March 28th Update - Remembering Roy Mclean, Foothills Salvage and Recycling Society, RMA Convention and Tree Maintenance Workshop

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Remembering Roy Mclean

I want to start off this update with acknowledging the passing of Roy Mclean.  For those of you not aware, Roy was a Municipal Councillor for the Foothills for 21 years.  Of those years, he served as the Reeve or 10 of those years.

He spent the better part of his life in the Foothills having moved here from New Brunswick with his family in 1942.  His contributions to the municipality were many and we should all be grateful for his many years of service.

Roy was a true cowboy and gentleman in every sense of the word and he will be missed.  

For more on Roy's life, click here.

Foothills Salvage and Recycling Society (@ 1:16)

DID YOU KNOW... 

At the Foothills Regional Landfill there is also a salvage centre where you can donate used items that are resold and the funds invested back into the community?  

On their website they state:

"The Foothills Salvage and Recycling Society (FSRS) is a Not For Profit Society dedicated to keeping usable and recyclable items out of the landfill. In doing so the FSRS makes their items accessible through their facility: to purchase at an affordable price or free through programs such as the Family Resource center in Okotoks. The FSRS’s goal is to help the residents of the Foothills area, not only with affordable items, but also through donations of proceeds to charitable organizations within the Foothills, annually."

Every year, they donate in the neighborhood of $175,000+ back into the community.  So, if you have items that you no longer use taking up space in your house/garage/shop, instead of throwing them into the garbage/landfill, you should see if they can be taken at the salvage centre.

It is a true Win-Win!

For more information on the Salvage centre, visit: https://fsrsonline.com/.

For more on the Landfill, visit: https://foothillslrrc.com/

Rural Municipalities of Alberta Spring Convention (@ 2:53)

From March 18-20th, some of Foothills Council attended the Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) Spring Convention.  For those of you not familiar, the RMA is:

"an independent association comprising Alberta’s 69 counties and municipal districts. Since 1909, we have helped rural municipalities achieve strong, effective local government." 

The conventions are an opportunity for all of the 69 rural municipalities to come together to pass resolutions in order to lobby the provincial government for rural specific needs.  They provide a great deal of education and opportunities to network with councillors and staff for other rural communities.

With the 2019 Provincial Election having been called during the event, there was not as much interaction directly with the provincial government but was still a valuable event to attend.

Image from: https://www.thehitch.ca/

One of the highlights was an energetic and well documented presentation from Vivian Krause about the campaign to shut down Alberta's tar sands and where the funds from the campaign has come from.  Very interesting insight.  If you would like more information, visit her website at:  https://fairquestions.typepad.com/rethink_campaigns/

Final Tree Workshop - April 10th (@ 2:40)

Topic: Tree Planting & Maintenance Workshop

Location: Scott Seaman Sports Rink at Heritage

Time: 9-11:30 am

See image below for more details:

March 13th Update - Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw, Secondary Suites Implementation Plan and Tree Workshops

Note: If your are receiving this in your email and the video below does not show up, click the headline above it to be taken to the website to view it. 



I was unable to do this video Live as Facebook had crashed so I recorded it separately and am including this in my updates now in case you missed it previously.

Here are the timestamps for the items I discussed:

• Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw @ 0:00
• Secondary Suites Update @ 1:15
• Tree Workshops @ 2:40

For the text details on this post, see my website post here: https://jasonparkermd31.blogspot.com/2019/03/march-13th-update-responsible-dog.html

March 13th Update - Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw, Secondary Suites Implementation Plan and Tree Workshops (Square Butte Hall)

Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw

Today Foothills Council provided 2nd and 3rd Readings to the new Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw.  

For more information on the bylaw, CLICK HERE for my previous post where I go into more detail on it.

It may be a bit before the new bylaw is posted on the County website, but for information on the previous bylaw, you can visit: 

www.mdfoothills.com/services/protective-services/.  This is likely where the updated bylaw will be posted.  As soon as hear it is live, I will be sure to let you know.

