Council Briefs: Canal Flats steps up fight against impaired drivers

Councillors from Canal Flats met for a regular council meeting on July 27th

Councillors from the Village of Canal Flats met for a regular council meeting on July 27th, during which they discussed the items of a particularly slim mid-summer agenda.

During the meeting, Katryna Sigurdson of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Kimberly-Cranbrook made a presentation to ask council to receive 911 signs and to allow the signs to be put up around the village.

“Council decided to proceed with the MADD signs,” mayor Ute Juras told The Echo after the meeting. “They will provide us with six signs and we will discuss a donation under our discretionary grant program during the next budget

deliberations.”

The signs are meant to encourage residents to call 911 to report suspected impaired drivers.

“Campaign 911 gives citizens an important way to help police take impaired drivers off our roads, and sends the message to impaired drivers that other motorists are watching and will report them to police,” Sigurdson wrote in a letter.

MADD plans to work with the village and local RCMP to determine the optimal locations for the signs.  In addition, MADD will cover all costs associated with the signs, including printing and installation.

 

Paving the cracks

Council received a report from chief administrative officer Brian Woodward containing an initial bill from Blackline Paving Ltd.

Asphalt paving and crack sealing has cost the village $15,155.18. Woodward said Canal Flats normally spends $24,000 per year on fixing the roads.

“This is part of our annual plan,” he said. “We have about $9,000 worth of crack sealing and pothole patching left.”

Woodward said he would present a second bill to council once a second round of asphalt work is completed later this year.

 

Like a dock over Canal Flats’ waters

Council also received a report from Woodward detailing Canal Flats’ new floating dock, located at Tilley Memorial Beach, which was recently purchased for $2,100.

“The Fairmont Lions have contributed $1,000 and the fire department’s emergency group donated $1,100 from their account, which paid for all of the cost.”

Woodward said the dock will be a strong asset to Canal Flats’ recreational appeal.