The Louis Bull Tribe, one of the four nations of Maskwacis, has requested a joint road paving project with the County of Wetaskiwin. However, county council has made the decision to accept the request only as information until a response comes back from Shaye Anderson, minister of municipal affairs, on the matter.
County council addressed the proposed joint paving project of Range Road 253 (Louis Bull Road), south of Highway 13, during its Dec. 19, 2017, general council meeting.
“This comes up every once in a while,” said county assistant CAO Rod Hawken.
According to the councillors’ issue summary report, presented as part of the meeting agenda package, on Aug. 26, 2014, county council was advised Louis Bull Tribal administration was requesting a joint meeting with the County of Wetaskiwin to discuss a number of common issues. This included the paving of Range Road 253.
At that time, council resolved reeve Kathy Rooyakkers, deputy reeve Terry Van de Kraats and County of Wetaskiwin administration would attend the joint council meeting at the Louis Bull Band Office on Sept. 15, 2014.
Following the September 2014 meeting an email was sent from the County of Wetaskiwin to the Louis Bull Band Office to establish dates when representatives for the Louis Bull Tribe could attend at the County of Wetaskiwin office, no response was received.
On Dec. 7, 2017, the County of Wetaskiwin received a copy of the letter sent from Chief Irvin Bull to Anderson stating concerns the tribe has inquired for years about a joint paving project with no success.
On Dec. 12, 2017, the County of Wetaskiwin CAO, director of planning and economic development, and assistant CAO attended a meeting at the Louis Bull Band Office to again review the common issues.
Hawken says in previous discussions with the tribe, the County of Wetaskiwin discussed putting up a portion of the money needed for the project.
“They didn’t have the money at the time,” said Rooyakkers. “But it has to be joint.”
She added while most people would like to see their roads paved the county does not have the funds to do the entire project.
Coun. Terry Van de Kraats voiced he would like the county to have its public works department take a look at the road, as he feels it may need some upgrading before it can be paved.