Paintearth Economic Partnership - PEPS Officer, Larry Davidson presented the Marketing Initiative Promotion to design an eight page brochure highlighting the County of Paintearth, which  includes the Village of Halkirk, and Towns of Castor and Coronation at the January 25 Castor Council Meeting.

Each will have their own page to promote their village or town.

The two middle pages will be used for Tourism and the back page, to promote PEPS.

PEPS has a $13,000 budget and the project is estimated at $12,395.

All copywrites will be owned by each village/town  and changes can be made as needed.

PEPS continues  to work on the ‘Rail way Community Adaptation Project totalling 197 acres of land along Highway 12. 

This is a joint project between the Village of Halkirk, Towns of Castor and  Coronation, and within the County of Paintearth.

There is, at present, a Memorandum of Understanding in place that shows a commitment toward the project from each participant.

Davidson has provided reports to Honourable Jack Hayden, Minister  of Agriculture and Rural Development  and Honourable Luke Ouelette, Minister of Transportation offices and will be setting up an appointment to discuss the prospect of financial support from the government.

“It seems they are in favour of the project,” said Davidson.

Castor Council gave Davidson their approval to continue his efforts.

“Let’s place ourselves ready for the next [economic] boom,” said Mayor Garry DeVloo.

Castor Council has agreed to the request made by Sergeant Tom Love of the Coronation RCMP, to hire an Enhanced Administration position for the Castor office.

Sergeant Love has estimated the cost of the new position to be $17,500 of which the County of Paintearth has agreed to pay 50 per cent.

The Town of Castor Council  is in approval of the proposal and agreed to pay a 25 per cent share of the cost or a total of $4,375.

County of Paintearth, CAO Taralyn Peach notified Castor Council of the County’s intention to support the project.

Castor Council is struggling to keep the Water Diversion  License for the Parr Reservoir due to the use of water from the Shirley McClellan Regional Water Services.

“It really comes down to two decisions,” said CAO Michael Yakielashek, “drain it [the reservoir] or keep the license up.”

Presently, CAO Yakielashek is working with Peter Pui from Alberta Environment to review government requirements, in respect to the water license.

Council is considering any means possible to continue to access the water and have it available for resident and recreation  enjoyment.

“We will be working on a long term plan,” said CAO Yakielashek.

Yakielashek will continue to work with Alberta Environment to come up with a viable solution to save the unique water system that adds historical value to the Town of Castor.

Tina Ensign has been hired by the Town of Castor as the new Pool Supervisor.

She will be organizing programs and employee scheduling bringing the total operation of the Castor pool to  efficiency.

Alberta Municipal Affairs Minister Ray Danyluk wrote a letter to CAO Michael Yakielashek in response to a letter Castor Council had asked CAO Yakielashek to write regarding their concern over 911 cell phone income not being directed back to the call answer service providers.

In the letter, Minister Danyluk stated that he was aware of the matter and had instructed the Alberta Emergency Management Agency to begin a review of Alberta’s 911 system, including the issue they had identified.

‘This process will lead to the development of a recommendation to ensure Albertans have a sustainable 911 system in the future.’

The Town of Castor has received a 2009 grant payment of $146,647 on Friday, January 22, 2010 from the Alberta Municipal Infrastructure Program-AMIP administered by the Department of Transportation.

The funds will be placed into reserve  to be used for the Castor Paving Project of 2010.

The total cost of the project is updated to a new amount of $446,264.

The Trail of the Buffalo Tourism Marketing Coordinator, Cindy Heidecker has notified Castor Council of the first administrative meeting for the Destination Marketing Fund Committee -DMF on February 17, 2010 at 10am in the Lions Recreation Centre in Coronation.

Castor Councillor Troy Slemp and CAO Michael Yakielashek will attend the meeting.

The committee will address the draft partnership agreement and operational details with a goal to have the agreements in place by May 1, 2010.

A total of 10 campground operators have joined the DMF, totalling over 275 campsites, each contributing $1 per site used to Tourism in the area.

The Castor Fire Department has developed new policies regarding “Fire Practices” and “Being under the Influence.”

The new policies give the Fire Chief the ability to make critical decisions involving the safety of his men.

The policy around Fire Practices involves not being available for three consecutive months or six practices, giving the authority to the Fire Chief to ask the fireman to leave the Fire Department,  depending on the circumstances and due to lack of reliability and training.

The second policy involves a volunteer fireman under the influence of alcohol or drugs (prescription or otherwise).

If a fireman responds to a call under the influence, it creates an unsafe workplace, therefore the Fire Chief  or whom ever is in command, can ask that the fireman not respond with the other members of the Fire Department.

Castor Council has passed a motion to accepted these new policies. 

It has become more and more difficult with respect to the Town equipment and staff digging graves in the cemeteries.

The problem is the 20 foot travel laneways and the narrow walking paths, which make moving the equipment in and out of the cemetery high risk for disturbing or damaging grave markers, grave covers and lately, statues.

Council will be assessing the situation, discussing the problem and looking for alternative solutions for the future.

Castor Council has asked CAO Michael Yakielashek to create a By-law for the preventing and compelling of nuisances generally and regulation of untidy and unsightly premises.

CAO Yakielashek presented By-law 993 to Council for their review.

Council has asked for a two weeks to consider the policies at length.