County council briefs: Regional emergency plan formalized

Red Deer County council formalized an important partnership Tuesday with six neighbouring communities.

The agreement merges all seven municipalities’ MEPs (Municipal Emergency Plans) into one document. The group includes Delburne, Elnora, Bowden, Innisfail, Penhold and Sylvan Lake.

Though such a partnership allows for a more seamless response to natural disasters, Assistant County Manager Ric Henderson says they’ve already been functioning this way for quite some time.

“We have a regional fire service [and] really we’ve always been working with all those urbans to help them. If something happens in Delburne, it’s going to affect the county as well,” he says.

Henderson adds the partnership has also opened the door for funding from the province to the tune of $40,000 to create a Regional Incident Management Team.

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“Basically, we’re going to take the best of the best from each of our municipalities and come together as a team. We all suffer the same risks, so working together only makes sense.”

The partnership is contingent on all seven councils adopting a resolution.

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Council voted on Tuesday to introduce business licenses in Red Deer County.

The move is seen as a way to gather information on businesses for economic development efforts.

License fees range from $25 to $120 depending on the type of business while Ag-based businesses are exempt. 

Businesses have until the end of the year to purchase their license.

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The county is chipping in to help Delburne address its medical care needs.

Council approved a $40,000 contribution towards a medical clinic scheduled to open September 1.

Division 1 councillor Philip Massier says the village doesn’t currently have a clinic, meaning the approximately 700 residents are left to travel to Stettler, Three Hills and Red Deer for treatment.

“When we heard that a doctor wanted to bring a practice to Delburne, we felt it could be an opportunity to have a family doctor again,” he says. “He has privileges at the [Red Deer] hospital, in case he has to forward you.”

The $40,000 is half of a forgiveable $80,000 loan, which must be paid back if the doctor doesn’t meet the agreed upon terms of the five-year deal.

They include being open no less than two days a week and 46 weeks a year. Massier says he’s heard from the doctor that he will be open two days a week to start with the hopes of bringing on another doctor and moving to five days per week.

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Council also gave first reading to a bylaw amendment which could lead to a new gun range opening in Springbrook.

The facility is located within the existing multiplex and was formerly used by the Canadian Armed Forces.

The current owner is looking to reopen the range to youth programs, provincial sheriffs, RCMP, armour truck guards, Fish and Wildlife officers, and Fish and Game members.

The applicant also indicated to council that the gun range was designed and built by the federal government and previously passed all inspections, though it would need to pass another fire inspection if given the go-ahead.

A public hearing is scheduled for June 20.

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The Municipal Planning Commission approved the subdivision of a 9.73 hectare (24.03 acre) parcel into 86 residential lots.

The parcel for the Liberty Landing development is located in Gasoline Alley West.

The subdivision is just the first phase of a six-phase plan to increase the number of people living in that area.

There are currently around 800 residents there, with phase one set to elevate that number by about 25 per cent, according to Dave Dittrick, Director of Planning and Development.

He adds that each phase will take about two years to complete.

The developer is Calgary-based Lamont Land Inc.