NEWS of the Red Deer Region - May 1-16, 2006

 
News of the Red Deer Region
snippets and summaries of news reports from local media (primarily Red Deer Advocate and Red Deer Express)
May 2006 Part 1

May 16, 2006
Henday Water Line Twinning Proposed
Mountain View County is recommending to the provincial government that $35 million of funding is needed to twin the existing 35 km. regional water line from the Anthony Henday Water Treatment Plant near Innisfail to Olds. The 29-year-old pipeline currently takes water to Innisfail, Bowden, Olds, Didsbury, Carstairs and Crossfield. Other communities are interested in hooking into the project including Red Deer County, Mountain View County, Cremona and Sundre. Meanwhile Red Deer County is looking at a regional line that would serve Sylvan Lake, Penhold, Springbrook and Gasoline Alley that could eventually tie in to the Mountain View system.
Planning Commission Approves First Two Projects at Red Deer College
The first two additions of Stage One of a multi-million dollar three-stage expansion project at Red Deer College got approval by the Red Deer Municipal Planning Commission Monday. Work on a welder/steam fitter and pipe fitter wing on the south side and an automotive service technician wing on the east should start in July. The next expected project is the main building of Phase One that could get started by fall. It includes the Trades and Technology, Innovation in Manufacturing, Business Enterprise and Visual Arts centres. Future stages include a Regional Sports and Wellness Centre and the Centre for Health Education.
Collicutt Energy Expands to Rimbey
Red Deer based Collicutt Energy Services has recently purchased two properties in Rimbey including a 22,000 sq. ft. building on 5.4 acres formerly used by the electronics recycler Maxus Technology and a 6,800 sq. ft. shop on a one acre site formerly occupied by Edmonton-based Fieldco. It represents the 12th service location of the company that manufactures natural gas and oilfield production equipment.

May 15, 2006
AMA Red Deer Office Makes Partial Move
The Red Deer branch of the Alberta Motor Association moved most of its services into its new location at Southpointe Common today except for its registry services and some insurance services which will temporarily remain at its Bremner Avenue location. The old location has been sold but its new owner will allow those services to stay until the final move can be completed. The new location is in the former Saan Store building.

May 12, 2006
Province to Protect Water in Coalbed Methane Policies
Most of the recommendations provided by a coalbed methane advisory committee were accepted by the provincial government Thursday. New policies will focus on protecting aquifers including ensuring mandatory baseline water testing and improving scientific knowledge on Alberta's water resources. Other areas addressed included surface and air impacts, royalties, tenure, industry best practices and broader energy sector issues.
Innisfail Launches Wild Mile
New signs are now being erected on lamp posts along Highway 2A in Innisfail introducing the area as the 'Wild Mile'. The sign campaign is designed to help attract business, develop a stretch of service centres and advance town planning. Of 74 signs planned, 10 are now up. Other improvements to the roadway and the nearby interchanges with Highway 2 are planned for the future. The area includes Discovery Wildlife Park, Innisfail Auction Mart, two hotels, three shopping centres, a car dealership, truck and trailer sales and rentals as well as other businesses. Many other Innisfail businesses not located in the immediate area are also involved in the campaign.
Project Encourages Stories from Recent Arrivals to Central Alberta
Newcomers from around the world who now call Central Alberta home are encouraged to tell their stories for future generations to appreciate in a new project called 'Starting Anew'. The project is being co-ordinated by the Central Alberta Regional Museums Network but involves several organizations including the Central Alberta Diversity Association, the Central Alberta Refugee Effort and the Central Alberta Historical Society as well as a number of regional museums. The project will eventually be housed at the Red Deer and District Museum and Archives. A website is being developed and a book-style compilation may also be produced.
Sundre Area Plans for New Development
Mountain View County and the Town of Sundre are embarking on the Southeast Sundre Area Structure Plan to plan and co-ordinate new development in an eight section area overlooking the town. Last year's flooding of Bearberry Creek, which flows into the Red Deer River, has prompted a careful look at development, especially drainage issues on and near the escarpment. The area could also eventually be annexed by the town.
Benalto Workshop Prepares for Growth
Red Deer County has targeted the hamlet of Benalto for future development and has initiated a three-day workshop for area residents to get involved in the planning process. About 40 people attended the first session. The hamlet's location close to Highway 11, which will one day become a four-lane expressway, make it an ideal spot for growth. The input from the workshop will go to Council in June and a public open house will be held in July.
Real Estate Boom Challenges Resources
The Red Deer and District Real Estate Board Co-op has noticed the processing of real estate deals is taking longer as a result of the sheer volume of transactions. The Land Titles Office and other support resources including lawyers, appraisers and bankers are processing paperwork as quickly as they can but getting farther behind as the number of deals increases. Home buyers and sellers will need to be patient in closing deals but it is one of the effects of a prosperous economy.

May 11, 2006
Red Deer County Featured in National Emergency Pamphlet
Three of Red Deer County's most recent disasters have been highlighted in a new brochure outlining preparedness for community emergencies. Photos of the Pine Lake tornado of July 2000, the train derailment near Springbrook of March 2004 and last year's flooding of the Red Deer River were supplied by the County to the Canadian Emergency Preparedness College in Ottawa.

