Updates from Division One
I hope everyone had a wonderful summer. As for myself, as evidenced by last month’s photo review, it was busy and fun. There’s never a shortage of things to do, good or bad, as your councillor. Thankfully, most of it has been good. Thanks to everyone for being so understanding and patient with myself, my colleagues and administration/staff. We are collectively working harder to make Rocky View the envy of every municipality in Canada.
It’s hard to believe that at the time ofthis writing we’re finally experiencinga stretch of sun and warmth that resembles summer: a stretch of sunand heat, smores by the fire andincessant scratching of mosquito bites. Although this summer’s weather pattern didn’t provide enough of this so far, there is still hope as summer doesn’t end until the 23rd. If there’s a sunny side to this, at least we didn’t get inundated with smoke from wildfires as we saw in previous summers. I’ll breathe to that.
A FireSmart update
I want to thank the residents who made the effort and took the time to take advantage of the second Rocky View County Chipper Days held on the weekend of August 11th and 12th at the Bragg Creek Water Plant. We took in twice the amount of pick-up/trailer loads over the inaugural event held back in September. That’s over 85 loads equating to about 4000 pounds (1800+ kilograms) of green waste.
I also want to thank those who made this possible: the volunteer FS Committee, volunteer Fire Services members from all over RVC (Redwood Meadows, Bearspaw, Elbow Valley and Langdon) and the volunteer residents who came out to lend a hand. They worked tirelessly throughout the weekend in the pouring rain and cold to make this a huge success. Their efforts deserve a huge round of applause (insert sound effect here). Let’s make the next one even better. Please keep your ears and eyes open for the announcement of the next Chipper Days event planned for this month. Again, keep FireSmart on the top of your ‘to-do’ list. Just because things are cooling down doesn’t mean you should when it comes to FireSmarting your property.
Moving on. Or not.
I am talking about the intersection at the convergence of Highway 22, Highway 758 (White Avenue which is under provincial jurisdiction) and Balsam Avenue. As far as what I
have been told by Senior Leadership at RVC, we are awaiting for our Transportation Minister, Ric McIver’s response to RVC’s letter requesting that the Province maintain the previous Government’s commitment to fund the project and complete the upgrade with RVC funding 25% of the project. Let’s hope that the conversation continues between all government levels and our Tsuut’ina neighbours.
Flood Mitigation
With all land acquisitions complete we hope to see construction begin shortly. As winter approaches, RVC will get moving on this so that little time is wasted in moving forward for infrastructure that this area is in dire need of. It has taken many years of conversations and negotiating to get to this step, let’s just get the flood mitigation built and move forward. Enough already.
A Pipeline just west of Hwy 22
If you’ve noticed the pipeline construction activity just north of the Highway 8 traffic circle on Highway 22 along Township Road 242, you’re not paying attention to the road. Eyes forward.
The West Path Delivery Project is part of Nova Gas Transmission’s (a wholly owned subsidiary of Trans Canada Pipelines Ltd) expansion project whereby they will be constructing 22.5km of new pipeline along with related infrastructure between Cochrane and lands just west of Hwy 22 in Division 1. For full details, Google “NOVA Gas Transmission West Delivery Project”.
More Road Construction
Finally, when our traffic issues seem to become more and more of a discussion point we have to remember, we do not have the luxury of year round construction opportunities. We have to pave while the ground is hot.
You’ve been seeing and experiencing the reorganization of the cloverleaf at the intersection of Highway 22 and Highway 1 being conducted by Alberta Transportation. This is being done in the name of safety. I’m sure many of you have experienced the ‘near misses’ not to mention having heard of deaths that have occurred in that vicinity. Please make sure you adhere to the warning signs, posted speed limits and traffic controllers as you make your way trough there. Have patience, respect the workers and drive safe.
Again, thanks for your time and please feel free to chat me up anytime. Follow me on Facebook @Mark AdSamurai Kamachi or Councillor Mark Kamachi, Instagram and Twitter.
Drive safe. And smile.
— Cheers, Mark
checkMarkk.ca
mkamachi@rockyview.ca
