Original Published 08:38 Apr 14, 2022

By Jesse Boily, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Town of Beaverlodge

Regular Meeting of Council 

April 11, 2022

In Attendance: Mayor Gary Rycroft, coun. Cyndi Corbett, Hugh Graw, Gena Jones, Cal Mosher. Absent: Judy Kokotilo-Bekkerus, Cody Moulds.

Council received a letter from the National Police Federation (NPF) asking Beaverlodge to join their call to action to have the province halt the proposed Alberta Provincial Police Service (APPS).

The province has been exploring creating a provincial police force that would replace the RCMP.

Council decided to write a letter in opposition to a provincial police force.

The NPF believes the funds being used by the province to create the APPS would be better allocated in other areas, such as improving current policing services to reduce response times and addressing rural crime.

“An overwhelming 84 per cent of Albertans support retaining the RCMP and believe the Government of Alberta should instead focus on addressing the root causes of crime and improving social services,” said Colin Buschman, NPF Western Government relations advisor.

The NPF says that the cost of a transition to a new police force would cost $366 million over six years and is widely opposed by most Albertans.

“This injection of funding would have a larger and more immediate impact within our communities to improve community safety and the health and well-being of all Albertans,” said Buschman.

Beaverlodge Curling Club: The Beaverlodge Curling Club (BCC) has asked council for funding assistance for the club’s portion of the fire alarm upgrades.

The upgrades are being made to ensure both buildings are up to current fire codes.

The total cost of the fire alarm replacement will be approximately $37,500, but Jeff Johnston, chief administrative officer (CAO), says the cost has most likely risen since.

“We don’t have up-to-date numbers because construction costs have changed,” he said.

“In the 2019/2020 season, we had to shut down before our closing bonspiel, which is a major source of revenue for the club,” Andrea Moncrieff, BCC president, said in a letter to council.

She said the BCC has operated at a $42,718 loss in the 2020/2021 season.

She said that the BCC wants to proceed with the fire alarm upgrade simultaneously as the arena due to the cost savings involved and the safety of both buildings.

Currently, the town is designing the fire alarm system, which includes the curling club, said Johnston.

“It didn’t make sense for me to design only the arena because they’re not a standalone systems,” said Johnston.

The curling club and arena buildings are attached and share an ice plant between the two buildings.

The cost of the design portion of the fire alarm system curling for the club is about $7,000, which the town has covered the cost.

Council decided to accept the letter for information and asked for the BCC to return as a delegation when an estimate is finalized.

National Public Works Week: The town proclaimed May 15 to 21 National Public Works Week.

“Public works professionals are always ready to serve their communities and resilient as ever in their abilities to pick themselves up off the ground after encountering challenges,” said Mike Haanen, Alberta Public Works Association president, in a letter to council.

The week is observed each year on the 3rd week of May, and this will be 62 years, says Haanen.

This item reprinted with permission from Town & Country News, Beaverlodge, Alberta