During their regular meeting last Tuesday, Sylvan Lake councillors:
• passed second and third readings of the Municipal Emergency Management Bylaw which replaced a 2005 disaster services bylaw that was outdated.
Updated Emergency Response and Business Continuity for Pandemic plans were adopted by councillors Sept. 24.
Together the new bylaw and plans better prepare the community in the occurrence of an emergency.
Town staff and councillors will now prepare for a table-top mock emergency situation to help familiarize everyone with the roles they will be expected to perform in an emergency situation.
“We do not want to scare off our staff by throwing them into a full-scale mock emergency situation,” said John Eastwood, director of disaster services. “We will start with the table top situation and afterwards prepare for a more in-depth mock experience for staff and council members.”
• approved proclaiming Oct. 17 as The Day for the Eradication of Poverty in Sylvan Lake.
The proclamation was requested by Central Alberta Poverty Reduction Alliance.
• approved the payment of $112,000 for the purchase of 1.21 hectares for road right-of-way connected with the Memorial Trail project.
• heard from Chief Administrative Officer Betty Osmond that paving of Memorial Trail from 50th Street to Highway 20 should be completed by Oct. 13 and paving from 50th Street to Lakeway Boulevard should be completed between Oct. 15-31. Also planned in the next two week period are completion of the acceleration lane at 50th Street and Highway 11, installation of the north concrete median at the same intersection and landscaping along the entire length of Memorial Trail.
Osmond reported town hall construction in on track and on budget with the building almost weather proof; perimeter fencing of the dog park will start soon and the contractor will be building gravel trails; revised plans for the multiplex redevelopment have been received and two public information forums will be scheduled; and the request for architectural services for the fire hall project closed Oct. 12.