The Crater on Main Street

Photo courtesy of the Rocky View Weekly

A number of Beisekerites have voiced to me their concern over a business on Main Street, because of a large pit not far from the sidewalk.  It was brought up at our most recent Town Hall meeting in April.  We've even had visitors ask why this eyesore continues to exist.

I understand that the pit was created when underground fuel tanks were removed from the site.  I was told that environmental authorities insisted that the pit be left open for a length of time, to assure that no hydrocarbons would seep into the hole. 

I believe that the stipulated time stated has now elapsed.  The time to fill in the hole and return the area to its past configuration has come.  The temporary fence around the pit isn't really secure and permits people, especially youngsters, to enter the site.  This isn't safe.  In my opinion, the pit should be filled in and the area tidied up a bit.

The Village's Bylaw Enforcement and the Village Office are now working with Alberta Environment and other departments to resolve this situation.  We're hoping that we will have compliance in this situation as soon as possible.

Slippery, Icy Sidewalks!

I'm getting numerous calls from Beiseker residents concerned about the letters they are receiving, regarding removal of ice from their sidewalks.  The Village is threatening them with a $250 fine if they ignore the ice and snow buildup on their front sidewalk.

I once again assure you that we just want compliance.  If you get a letter, please phone our Municipal Enforcement Officer Donna (her number is on the letter) and explain the situation to her.  As long as people are trying to deal with the ice with some chipping, sand, kitty litter, or ice-melt, fines will not be issued - but you must talk it over with Donna.

Also remember that sand is available free of charge at the Public Works compound, over by the Recycle Bins.

Snowmobile Woes!

It seems that every winter. when the snow is down and the weather warms up, we get complaints about snow machines and their use in Beiseker.

Snowmobilers, please remember that our traffic bylaw here in town stipulates that your speed must be kept to 20 km/h and your route must be the shortest way out of the village.  No off-road vehicles can operate within village limits between 11 p.m. and 8 a.m.   And, you must stick to laneways as much as possible and you must stop and check carefully when proceeding across streets. 

Our bylaw regarding off-road type vehicles is much more generous than other municipalities.  Some communities prohibit the use of such vehicles to operate within municipal boundaries at all.  In those centres, snowmobiles, quads and dirt bikes must be trailered into and out of town. I for one would not like to see those sort of rules here in Beiseker!

If you know of someone who snowmobiles, please remind them of our traffic bylaw.

Election Forum Well Attended

Last night's Election Forum at the Beiseker Community Centre was one of the best attended ever!  Moderator Dave Fegan said there were almost 100 people in attendance!  It was good to see so many come out to hear their candidates speak to the issues facing Beiseker.

Some good points were made by all candidates.   Questions from the floor were wide and varied.  The issue of the Bassano Station eyesore came up.  Once again, we explained to the crowd that that project has very little to do with Beiseker Village Council, beyond the building and development permits issued.

Other questions dealt with Village pathway systems, the enforcement of bylaws, a committee to oversee Public Works, the Grasslands subdivision and possible project timelines.  I thought all were answered well by the candidates; some answers were better than others.

I was disappointed that more didn't stay to hear the two candidates for Rocky View Schools trustee for our area - incumbent Norma Lang, and challenger Jennifer Avery.  Only about half the folks stayed.

It was certainly an eye opener!  The question of playground demolition dominated the Q&A part.  It was very evident indeed that there needs to be some serious rethinking into that whole policy of school playground demolition and replacement.

Overall, it was a most enjoyable evening of municipal politics in Beiseker.

Spring Brings out the ATVs!

Along with garage sales and yards sales, the arrival of spring in Beiseker is also heralded by the dirt bikes and ATVs!

Those enthusiasts have brought their machines out of winter hibernation, and tuned them up for another summer of riding.  Over the cold months of winter, though, some of those same folks seem to have forgotten Beiseker's generous bylaws regarding the operation of their machines within village limits.  The bylaw dealing with ATVs and dirt bikes is very much the same as those governing the operation of snowmobiles in the winter months.

These machines must be driven through town along back lanes, ditches and streets only where nessesary, taking the shortest possible route out of town.  Their speed must be less than 20 km/h.

Of course, if the machine is insured and licenced for road travel, its operation is then covered by the provincial Traffic Act.

Communities experiencing difficulty with ATVs and dirt bikes often tighten their bylaws to restrict their use within the municipality.  That would mean having to have these vehicles trailered in and out of town, and not permitted on any public road, laneway or ditch in the village at all!