Secondary Suites Implementation Plan

On January 30, 2019 Foothills Council gave first reading to the draft Land Use Bylaw amendments to allow for secondary suites on parcels 2 acres in size and larger.  At that time, Council requested staff come back with details on how these amendments may be implemented.

Today, staff discussed with Council the proposed implementation strategy.  The strategy outlined the following:

• Education for the public on Secondary Suites
• Comprehensive Information for the public
• Details on the permitting process and Safety Code approvals
• Secondary Suites registry
• Timelines for coming into compliance
• Enforcement of Non-Permitted Suites
• Next Steps for future phases

Council accepted the implementation plan and a more finalized version should come back before Council prior to the Land Use Bylaw Amendments to allow for Secondary Suites receiving second and third readings.  For more information on Secondary Suites, see my post HERE.  For the most recent version of the proposed amendment, CLICK HERE.

Tree Workshops and Square Butte Hall and Seaman Sports Rink

Tree Workshops - Square Butte Hall and Seaman Sports Rink

Mar 6th Update - Foothills County Protective Services Update

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Foothills Protective Services - Year In Review

Today Foothills Council had the Protective Services before Council to provide a Year in Review for 2018.  Watch the video above for details (if the video above does not show, click this link to be taken to the webpage: https://jasonparkermd31.com).

For more information on Foothills County Protective Services, CLICK HERE.

Feb 27th Update - Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw, Rural Crime Watch & Anti-Bullying Day

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Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw

Today Foothills Council further discussed the Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw that was presented at Open Houses back in March and June of 2018.  

Stated on the County website, "Changes are proposed to replace the existing Dog Control Bylaw with an updated Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw. These changes will bring the existing bylaw into compliance with the Provincial Offences and Procedures Act, provide new operational processes and tools to enable officers to better investigate and respond to complaints and ensure public safety along with making the bylaw more accessible through the use of clear terminology."

Council gave it first reading and directed staff to make some further edits before it coming back for 2nd and 3rd readings.  You can read a little more about it HERE.

High Country Rural Crime Watch Meeting - March 4th (@1:30)

The HCRCW will be hosting it's AGM and a regular meeting on March 4th at the PRiddis Hall.

Topics will include:

• Updates from the Turner Valley Detachment of the RCMP
• FireSmart discussion from the Foothills Fire Department
• and others

Anti-Bulling Day (@2:22)

Be Kind, Be Caring, Be Awesome Day

This year, Feb 27th was Anti-Bullying Day.  It is a day where people wear pink to stand against bullying.  I am not a big proponent of "Anti" things (I am a big believer in focusing on what we WANT vs what we DON'T want but I digress) so I prefer to refer to it as, "Be Kind, Be Caring, Be Awesome Day"!

As someone was on the receiving end of this as a child, I believe in the importance of education and spreading positive words around being more kind and caring.  

Often those young and old need the reminder of how important and IMPACTFUL, both positively and negatively, our words can be.  

I try very hard to very particular with the words I use to promote positivity in the world (and I hope you do as well)as we speak our world into existence with our words!

Feb 20th Update - Have a Business in the Foothills? Both Video Updates Below are for You!

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Have a Business in Foothills? You Will Want to Watch the Video Below

Do you have a business in Foothills County and looking for a free or low cost advertising opportunity? 

If yes, I have good news (watch the video below or CLICK HERE to find out)!

Does Your Business Tailor to Crime Prevention?

If, yes, you will want to watch the video below (If it doesn't show up, CLICK HERE). 

Okotoks Trade Show 2019 - Crime Awareness and Prevention

As I discussed in the video above, Foothills County Council discussed securing tables at the 2019 Okotoks Trade Show specifically for local businesses that tailor to crime awareness and prevention.

Dates for the event are April 12 and 13th at the Okotoks Recreation Centre.

The number of tables are extremely limited and you need to let staff know ASAP if you are interested.  If you have a business that meets that criteria, than be sure to contact, Johanna Kortenschyl-Allan at the Foothills County Office (403-603-6244).

