The Community
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Press 115 Years of Telling YOUR Story
Volume 116 Issue 05
www.thecommunitypress.com
Large drug and weapon seizure - P26
Wednesday, August 2, 2023 s
Forestburg Council develops Community Housing Incentive policy Leslie Cholowsky Editor
Forestburg Council recently passed a new Community Housing Incentive Program policy. The policy “recognizes the need of additional housing to further enable community growth, both residential and non-residential, and that given the current economic climate and costs associated with building new and renovating existing housing, Village participation in this endeavour is necessary.” CAO Dwight Dibben says, “Housing sales have been brisk in the community for the past few years and existing housing that had previously been rentals are being purchased by families who are relocating to live in Forestburg. “We have seen a decrease in rental inventory to the point where currently there is little if any on the market. “With new developments announced and coming to the community we anticipate that housing inventory, for rental and purchase will only become a more prevalent need.” Dibben says Council has heard from builders/renovators and home seekers that the costs of building new are prohibitive. “The Council Housing Committee has had discussions with a number of builders, local and in the broader region, and given prices there is little appetite to put up spec housing, whether for purchase or rental, at current costs. “This, combined with rising interest rates and continued inflationary pressure, has led Council to the view that public participation in housing construction or elements of it may be necessary to address the housing inventory issue.” To that end, Council revised the first draft of the new policy to provide for the ability for Council to participate financially in projects as a permissive ability (rather than a defined participatory requirement for the municipality.) Council also added a preference for multi-unit projects to the policy before passing the new policy this July. Any Builder or Renovator with an interest in participating with the Municipality in the Forestburg Housing Incentive Program must make an initial expression of interest to Village Council identifying this interest, outlining their proposal for housing construction or renovation See FORESTBURG P17
Youth Leadership Camp a hit SUPPLIED PHOTO
Flagstaff County’s Youth Leadership one-day camp last Tuesday, July 25, gave the region’s youth an opportunity to visit the United Church Hardisty Lake Camp and take in many of their amenities, including archery, canoeing, along with leadership and team building activities for a fun, free, day. More photos on Page 4.
Mobile mammography service to visit Killam Women ages 45 to 74 - the group most at risk of developing breast cancer - will have local access to mammography services later this month when Alberta Health Services’ Screen Test program visits Killam. A mobile mammography trailer will be stationed at the Killam Health Care Centre from Aug. 30 to Sept. 1, and Sept. 6, 2023. Appointments are required. Residents can book an appointment or learn more about the program by calling 1-800-667-0604. Screen Test is improving access to cancer
screening for thousands of women in Alberta communities where mammography is not readily available. A mammogram is an X-ray of the breast and has proven to be the most effective way to detect breast cancer. Early detection allows for a greater number of options for treatment and a better chance of survival. To book online, visit screeningforlife.ca/breast/screen-test-mobile-clinics/ for more information and a complete listing of Screen Test mobile sites.