Wetlands to be restored
Posted 5 months ago
With the help of Olds College, West Creek Developments has big plans for rehabilitating some wetlands in Strathmore.
Don McLeod with Westcreek met with council at their regular council meeting on Sept. 2, and explained what they have in store for the lands just east of Wheatland Trail.
“They’re all very low quality wetlands,” said Mcleod. “They have been silted up due to the storm water that drains into them. Our goal is to enhance them so they’re sustainable for a long period of time.”
The restoration of these lands will be done in partnership with Olds College, said Mcleod and promises to be a very thorough job.
“I find it very exciting and I am extremely happy about what we’re about to do,” said Councillor Earl Best, who was strongly in favor of seeing the wetlands restored to a more natural state.
“My big thing is there will be no residential development there,” said Mayor George Lattery.
McLeod said there is $750,000 invested in their project.
“This park will stand the test of time for the wildlife and the water,” said Mcleod.
Aquatic Centre expansion
The application for development on the Aquatic Centre property was received by council, who approved the standard conditions for the work expected to start Oct. 20 this year.
“I am so grateful to see this happen,” said Councillor Best. “I am very excited about it.”
The development will not affect present parking, and landscaping will either be removed and replaced or unaffected by the construction.
--- Census numbers are in ---
The official count has been done, and Strathmore has a population of 11,838 for 2009.
--- A little over budget ---
The Canada Day celebration numbers have come in, and the town was $2,176.61 over budget. Councillor Bob Sobol said he had looked at the numbers, and due to an unexpected purchase and repair of a tent, they had spent an extra $6,000 this year, so the actual event was under budget.
“I though Canada Day was very well put forward this year and I applaud everyone who worked towards that,” said Councillor Best.
The Dressing room floor replacement project at the Family Centre was $1,692 over budget when it was completed in May of this year. Councillor Walls moved to accept the extra expenditure with funds to come from the Family Centre Reserve.
A quote for the annual Unidirectional Flushing Project which EPCOR does for the town each year was received by council, which was $3,228.30 over the amount EPCOR quoted the town earlier in the year. Councillor Lois Wegener said she was opposed to agreeing to go over budget before the work has been done, and asked that it be sent back to EPCOR until they are able to come in within what they initially quoted, which is $35,000.