May 10, 2006
Red Deer County and Town of Lacombe Each Endorse Regional Sewage Plan
A $325-395 million regional wastewater system that could tie in communities as far south as Crossfield and as far north as Ponoka has been approved in principle by both the County of Red Deer and the Town of Lacombe recently. The provincial government has indicated that it will provide 90% of the funding of a regional system rather than for each municipality to try to provide its own. The Town of Innisfail has indicated that there is an urgency to get the project moving forward as its wastewater system will soon need to be replaced. Several communities have indicated interest and the project could get started within the next two years. The treatment facility in Red Deer may become part of the plan but an additional plant will likely need to be built south of the city.
Blackfalds Taps into New Regional Water Line
Due to recent water woes, the Town of Blackfalds will tie into the new water line between Ponoka and Red Deer a couple of weeks earlier than scheduled. Ponoka tied in first and Lacombe was scheduled to tie in next with Blackfalds following. However, Lacombe agreed to let Blackfalds go first as they were declaring water bans due to insufficient water supplies coming from their wells. The water comes from the Red Deer River through the city's water treatment plant.
German Canadians Plan Clubhouse in Red Deer County
The German Canadian Club plans to build a 4,500 sq. ft. facility on 11 acres about one km. north of the 32nd St. overpass on the west side of Highway 2. Red Deer County's municipal planning commission approved the $650,000 project yesterday. Once built, the new building will be available for other community organizations to rent. The plan includes a 4 acre sports field and a 300-car parking lot. The clubhouse will be built 100 m from the railway tracks due to the possibility of a high speed rail line running nearby.
Ground Work Under Way for Burnt Lake Industrial Phase Three
Service work including gas, electricity, telephone and road infrastructure is well underway in the 84 acre Phase 3 of the Burnt Lake Industrial Park located just west of Highway 2 and the city of Red Deer. About 27 of those acres are reserved for agricultural use and a country residential lot. The remainder is divided into 15 light industrial lots of various sizes and all 15 have been reserved.

May 9, 2006
City Council Approves 4.8% Tax Hike
Red Deer City Council gave final reading to a bylaw approving the administration's recommended tax increase of 4.8%, an average of the municipal and school portion of the tax bill. The municipal portion is over 9% but the provincial school requisition is much lower. Council decided to place the provincial contribution into a capital reserve for future projects. A home-owner having an assessed value of $250,000 will pay approximately $117 more in taxes this year.
Heritage Recognition Awards Announced
Four winners for this year were announced at the Red Deer Heritage Recognition Awards yesterday. The Double Tree Village Museum, located 10 km. west of Spruce View, was started by Ray and Anna Stanton in 1997 with the restoration of a one-room school and they have a created a small western heritage village by adding a dozen more buildings since then including a bunk house and wagon shop. Another winner was the Danish Canadian National Museum and Gardens located at Dickson, just south of Spruce View. The restoration of the 1949 brick building housing Prairie Office Products, as part of the Main Street Project, earned Larry and Abe Demchuk an award. Another Main Street Project earned the fourth award, the restoration of the 1929 Hayhoe Building by Richard and Bernice Hayhoe. This is the fifth year that heritage awards have been presented.
Sylvan Lake Building Boom Nets Surplus
An operating surplus in the booming town of Sylvan Lake has added $1 million to the town's bank account. Council and administration are proposing to spend $400,000 on the new multi-purpose facility, $200,000 on the trail system and $300,000 on paying down a loan on the Sylvan Lake seniors lodge.
Red Deer Housing Starts Increase Over Last Year
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation reported that housing starts increased last month and during the first four months of the year over the same periods last year. Housing starts in Alberta's seven largest cities increased by 6.4% compared to the national average decrease of 13%. The trend in Western Canada is expected to continue with the increase in natural resource demand and the relatively low mortgage rates.
New Sylvan Lake Subdivision Under Way
The first phase consisting of 160 lots of the Ryder Ridge residential subdivision is underway with preliminary groundwork getting started last week. A Catholic elementary school is also proposed for the first phase of development. Once completed over the next four years, the four phases of the subdivision will consist of 600 lots including multi-family, a shopping centre and pedestrian trails.

May 5, 2006
Lacombe County Approves Tees Drug Treatment Centre
Central Alberta's first inpatient drug and alcohol treatment centre is scheduled to open near Tees in about two months. Lacombe County gave approval for the 20-bed private treatment facility for men at the former prison work camp this week.
Home Sales Brisk as Prices Soar
The Red Deer and District Real Estate Board reported the highest number of transactions in one month during the month of April. 545 transactions closed in the area, of which 176 were in the city of Red Deer and 506 were residential. The value of transactions also broke a record. City sales generated over $137 million and outside the city over $143 million. The average price of homes sold in Red Deer was $274,000 whereas the average outside the city was $200,000. Average number of days to sell in Red Deer was 21 days and outside the city 68 days. Almost all communities outside of the city had higher number of properties sold than the same period last year.

May 4, 2006
Rotary Plans European Style Clock in Downtown Red Deer
A six metre tall clock to honour Red Deer Citizens of the Year and Young Citizens of the Year will be set up somewhere in downtown Red Deer this summer. The project is being initiated and financed primarily by the Rotary Club. This year's Citizen of the Year is 81-year-old Jack Cuthbertson, a chartered accountant who helped raise millions of dollars for regional health care. This year's Young Citizen of the Year is 17-year-old Amy Allen who has volunteered for several local organizations and fundraisers.

May 2, 2006
New Regional Water Line Launches in Ponoka
A $36 million 62 km water pipeline from the Red Deer River and treated in Red Deer came on stream for the first community, Ponoka, on Monday. The line also serves Lacombe and Blackfalds which will start drawing water from it in the very near future. Eventually Lacombe County and Ponoka County will also tie into the line, half of which is being paid for by the provincial government. The North Red Deer River Water Services Commission will operate the line for the municipalities.
Charter Service Takes Off at Red Deer Regional Airport
Well over half of the 23,000 passenger movements in 2005 were charter flights. And three quarters of those were energy related with workers flying to northern Alberta communities and projects. Users find that the charter flights are less stressful and more convenient than driving as well as faster in getting workers back and forth. It even ends up being less expensive than driving to Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie and other northern points.

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