For the first time since being elected in April, the MLA for Camrose came to Bashaw town council for an official introduction and a short discussion.
UCP MLA Jackie Lovely attended the Sept. 5 meeting and explained it’s her plan to be in Bashaw as often as possible.
“I would like to have a great relationship with council and to make myself available for any events. I want to be out here as many times as you’d like to have me,” she said.
“I want to be available to listen and answer any of your questions or concerns.”
While the MLA was there, council did bring up a pair of subjects, concerns over the future of local health care services and how secure municipal grant funding is for capital and infrastructure projects.
Lovely stated that Kaycee Madu, minister of municipal affairs, will be paying the region a visit and that at least one representative from council would be invited when the date for that is finalized. It’s likely the visit will be in Camrose.
She added that on the funding issue, it will depend on the budget set to come down in October.
“We want to work collaboratively to get through the next year and a bit, then we will be able to start presenting our wish-lists again. We just need to buckle down. It’s a short-term thing,” Lovely said.
Yard waste
Residents will be somewhat relieved to hear that the large bin that is exclusively meant for yard waste, such as grass clippings and other organics, will be returning to its spot later this month.
CAO Theresa Fuller informed council that the bin will be back in the community in time for the week-long fall clean up that runs from Sept. 30 to Oct. 3.
The bin was brought back early this year because some work done by the Bashaw Beautification Committee left piles of debris around town and no one was quite sure if all the piles were from the work or from residents.
“So then the discussion was opened up to bring the bin in early so people could utilize it,” she said.
Unfortunately, the bin was being abused, as several times non-organic waste including construction material was found piled up inside. This led to a few warnings from the town that the bin would no longer be available if the abuse continued.
One more incident was the last straw and it was decided to have the bin taken away.
“Our original intent on placing the bin was mid-September until about mid-October. However, now we plan on bringing it back in conjunction with the annual fall clean up,” Fuller added.
At council’s request, administration will look into having some sort of sign put in place to notify the public of what is allowed to be placed in the bin.
Other business
The revised fireworks bylaw passed final approval of council, while approval was granted for public works to find a spot for a sea-can unit that will be used for storage by the Bashaw Historical Society.