September 25, 2017 MPC/Council Meeting Agendas

To view the agendas for the September 25, 2017 Municipal Planning Commission and Cardston County Council Meeting, please click here and here.

Recycling Roundup

Cardston County is holding a recycling roundup on September 21st at the County's main yard from 1:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M.

Please see the following list of recyclable materials:

- wood stains, glues, thinners and solvents

- degreasers

- laundry detergents, bleach, oven cleaners and spot removers

- waste acids, rust removers, drain and toilet cleaners and pool chemicals

- household herbicides, pesticides and lawn fertilizers

- oil and oil filters

- car and household batteries, fluorescent light bulbs and tubes

- aerosol containers, household propane tanks (max 30lbs)

- materials containing heavy metals such as mercury, lead or cadmium

- electronics (TVs, computers and computer equipment, stereos, etc.)

Official Nomination List

To view the official nomination list for the upcoming municipal election, please click here. If you have any questions, please contact the County Administration Building at (403) 653-4977.

Cardston County

Contact Information

Cardston County would like to thank everyone for their assistance over the previous several days. If you require assistance, please see the following contacts:

Cardston County Administration Building: (403) 653-4977 (Mon-Fri 8:30 A.M. - 4:30 P.M.)

Cardston County Cell Phone: (403) 915-6658

Cardston County Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/cardstoncounty

Cardston County

Sign In Center Locations

For those who have not signed in and received their re-entry information packages, please note that the sign in center locations at the Barn Store and HWY 5 & HWY 800 intersection will be closed at 4:00 P.M. The County Administration Building will remain open until 6:00 P.M.

Cardston County

Re-Entry Update

Due to changing conditions that have reduced the potential risks to evacuees, Cardston County is rescinding the evacuation order as of 12:00 P.M. on September 14th, 2017. Please note that while the evacuation order has been rescinded, the State of Local Emergency remains in effect.

We understand that the previous several days have caused considerable inconvenience to all involved, and we wish to make it clear that the decision to maintain the evacuation order until this period in time was a decision that was based solely on public safety. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter, Cardston County greatly appreciates everyone's patience and assistance.

Returning to your home after this volatile period will be a difficult endeavour, both emotionally and logistically. Foreseeing this, the Emergency Operations Center, in conjunction with supporting agencies, have developed an information package to ensure safe and efficient re-entry for all evacuees. Included within the information package is safety information from Alberta Health Services, as well as utilities information from local service providers.

To gain re-entry, please visit us at either the Cardston County Administration Building, or at the Barn Store, located in Mountain View. Additionally, we will have a County truck located at the intersection of Highway 5 and Highway 800 until 4:00 P.M. Those returning will be required to sign in and confirm that they have received an information package. Please note that there is the potential for a delay in accessing the Chief Mountain Border Highway.

If you have any questions, please call the Cardston County Administraiton Building at (403) 653-4977, or reach out to us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cardstoncounty

Cardston County

Evacuation Update

Given the recent situation of wildfires and evacuations in southwestern Alberta, Cardston County will be maintaining the evacuation order issued on the night of September 11th.

While the fire does not currently pose an immediate threat, there remains the potential for risks. Additionally, residences in the area currently do not have access to full utilities, further increasing the potential for risks. We understand that this decision may cause disappointment. We wish for people to return to their homes, but we do not want this to occur until it is safe for everyone.

We appreciate the cooperation of landowners and all residents within the County during this extraordinary and volatile period. Cardston County continues to work with all stakeholders to ensrue that all services are restored and that the appropriate mechanisms are in place for all evacuated residents to return home safely.

Cardston County will continue to provide updates as soon as they are received. Please continue to monitor the situation by visiting the County webpage and www.facebook.com/cardstoncounty

Cardston County

Entry Permits

Cardston County is issuing Entry Permits for individuals who have evacuated their residences in the evacuation zone. Entry Permits are for the purpose of landowners checking in on livestock and pets. With public safety being our number one priority, please note that a time restriction will be placed on the duration of entries.

Entry Permits are available at the County Administration Building, located at 1050 Main Street in the Town of Cardston. For more information, please call (403) 653-4977, or reach out to us on our Facebook page: facebook.com/cardstoncounty

Cardston County

Mandatory Evacuation Update

The mandatory evacuation order and evacuation area in Cardston County remain in effect and will be reassessed in the next twenty-four hours. Therefore, all evacuees will not be permitted to return to their residences until further notice.

To be clear, the evacuation area remains unchanged at this point in time.