I and the rest of council do not want to do that, but we may have to if the situation continues to worsen.  Please remind any ATV or dirt bike operators you know of the current bylaws.

Snowmobile Complaints

With all the snow and the nice weather we've had, the snowmobilers have been out in full force.

I used to snowmobile every winter, years ago, until a spell of several seasons when we had little or no snow. I enjoyed the snowmobile experience very much, and I envy those I see zooming across the snowy fields.

But, as with any motorized sport, there are a couple of folks out there who have trouble following the rules, and end up spoiling it for the rest.

Our village's bylaws regarding snowmobiles, ATVs, and dirt bikes are quite lenient. They require riders of those machines to proceed out of the village by the shortest possible route using back lanes as much as possible. Their speed must be kept below 20 km an hour. When crossing a street or road the operator must stop his machine, check for traffic and proceed slowly across.  Riders must avoid private property.

At our last Council meeting, we addressed complaints from residents about snowmobiles on streets and on private property. I know that almost all the snowmobilers I see are obeying our bylaws, but there's always a few who don't comply.

Other municipalities faced with this problem have passed much stricter bylaws regarding these kind of vehicles. They require the riders to trailer their machines out of town before starting and riding them.  I think a bylaw such as that would be counterproductive and punitive to those obeying our current bylaws.

I would be against such a strict bylaw, but I only have one vote in five!  As the complaints increase in frequency the village council may be forced to act!

Tell me what you think.

Curfew?

Many years ago, Beiseker had a problem with youngsters roaming the streets after midnight and getting into mischief.  Many acts of vandalism and graffitti happened in the wee hours of the morning. As a result, the council at the time enacted a curfew bylaw for those under sixteen years of age.  It was just one way of getting the kids back home and asleep at night. 

That bylaw is still on the books!  Judging by the complaints I'm hearing, maybe we need to dust it off and inform the authorities we want it enforced again!

Basically it says that all those sixteen years and under must be off the streets by 11:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m.  Exceptions would be those accompanied by an adult, coming home from a late hockey game at the arena or a babysitting job, etc. 

A curfew is never a solution, but it can be part of the solution.  I hear back from the young people that, "there's nothing to do in Beiseker," hence they turn to vandalism to oocupy their time.  I'm working on a list of activities available to us here in and around the village to  address that.
And let me know what you think about re-instituting our curfew bylaw.

Off-Road Problems

Sgt. Patricia Neely of the RCMP visited Village Council last night to give her regular report on policing in the Village of Beiseker.  The one topic which took up much of our time was the use  (or misuse) of off-road vehicles within the Village!

At present our by-law permits the operation of an off road vehicle within the Village under certain stipulations;

1. they are restricted to lanes and alleyways.
2. their speed can not exceed 20 km/h
3. they must take the shortest and most direct route out of the Village.
4. they must be operated as quietly as possible into and out of the Village.
5. applicable registration and insurance will be carried by the operator

Most off-road vehicle operators comply to our by-law but there have been a few exceptions which are spoiling it for everyone!  If we cannot achieve compliance with our current by-law, then council will have to look at simply banning the operation of off road vehicles within the Village completely. 

That would mean that all off-roaders would have to shut off their vehicle and push them in and out of the Village or trailer them in and out of the Village!  It would be a shame to spoil it for most off-roaders because of the actions of a few.

What Can You Do?

If you see someone operating an off-road vehicle (quad, snowmobile, or dirt bike) without heeding our by-laws, please report them to our RCMP detachment at (403) 947-3496.  If you know someone who operates an off-road vehicle in the Village, ask them to review our very generous by-law regarding their use within the Village.

More Chinook Crescent (and other things)

They're working like crazy on the sidewalk portion of Chinook Crescent.  They're hoping to pour concrete in the next couple of days!  Let's hope the weather co-operates!

Halloween was very quiet over here in Beacon Heights.  I hope you had a quiet one, too.  We didn't get as many Trick-or-Treaters this year.

It looks like the deficiencies on the Main Street project will have to wait for spring now.  There's only a couple of things left to do but the contractors don't get paid in full until everything is done!

As you've heard, we have a by-law enforcement officer now!  He'll be looking for obvious boo-boos around the village;  Things like unlicenced vehicles on public property, untidy properties, vehicles parked on public reserve land, speeders, unlicenced dogs and cats, and a host of others.  Let me know how you think it's working.