During their regular meeting Tuesday, Red Deer County councillors:
• approved a motion to have Bylaw 2013/1, which proposes the closure of Range Road 21 at the Sylvan Lake shoreline, forwarded for further consideration to the provincial Minister of Transportation.
First reading was given to the bylaw in January, and a public hearing in March resulted in comments and feedback being given by about 25 people.
During the hearing, a number of residents of nearby Half Moon Bay expressed concern with the misuse of the site, which is frequently used as in informal boat launch.
Other speakers said lake access sites at other locations would become congested and overcrowded, should Range Road 21 be closed.
The bylaw proposes that a barrier be installed at the end of the road to restrict vehicle access to the lake.
Following the March public hearing, councillors deferred a decision on the matter pending further review.
“Administration believes that the minister’s response to the bylaw is an important piece of information that council should have prior to further review and decision on the bylaw,” said Legislative Services Manager Nancy Lougheed, in her report.
• agreed to contribute $2,000 to Sylvan Lake Urgent Care Committee in its preparation of a business plan pertaining to pursuit of an urgent care facility in Sylvan Lake.
Cost of the business plan is estimated to be between $10,000 and $15,000. Similar requests for funding have been sent to Lacombe County, the five summer villages, and the towns of Sylvan Lake, Eckville and Bentley.
• appointed councillor George Gehrke to the Town of Sylvan Lake’s Multiplex Redevelopment Task Force.
Sylvan Lake requested that a Red Deer County representative be appointed to the committee, which aims to “contribute to the development of a functional, attractive and cost-effective community facility,” according to its terms of reference.
“I believe that it’s very appropriate that we have a councillor sitting on this body,” said Councillor David Hoar.