Millet town council passed a number of resolutions and first readings during their regular meeting Aug 4. All councilors were present for the meeting, in addition to CAO Teri Pelletier and assistant CAO Lisa Schoening.
Bridge woes
Councilors passed a resolution to place a five tonne limits on Eyot Creek Bridge, plus a 30 km/hr speed limit as soon as possible after reading a report from MPE Engineering.
The engineers submitted a report after inspecting the bridge’s condition; according to provincial regulations all bridges must be inspected on a regular basis. Schoening stated in an interview Aug. 5 council acted on the report as soon as they got it.
“We haven’t had time to warn anybody yet,” said Schoening. “Basically…it looks like there’s going to be some repairs needed.”
She said the conditions will remain on the bridge until repairs are completed; there is no timetable for repairs yet.
The gravel road Eyot Creek Bridge is located on is also commonly referred to as “Snake Trail.”
Road work
Councilors also passed a motion by Councilor Vicki Pyle that the tender from North West Paving Ltd. for $780,797 be approved for various road projects within town.
Schoening stated some of the projects include the West Liberty cul-de-sac, work on 48th, 49th and 50th Avenues.
The biggest project is paving work on 49th Street, near the campground. Schoening said residents in the past have asked council for pavement on that road.
Dog catcher
Millet council also approved a revised Impound Policy which governs how stray animals are handled in the town.
Schoening stated changes in the revised policy mainly include fee increases. She said the dog catching contractor from Wetaskiwin increased rates, so the town ahs to pass those costs on to animal owners.
Schoening said the best way to avoid dealing with the dog catcher in the first place is to get tags for your animals. A lifetime tag for a dog is only $80 and ensures if your canine is ever captured, it will be returned to you quickly. Cat tags are only $5.
Fireworks gone?
Council passed first reading of a bylaw to control the sale of fireworks inside the Town of Millet. Schoening stated the provincial government has introduced a number of changes to the way fireworks are treated; generally, fireworks are treated in a much more serious fashion than in the past as concerns have been raised about injuries and fires caused by fireworks.
She said the proposed bylaw, if it passes third reading, “was passed to reflect changes in the Alberta Fire Codes and Safety codes acts. This bylaw states that no one shall store, sell, set off or purchase fireworks in the Town of Millet without a permit. In order to obtain this permit you must have a valid Fireworks Operator Certificate, verification of liability insurance in an amount of $5 million listing the Town of Millet as an additional insured and meet all regulations as per the Alberta Fire Codes and Safety codes acts.”
Violators of the bylaw would face a hefty $1,000 fine. The town peace officer is in the process of discussing this issue with community members, and Schoening stated the bylaw could return to council before the end of August.