Cardston County

Fire Update: Frequently Asked Questions

Cardston County has developed a list of Frequently Asked Questions in an effort to provide answers to the questions we have most commonly received over the previous several days.

1) How can I help?: Cardston County is grateful for the overwhelming outpour of supprt. We have established a list of equipment and volunteer personnel and will be calling on this list as needed. In terms of donations, we are currently not accepting food or donations of any kind, but once again appreciate the overhwelming support. If you have any further questions, or wish to be on the list, please contact us at the County Office at (403) 653-4977, or reach out to us on Facebook.

2) When can I re-enter the evacuated area?: Re-entry will occur once an assessment is made for safe re-entry into the affected area. A re-entry plan is currently being developed.

3) Is the County shutting off utilities?: No. While we are currently coordinating with ATCO and Chief Mountain Gas, the County is currently not shutting off individual residences.

4) Why haven't we received an update?: We are working diligently to provide updates as soon as they are received. Please monitor all channels of information (Facebook, County website and County Office).

5) Is the Town of Cardston being evacuated?: No. The current evacuation zone has been unchanged since the statement of local emergency, which occurred last night.

6) Where is the fire?: Please click here for the most recent map of the fire. We will continue to update the map as soon as updates are received.

Once again, please be sure to monitor all channels of information (Facebook, County website and County Office). If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us on Facebook or by calling the County Office at (403) 653-4977.

For media enquiries, please contact the County Office at (403) 653-4977 and request to speak with:

Josh Bourelle, Director of Planning Services or;

Joseph Hutter, Communications Clerk

Reliable Sources of Information

Cardston County would like to address the issue of the spreading of misinformation related to the current fire situation. Spreading misinformation negatively affects everyone involved, and greatly hinders our ability to deliver information to those affected.

If you are in doubt, please refrain from relying on "word of mouth" sources of information and contact the appropriate authorities for current and reliable information.

In addition to our page, for current and reliable information, please visit the following pages:

http://www.emergencyalert.alberta.ca/

https://mdpinchercreek.ab.ca/

http://bloodtribe.org/news

Once again, you can direct any questions to the County Administration Building at (403) 653-4977 or send us a message on our Facebook page.

Cardston County

Fire Update

Cardston County's emergency personnel are continuing to monitor the wildfire and updates will be provided as soon as they are received.

Please note that the reception center is now located at the County Administration Building, located at 1050 Main Street in Cardston. To reach the Administration Building, please call 403-653-4977.

Cardston County

Mandatory Evacuation

Cardston County has declared a local state of emergency with a mandatory evacuation in place between Waterton Lakes National Park and Highway 800, and from the United States border to Township Road 40. We ask that any evacuees check in with the County Administration Building. To reach the Administration Building, please call 403-653-4977. To view a map of the affected evacuation area, please click here.

Cardston County

Alberta Emergency Management Agency (AEMA) Notification

Cardston County has been notified by the Alberta Emergency Management Agency (AEMA) that given the unpredictable nature of wildfires, anyone with livestock grazing near the Waterton Lakes National Park boundaries could be proactive now and move their livestock, if they have the ability to do so.

Please note that this is not a directive, but rather an encouragement to be proactive in mitigating risks to their livestock.

Josh Bourelle, Director of Planning Services - Cardston County

Mountain View Transfer Station

Beginning on September 16th, 2017, the Mountain View Transfer Station WILL NOT be open on Wednesdays.

Thereafter, the Transfer Station hours will be Saturdays from 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the County Office at 403-653-4977.

"Ready for Her"

The provincial government has released "Ready for Her" - A Guide for Women Running for Municipal Office.

The guide provides information to women interested in running for municipal office, regarding: roles and responsibilities, qualifications, nominations and campaigning and fundraising.

To view the "Ready for Her" guide, please click here.

Prospective Candidate Training

The Society of Local Government Managers (SLGM), in collaboration with Municipal Affairs, is offering free candidate training for those individuals interested in seeking public office at either the municipal or school board level. 

Training will take place in Lethbridge on Monday, September 11th from 7 P.M. - 10 P.M. at the lower level of The Keg restaurant located at 1621 3rd Avenue South.

For more information, please click here.

Recycling Roundup

Cardston County is holding a Recycling Roundup at the Cardston County Main Yard on September 21st, 2017 from 1:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. For more information, please click here.

