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Road work nearly complete in Ponoka County

Council approves hall funding for upgrade, agreements with nearby counties
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The big construction work in Ponoka County is pretty much finished for 2017.

That was the sentiment expressed to county council during its regular meeting Aug. 22 by public works superintendent Herb Schwingel in his monthly report.

Road construction work has been completed on six of the seven projects that Schwingel outlined equaling about eight miles of road. The final one, Range Road 282 from Highway 53 to Township Road 432, is presently underway and should be completed later this fall.

The work on Township Road 424, between Range Roads 251 and 252, is now ready for construction. However, Schwingel explained the hold up is due to one agreement from a property, though he hopes to have that agreement soon.

In addition, about seven miles of roads have been upgraded this summer and the paving of Menaik Road plus the Vleeming subdivision — the industrial area northwest of the Highway 2 and 53 interchange — have also been completed. The only exception is that Township Road 432 near the subdivision is still awaiting pavement.

He added that three of the chip seal projects are now underway and one, Asker Road, is completed.

As well, one of the two bridge repair projects planned is finished. The Black Bridge near Township Road 445 and Range Road 275 has had its abutments fixed.

The other project — Springdale Bridge — was expected to be put out to tender shortly and Schwingel believes work will begin soon.

Saga closing

It’s looking like the long story concerning the former Cutting Edge tire recycling site is coming to a close.

CAO Charlie Cutforth provided council with a brief update as to where the situation stands, noting the new company from Ukraine is presently attempting to clean up the site and that they have met with some potential investors.

“They haven’t begun yet to recycle any tires, but they are active,” he said.

“Also, they have applied to the recycling management authority and we have been assured this will be fast tracked. It is in process and we are waiting for our development permit application, though that won’t be done until the other paperwork is complete.”

Hall renovation

Council approved close to $8,900 in funding assistance to the Moose Hall in order to make some repairs to its septic system.

Cutforth noted that some other halls have been given funding for similar projects, due to it being a safety issue as well as many of these places need infrastructure like this in order to remain viable.

“It’s not uncommon to help these local facilities when they are in serious need. Something like this can’t really wait,” he said.

IDPs approved

All three readings of a pair of intermunicipal development plans (IDP) with the counties of Wetaskiwin and Camrose passed council, following up on the approvals made a week earlier by the other county councils.

According to Cutforth, the agreements basically lay out the notification processes to be followed between the counties in the case of a development near a border and how the counties may be able to work together on developments, roads and other potential collaborative efforts.