Suzanne Oel – Division 4
Greetings! Sharing my News Update…
FireSmart: It’s the time of year to get the “wildfire” topic on the radar. With a few fires having occurred in 2022, even by lightning strike already, this is a reminder to consider some FireSmart actions on your property. Doing a little bit of work each year makes the job less overwhelming. For suggestions on preparing your property, please visit: firesmartcanada.ca/homeowners/
Road Safety: The northwest area of Foothills County is nicknamed the “Italy of Alberta” by some touring groups. Starting in May, a lot more visitors and types of warm-weather activities will increase the road-use pressure on highways and County roads. Whether we encounter a slow-moving agriculture vehicle, a cyclist, a tourist or a local horse-rider, we should consider a slower pace and taking an extra dose of patience. In recent days, I have received a number of complaints about speeding, with requests to post “slow down” messages. The County will be deploying our speed trailer sign to remind travellers about safety. Please let me know if you would like this trailer to be located in your neighbourhood for a few days over the summer months. Additionally, we have been recommending to event-planners that events be located throughout the County, versus jamming the roads in the northwest corner of the County every day and weekend of the summer. Other parts of the County are beautiful and suitable for events, also. We hope that reducing event traffic volumes may reduce some conflict.
Spruce Budworm Treatment Cautions: In 2021, residents expressed concerns about an infestation of spruce budworm. Foothills County hosted a workshop and then posted information on our website. We are monitoring the situation with our neighbouring municipalities and the Province, and offer to provide advice to our residents. If you are considering the use of insecticide intervention, please be aware that there could be collateral issues. Treatment with BTK, a bacterial insecticide, could be ineffective if not used at the correct developmental stage of the spruce budworm, plus it will kill other native moths and butterflies. Other domestic use products could pose a serious risk to the environment and may damage the trees being treated. Broad-spectrum synthetic insecticide use is strongly discouraged due to the high risk this poses to human and ecological health. Any applications must be contained to your property only. Any applications or drifting of sprays onto neighbouring properties, without written consent, is a violation of the pesticide label, provincial, federal and civil laws. Due to the seriousness of applying insecticides, please check the details on the product label and on our website, which includes more about insecticides, complaint- reporting, alternatives to insecticide use and contact info for our Agricultural Services Department. Please visit: www.foothillscountyab.ca/services/agricultural-services/spruce-bud-worm.html
What’s UP with CMRB? The Municipal Affairs Minister delivered news to the 10 Calgary Metropolitan Region Board municipalities regarding the Regional Growth and Serving Plans that were approved by some of the members in May 2021. These plans had been under review since that board approval. We have been very concerned with this plan as it takes away our ability to develop reasonable employment and residential areas without the approval of the regional board. In a public statement on March 29, 2022, the Minister and department noted they are considering allowing both Strathmore and Wheatland County to exit the mandated board and the plan. We certainly would have liked to receive that same news! Some proposed growth plan amendments are up for discussion right now, as noted on the agenda, closed- session item #6, of the April CMRB Land Use and Servicing Committee. Perhaps by the next edition of the HCN, I’ll be able to share with you what is in store for Foothills County.
This Survey is NOT from Foothills County: You may have received Calgary’s “My Travel Log” survey in the mail. The City authors are requesting that targeted Foothills residents log into their website (mytravellog.ca) and disclose all kinds of personal information. This survey IS NOT from Foothills County. Do NOT feel obligated to do this invasive survey. Beware of this attempt to access your personal information. On their “My Travel Log” mailout, they state: “Our goal is to better plan for future improvements in YOUR community.” Several residents have contacted me about this over-reach and wonder what is going on here. What is the City of Calgary up to? With our continued mistrust of CMRB motives, we certainly want to get to the bottom of this. Foothills County will be bringing this up at our next Intermunicipal Committee Meeting with the City of Calgary and we have already asked that they discontinue sending this survey out to Foothills residents.
For Other News & Updates:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CouncillorSuzanneOel/
Email: Suzanne.Oel@FoothillsCountyAB.ca
With Best Regards, Suzanne
