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Vol. 8, No. 11 Tuesday, January8,22, 2013 Vol. 7, No. 2, Tuesday, November 2011
MICHELLE PINON PHOTO
The Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village held its annual Feast of Jordan Jan. 19th. The Holy Water was blessed before it was sprinkled into the crowd. Rev. Fr. Cornell Zubritsky, left, douses Fr. Gerasim Powerswith the Holy Water while attendees look on with smiles on their faces. Light snow and a temperature of minus 12 degrees celsius made the festivities special and joyous for young and old alike. Nearly 170 people attended the annual event.
County forms new oil and gas exploration committee Ad hoc committee to review priority issues and develop policies and guidelines Michelle Pinon Editor
With the economy back on the upswing and increasing development in the county, Lamont County Council has decided to form an oil and gas exploration transportation committee with the towns of Lamont and Bruderheim. The terms of reference have all been adopted by the municipal partners, and soon they will be
advertising for members at large to sit on the newly formed committee. The purpose of the adhoc committee is to provide advice to the municipalities on new policies and guidelines to minimize the impact oil and gas exploration, extraction and transportation has to residents and lands within Lamont County, Town of Lamont and Town of Bruderheim. “By taking a regional
approach, all municipalities will work cooperatively to minimize the negative impacts of the oil and gas industry on the region,” stated Jim Newman, manager of economic development for Lamont County. “The matters which the energy exploration committee may address shall include, but not be limited to: a.) Review best practices from other Alberta municipalities affected by oil and gas extraction
and prioritize issues in relation affecting Lamont County, Town of Bruderheim, and Town of Lamont. b.) Review priority issues and where possible development policies and guidelines that could be suggested to the three municipal councils. c.) Develop a public education component providing landowners with information about oil and gas extraction and the options available to them.
d.) Meetings. The frequency of the meetings will be determined by the committee. Between 2008 and 2012, the county has received just over $258 million in development permits with $246 million of that coming from industrial development. Recent projects include rail loop expansion at Canexus in the area of $200 million and between $30 and $40 million for Maxim Power. Commercial develop-
ment came in at just over $6.7 million, new homes at $4.3 million, additions at $195,550 and garages at $180,000. In the category of other, development came in at $866,972. County council directed administration at its Jan.8th meeting to provide details on development permit history for publication in the In Focus section of the Lamont Leader on a quarterly basis.