Barb Castell – Division 3
Wow, February already!
You may wonder if some of the news I report to you seems to be missing. It is definitely tricky because as I write this, it is January 15, 2023, the deadline for High Country News and will be published for February 1st distribution.
If you want me to advise residents of an upcoming event in Division 3, you must have it to me by the 15th of the month before the event.
Winter Roads Surfaces in Foothills County
Foothills County’s Public Works is extremely busy all winter alleviating the icy conditions. However, it is still winter, and we all must drive to road conditions. Take extra precautions at intersections and watch for regulatory signs such as chevrons, slow down, hidden intersection, etc. Posted speed limits are for ideal road conditions only.
Some of you have asked me about how the county maintains the different road surfaces in winter.
The MRO/dust controlled road surfaces are maintained with ploughs and sander trucks because they have a smooth hard- sealed surface. The same outcome cannot be achieved with a grader without causing damage to the surfaces. Plough trucks have less control over their ploughs than a grader does with its cutting edge/blade so they stick to the hard surfaced roads. Graders are used to lightly plough hard surface roads and wing snow back.
Gravel surfaces roads are maintained by graders in the winter and the operator will plow snow off when there is a large accumulation leaving some snow behind to try to limit gravel lose. They cannot apply de-icing material to grave roads because it migrates into the road sub-grade and when this happens it can cause roads to become very soft which can lead to worse safety issues and costly repairs. As well, when there is freeze/thaw weather it creates icy conditions throughout the County. Operators are constantly revisiting problem areas and will then cut the ice trying to pick up some surface stones to bend into the loosened material to help provide traction for vehicles.
West Foothills Water Treatment Plant
For those of you who use the Fish Creek Water Treatment Plant off Highway 762, please note the name change as of January 2023. It will now operate under the name: West Foothills Water Treatment Plant.
Tax Reimbursement Programme
Municipalities send out property assessment and municipal tax notices annually to registered property owners. Due to ongoing delays with Land Titles document registration processing times, recent ownership and mailing address changes may not be reflected on municipal property tax notices. Albertans who recently purchased a property may not have received a tax notice from their municipality.
If you recently purchased a property, did not receive a tax notification from your municipality, and paid a late payment penalty due to non-payment, you may be eligible for reimbursement of your late payment penalty from the Government of Alberta.
For more information go to: www.foothillscountyab.ca/news/government-alberta-property-tax-penalty-reimbursement-program
Foothills County Historical Committee
The Committee met at the Museum of the Highwood and although I have had the tour before, it was great to get an update on what is new at the museum. We saw a slide presentation of what happened to the Museum during the 2013 flood, which was hard to watch. The Museum staff are busy archiving thousands of pictures and documents which is very time consuming. They have devised a strategy going forward should another flood hit High River. They have the most valuable and irreplaceable items in the same room with a plan on how to get them out in a timely way. The Committee saw pictures of the new storage facility where staff can work on new items, sort, store, and organize.
Millarville Stockland 4H Public Speaking
I always look forward to judging the Junior 4H Public Speaking, which will be held on Sunday, February 5. The Juniors are my favourite group and provide great entertainment.
Important Dates
Valentine’s Day Tuesday, February 14 Family Day Monday, February 20
Teachers Convention Tuesday, February 21 and Wednesday, February 22
Looking forward to Spring!
Barb Castell
Phone: 403-931-3690
E-Mail: barb.castell@foothillscountyab.ca
Website: www.barbcastell.com
FaceBook: facebook.com/barbcastell.ca
