Yellowhead County council met last week to approve bursary awards and a contract extension, and addressed requests for a road closure and a grant application support letter.
Council awarded two Agriculture Services Bursaries worth $500 each to Brock Gohmann and Abby Kennedy. These are awarded annually.
A third application was received but disqualified because the applicant was a resident of the Town of Hinton.
Council also endorsed a pre-determined contract extension rate of $27 per tonne for the 2024 Wolf Lake and Elk River gravel supply and replacement contract.
The 2024-2026 contract with Associated Aggregates includes an option to extend into the 2027 budget year, pending agreement between the county and the contractor. Administration recommended approving the extension because the company has been completing the work in a safe, efficient and timely manner, and the proposed increase is below projected inflation for the potential length of the contract.
In the same meeting on Nov. 25, council declined a request from the Edson and District Homelessness Task Force Society for a letter of support for a grant application.
The task force is applying for the Reaching Home Grant under the Rural Development Network. The proposed project is to launch a regional housing hub offering transitional, supportive and accessible housing, along with integrated services for Edson and Yellowhead County residents.
Administration advised against providing the letter, as transitional housing is not currently a directive of Yellowhead County Family and Community Support Services (FCSS), nor is it reflected in the FCSS Business Plan. Additionally, administration said providing a letter of support now could unintentionally signal future financial, operational or partnership commitments.
In the meantime, council has directed administration to monitor regional homelessness initiatives and gather data to inform a holistic review of homelessness impacts within the county.
Finally, council opted not to give first reading to a road closure application concerning Road Plan 8920495, located in NW-10-53-15-W5M.
The applicant owns property in the area and states that the road only accesses that property. The application cites concerns around the amount of space vehicles have to turn around on the road, prompting them to enter his property to do so, which he feels is a security risk. He also suggested the closure would create a cost-saving benefit to the county by eliminating that road from its maintenance requirements.
Council chose not to move forward with the application after considering feedback from adjacent landowners, external organizations, government agencies and county departments.