Feb 13th Update - Plow Trucks & Burning Barrels/Fire Pits

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Foothills County Plow Trucks

With the looks of a snow storm coming over the next few days, we received some unfortunate new today as Foothills Public Works is down three plow trucks.  Staff is doing what they can to get at least one of them back up and running in the next few days but it looks as though one may be out until spring and the other will hopefully be ready sooner.

What does this mean for residents?  Obviously it may mean that the roads may not be cleared as quickly as public works and residents may like.  Staff is doing everything they can to make up for the lost equipment, but I ask for residents to have some patience over the next while until they are able to get the trucks back up and running.

As a reminder, the County has roughly 2,400 km of road that it plows and the target is to have all of them plowed within 72 hrs of the COMPLETION of a major snow event.  During that time, some routes may be cleared more than once, but the target is to have all of them done within that time frame.

Burning Barrels & Fire Pits (@1:54)

There was a request at Council today by a resident to ban ALL burning barrels and fire pits within Foothills County due to risks of fires spreading.  Council decided to keep them as we are aware that they are important to many other residents.

I would just like to remind residents that, if you have either a burning barrel or fire pit, YOU MUST STAY ON THE PREMESIS while they are burning.  DO NOT LEAVE A FIRE UNATTENDED!  

I know that we have received some more snow, so the risk is not as high as a few months ago, however, we want to be sure that we are Fire Smart and take the necessary precautions to always be fire safe!

Feb 6th Update - Illegal Trailers and Other Non-Compliant Signage, HCRCW AGM and FireSmart

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Illegal Trailer Signs & Other Non-Complaint Signage

Foothills Council had another discussion today about non-compliant signage within the County adjacent to highways and County Roads.  County Staff is reviewing the current bylaws and will be coming back to Council with an updated bylaw.  Once the bylaw is ready to present to Council, there will be a public hearing scheduled to allow for further public engagement into it.  Watch here and in the Western Wheel to be kept up to date on when the public hearing will take place.

High Country Rural Crime Watch (HCRCW) AGM (@ 1:25)

The HCRCW will be hosting their AGM on March 4th at 7pm at the Priddis Community Hall.  In addition to the AGM, they will also be having a regular meeting and will have members from the Foothills Fire Department in attendance to discuss further on the FireSmart program.

FireSmart Meeting (@ 1:56)

We have still not heard back from FireSmart Canada with a confirmed date for our meeting yet but we are still shooting for something at the Square Butte Hall at the beginning of March.  Be sure to subscribe by entering your email in the box in the top right hand corner of any page on this site to be kept up to speed when we have a finalized date.

Jan 30th Update - Property Tax Discount ends Jan 31st, Enhanced Policing, Secondary Suites and Southwest Calgary Ring Road Project traffic interruption

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Property Tax Discount Ends Jan 31st!

If you would like to save 6% on your yearly property tax bill, make sure you pay in full by Jan 31st!  Foothills County is the only municipality to my knowledge that offers this sort of discount so be sure to take advantage of it!

Can't Afford to Pay in Full and Still Want a Discount?

Even if you cannot pay in full, you can still get a 5% discount if you enroll in the TIPP program (Tax Installment Payment Program).  This is where you pay monthly towards your taxes.  For more information of the TIPP program and download the application form, CLICK HERE.

Foothills Enhanced Policing Program 

A reminder that Foothills Council extended the Enhanced Policing Program so be sure to obey all rules of the road and bylaws as there is an increased police presence out there.  For more information on the program, CLICK HERE.

Secondary Suites Receive First Reading

Foothills Council discussed Secondary Suites once again today and gave first reading to the bylaw.  There are still some tweaks to come prior to 2nd and 3rd so be sure to watch for further information if this affects you.

Traffic Interruption Highway 22X and Macleod Trail

For details on the above traffic issue, CLICK HERE for my previous post.