost of required title searches from Alberta Registries at $10.00/title.

“6. Application to close a road allowance registered as a Road Plan for purchase/consolidation (Sec 24 MGA) = no charge for the application, however, the applicant may be responsible for payment of land contained in the road plan in accordance with Policy #61.1.2 Values for Subdivision Reserve Allocation.

“7. Processing fee to purchase/consolidate (Sec 24 MGA) a previously closed road allowance registered as a Road Plan = no charge.

“8. Administration time estimated at a minimum of $100 per road allowance file.”

Hawken’s report then listed proposed fee changes:

1. Application to close a road allowance for leasing (Sec 22 MGA) = $2,000.00 (would include advertising a Public Hearing for road closure, cost of required title searches from Alberta Registries at $10.00/title, notification postage and Administration fees).

2. Processing fee to lease an already closed road allowance (Sec 22 MGA) = $500.00. This would apply if a new landowner adjacent to a previously closed (but not leased) road allowance requested Council to approve activating a lease.

3. Transfer of Road Allowance Lease (Sec 22 MGA) from one leasee to another = $500.00. This would be applied if a new landowner who purchased property adjacent to the road allowance requested Council to approve a name change for leasing.

4. Application to open a previously closed road allowance (Sec 22 MGA) = $1,500.00.

5. Annual Lease Fee (Sec 22 MGA): 3 a. Cultivation $20.00 per acre/per year b. Grazing $10.00 per acre/per year.

6. Application to close a road allowance registered as a Road Plan for purchase/consolidation (Sec 24 MGA) = $2,000.00 (would include advertising.

7. Processing fee to purchase/consolidate (Sec 24 MGA) a previously closed road allowance registered as a Road Plan = $300.00.

After discussion, councilors decided to reduce the application fee to $1,000 and the change of name fee to $100. The changes and new policy were approved by council.

Stu.salkeld@pipestoneflyer.ca