Kevin Hanson – Division 1
Quick Bits
I requested Transportation Services evaluate the crosswalk situation in Elbow Valley as a result of the path paving and speed limit increase; the area around Crooked Pond Green was highlighted as needing a second look with regards to safety concerns raised by residents. The Springbank ASP engagement is well underway, I again encourage residents to participate, as your voice will help shape the look and feel of Springbank for years to come.
Branch Cleanup Day Scheduled for Greater Bragg Creek
The seasonal branch program offered by the Solid Waste Services normally runs from May 1st to October 31st. Due to the extenuating circumstances of the windstorm, the Bragg Creek Transfer Site began accepting branches as of March 30th this year – one month earlier.
Additionally, I received confirmation that Transportation Services can extend the scope of their annual roadside brush clearing to include a single time program to help landowners impacted by last fall’s windstorm. To reduce hauling distances and traffic, 4 locations are contemplated close to areas with high impact: Wintergreen, Meadow View, Elk Valley, and perhaps the Community Centre parking lot. This is scheduled for Saturday May 28th, and likely running from about 9am – noon. Detailed information of what will be accepted and maps confirming the cul-de-sac locations in West Bragg and Wintergreen should be on the RVC website by end of April. Please note that both these activities are above and beyond our Provincial grant FireSmart “Chipper Days” program, which continues as usual for this year under the guidance of our Emergency Services folks.
Emergency Evacuation Exercise for Bragg Creek
With COVID restrictions easing, Rocky View was able to execute its overdue Emergency Response practice exercise. This nominally happens every 4 years, and ongoing learning from the varied mock emergencies around the County help refine our disaster and emergency response plans. It also helps test interagency coordination. This year’s scenario involved the Bragg Creek environs.
Overall objectives were:
- Familiarize participants with the Emergency Coordination Centre & Incident Command Post set-up
- Familiarize participants with their roles during an emergency operation
- Exercise the Rocky View County Regional Emergency Plan
- Exercise the County’s Evacuation & Public Notification Plans
- Work collaboratively with the Unified Incident Command Post, key stakeholders, and agencies
Although Council is only involved in the periphery of disaster response, our role in emergency management was also exercised the morning of April 21st. Council met and was updated with the scenario – out of control prescribed burn on Moose Mountain now heading for West Bragg Creek. We were informed of the Emergency Command Centre set up at the County Hall, the Incident Command Post at the Bragg Creek Community Centre, and the Evacuation Centre at the Springbank Park for All Seasons.
A local state of emergency was declared and signed by Mayor Kochan, and the estimated costs of the Rocky View evacuation efforts were provided for Council information. A schedule for situational and budgetary updates was established. The exercise wound down by noon, and debriefing was scheduled for the afternoon. A report will be coming to Council summarizing our performance and learnings. Of note is that record keeping is an important component that assists in RVC’s disaster relief claims than can stretch for years after an actual event – as discovered in the 2013 floods.
Seeing first-hand the well-coordinated hub of activity in the ECC certainly made me proud to watch our staff in action.
Council Team Building Planned
Council has engaged a governance and team building consultant to help ready us for the onboarding of new CAO – Dorian Wandzura. A Council-only session is scheduled prior to his arrival, and a second session including Dorian has been scheduled a month later. This ensures a smooth transition and set us up nicely for next steps of strategic planning that will involve Council, the CAO, and Executive Leadership Team.
Please e-mail me if you would like to be added to my contact list for e-mail and online communications Kevin.Hanson@RockyView.ca or call 403.463.1166.
