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Year in review for Ponoka County

With the end of 2012, Ponoka County officials can look back at numerous accomplishments they’ve made over the last year.

With the end of 2012, Ponoka County officials can look back at numerous accomplishments they’ve made over the last year.

According to county CAO Charlie Cutforth, one of the biggest projects completed this year was the Internet tower program. Changes were made to the program after the two major towers were installed, and due to topography, some residents were still without access.

Reeve Gordon Svenningsen says it’s trees blocking the access but only five per cent of the county is without access provided by the towers. “It’s an issue in odd little spots. People are still working on it.”

Twelve smaller towers were constructed throughout the county to cover the isolated areas the main towers couldn’t. Cutforth said the extra towers cost approximately $300,000. “And we received a $150,000 grant from the Final Mile Program … to support that.”

“We have the best coverage for rural residents in Alberta,” added Cutforth, referring to information he received from the county’s providers.

Other projects Cutforth is proud of is the county’s participation in the Ponoka Splash Park, as well as improvements and upgrading at Gull Lake’s Parkland Beach.

Some of the capital projects finished in 2012 include the five-mile construction project at Range Road 284 and Township Road 420, a four-mile project on Range Road 30 and three miles completed on Iola Road. Twenty-nine miles of existing road was upgraded and seven miles of road surface was chip sealed.

“All the road projects for 2012 were completed and came in within the budget’s numbers,” said Svenningsen. Based on preliminary numbers he feels there will also be a moderate surplus for the new year.

Development permits and subdivision applications also kept county staff busy. “To date, development permits issued stand at 175. Very similar to the previous year,” said Cutforth. There were 68 subdivision applications, up from 2011.

Ponoka County also worked to overcome challenges as 2012 progressed. “Our challenge is to provide the best level of service we can with the lowest taxes. That’s our philosophy and we’re committed to maintain that,” said Cutforth.

“No decision that’s made satisfied or pleases everybody,” he added.

Another challenge was dealing with the conflicting interests between development and rural and agricultural areas. “In the Parkland region we are a target for development and sometimes these developments aren’t compatible,” said Cutforth.

Svenningsen says the biggest challenge can in the way of construction. “When you’re in construction it’s always a problem with the weatherman when he doesn’t co-operate.”

Another challenge was the overpass on the Queen Elizabeth Highway not going ahead as planned. “Transportation has taken quite a hit with the provincial government.”

Svenningsen hopes the money will be given for the project but it doesn’t look promising. “I think it would be an asset for both the county and the Town of Ponoka. We’ll just have to stay tuned.”

Cutforth expects taxation in 2013 to be similar to 2012. “It’s certainly not our intention to increase taxes.”

Part of the strong tax base comes from the prominence of oil and gas industry in the community. However, oil and gas is also another challenge for the county. It puts pressure on the road system and affects the residents.

For the 2013 budget, Cutforth says the capital and maintenance programs will remain the same. The county is also set to receive a $2.8 million MSI (Municipal Sustainability Initiative) grant.

“To that end we’re incorporating budgets and working that money in,” said Svenningsen.

For the new year, a capital works program will also be laid out, with $2.5 million going to pave a road from the Bluffton landfill to Highway 20.

The county council has also committed $1.5 to the Rimbey Ag Society project. The council will also remain involved with the Calnash Ag Event Centre. “It’s continuing to progress. The success of it to date is tremendous,” said Cutforth.

Cutforth said the county plans to construct a $400,000 shop to house graders and snow removal equipment in Crestomere.

October 2013 is also election time for the council and with the change from to four-year terms, Svenningsen said council would be a bigger commitment. “I foresee, on county council, some that will retire. Come July or August that decision will have to be made by all of us.”