Gravel Week

Riverside Pit - Glenwood - August 22nd

Kennard Pit - Beazer/Police Lake - August 23rd

Bevans Pit - Kimball - August 24th

Nelson Pit - Del Bonita - August 25th

The price this year will be $10.00 per yard. If you are interested in purchasing gravel from the County, you will need to visit the Administration Office to pick up a purchase order prior to receiving any gravel. You will then be required to bring your purchase order to the pit when you arrive to pick up your gravel. Please be aware that if you plan to pick up gravel yourself, you will be required to wear a high visibility safety vest while in the pit area.

Note: The Mountain View Pit is currently crushing, but does not have aggregate available at this time.

Garbage Disposal in Town of Cardston Commercial Dumpsters

Cardston County requests that County residents do not dispose garbage in the Town of Cardston's commercial dumpsters. While we understand that the current fire ban has increased the difficulty of garbage disposal for County residents, the Town's dumpsters are becoming overwhelmed. Please take all garbage directly to your nearest transfer station during operating hours.

Additionally, the Town's burning pile is currently closed, so please hold those materials for the time being.

Thank you,

Cardston County Administration

Fire Ban Issued in Waterton Lakes National Park

Please note the following restrictions in Waterton Lakes National Park: The fire ban prohibits ALL OPEN FIRES EXCEPT FOR:

• portable propane fire pits
• gas or propane stoves and barbeques designed for cooking or heating
• propane or gas fuelled lanterns (enclosed flame)
• patio heaters (propane, catalytic or infrared/radiant)

The fire ban covers the entire national park, including all front and back country campgrounds and day use areas. The ban also includes  the Waterton townsite.

For more information, please visit: http://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/scond/index_e.asp

Fire Ban Issued in Cardston County

A fire ban is now in effect in Cardston County.

• All permits are now cancelled until further notice.
• No open flames allowed, except in the following conditions:
  • Cooking or heating appliances fuelled by fluids or gas, i.e. propane fuelled fire pits

For more information, please visit: https://albertafirebans.ca/

2017 Taxes and Assessments

Southern AB Youth Range Days

The Southern Alberta Youth Range Days (YRDs) program is an interactive event for youth and families interested in learning about working agricultural landscapes critical to environmental sustainability.

Registration is $75 per participant and the deadline is July 1, 2017. You can find registration contact information on the event brochure or poster.

The three day camp highlights learning about local wildlife, working ranches, plant identification, range health field sessions, and riparian health. The third day is geared towards putting the pieces together, understanding interconnections of resources on a watershed scale.

Request for Proposals

We are currently accepting proposals for professional engineering services for a regional water study in the Mountain View area. You can find the full Request for Proposals document here.

Address Changes

In order to keep our municipal records consistent with those officially filed at the Government of Alberta's Land Titles Office, residents looking to change or update their address with the County will now have to make those changes through the Land Titles Office.

We will no longer be making address changes without receiving the changes officially through the Land Titles Office. You can find the Notice of Change of Address form here.

2017 Gravel Days

Gravel will be available for purchase from the County from June 5-9th, 2017 and August 21-25th, 2017. The price this year will be $10.00 per yard. If you are interested in purchasing gravel during the week of June 5-9th, 2017, our gravel pit availability will be the following:

✔Monday: Bevans Pit (Kimball)
✔Tuesday: Kenard Pit (Boundary Creek)
✔Wednesday: Nelson Pit (Del Bonita)

If you are interested in purchasing gravel from the County this year, you will need to come down to our office and pick up a purchase order prior to receiving any gravel. You will need to bring the purchase order with you to the pit when you arrive to pick up your gravel.

Availability for specific pits will be determined closer to the gravel weeks. If you have received a purchase order from the County, we will contact you to let you know the date and times for loading at each pit.

Please be aware that if you are planning to pick up gravel yourself, we ask that you wear a high visibility safety vest while in the pit area as it is required for safety concerns.

Equipment Economics Workshop

Recreation Committee Nominations

We are currently accepting nominations for the County's newly-formed Recreation Committee. The committee will advise and make recommendations to Council on recreation issues in the County.

If you are interested, you can find the full posting and application instructions here. We would also appreciate it if you would forward this to anyone you know who may be interested.

Presenting at a Council Meeting

If you would like to make a presentation to Council or appear as a delegation at one of our Council Meetings, please complete the Council Presentation Form and submit it to us by email, fax, or in person. We will try to schedule your presentation during the next Council Meeting.

If you would like request a donation from Cardston County for your community organization or event, please read our Community Donations Policy and complete the Donation Request Form and submit it to us by email, fax, or in person.