The Community
Press Over 115 Years of Telling YOUR Story
Volume 116 Issue 43
www.thecommunitypress.com
Women’s Conference another success Page 31
Wednesday, May 1, 2024 s
Cramming the Cruiser for the Food Bank
The Killam RCMP Detachment held a ‘Cram the Cruiser’ event at the Wild Rose Co-op Food Store in Killam on Monday, April 29, gathering a total of 439.15 pounds of food and $370 in cash donations for the Flagstaff Food Bank. Above: Corporal Jeremy Houle Acting Commander of the Killam RCMP Detachment, Michelle Deveraux, RCMP Administration, and Shelly Morken of Flagstaff Victim Services Unit unpack the RCMP truck crammed with donations from generous residents.
County reviews Public Participation Survey responses Leslie Cholowsky Editor
Flagstaff County Council reviewed the response to their recent Public Participation campaign, which included a survey on the business plan, a Brainstorm board, and an Open House with councillors. Leading up to the survey, the County posted information on Council’s various priorities and programs, Council heard. The Business Plan Survey had 343 responses, with 93 per cent of respondents living in Flagstaff County or the two hamlets, Strome and Galahad. Over half of those responding have lived in the region more than a decade. The majority of responses received were satisfied or neutral in all areas. Only three programs recorded dissatisfaction from 10 per cent or higher, those being Protective Services, gravel maintenance, and dust suppressant, although more responders marked all three programs satisfied and neutral than not satisfied.
The top three ideas arising from the Brainstorm Board were: Women in Government, developing a program at encouraging leadership and democratic participation among women and girls, specifically in remote and rural areas; a Community Registration Night, where the County would host a registration/information night for sports organizations and other groups in the region; and a Helping Hand Network, creating a reference booklet with available resources in the case of a region-wide emergency. The Open house was attended by 23 people in all, with six of those taking advantage of a shop tour. Council will use the feedback from the campaign when they are reviewing the Programs and Services Priorities and when developing the 2025 Business Plan and Budget. Council also approved a $3,000 grant for the Forestburg Arena’s Buckin’ in the ‘Burg event, from the new 2024 Tourism Assistant Grant. This new grant has a 2024 budget of
$50,000 and Council heard that available funds of $35,932 remained available. Council approved $3,000 in grant funding after evaluating the application. The grant works on a point system that determines how much funding is available to each applicant, which includes expected participation, distance participants travel, and duration of the event. Council also reviewed a request from the Flagstaff Historical Society, who recently achieved society status with the Province. Council referred back to a 1988 meeting where that Council approved to “hold in trust, approximately $1,500 on behalf of the Historical Sites committee as requested by Len Dutton.” The Finance department has advised that these funds have been held in a trust account, and have earned interest, to a current total of $2,290.85. Council voted to provide the Flagstaff Historical Society with the $2,290.85. Flagstaff County received a request from the Village of Forestburg for a letter of support for its application to Prairies
Canada, under the Coat Transition Initiative - Infrastructure Fund, for $3.5 million, to be used for infrastructure construction as identified in the Flagstaff/Forestburg Area Structure Plan passed by both Councils in 2023. Council heard that the letter would not make them a partner on the grant application, but would offer the County’s support for the successful award of funds to the Village of Forestburg. Council voted to support the grant application with a letter. Council reviewed the Battle River Alliance for Economic Development (BRAED) March 21 agenda package. The Province’s proposed funding of Regional Economic Development Alliances (REDA) would see 2024 funding drop from $125,000 to $97,000, with that amount to drop each year, and ceasing after year three. BRAED asked all member municipalities to write to the Province to continue to receive the full $125,000 going forward, instead of the new funding model, which Council agreed to do.