Raymond Council Briefs

By Heather Cameron
For Westwind Weekly News

Transfer Station hour extension
Last week Raymond council voted to approve an hour increase at the Raymond Transfer Station starting May 1 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, with one night designated for late night trash drop-off.
Council’s ultimate goal of the extra hours at the station is to make it easier for residents to use the station at their convenience. According to Council, public desire for increased accessibility is the reason for the hour extensions and could also create need for a full-time employee.
The motion to approve and pass on the information for administrative review was made by Counc. Holt and passed by all except Counc. Robinson, who was not present.
Building a new subdivision
Mark Hasegawa of Hasegawa Engineering appeared before Raymond council on March 17, expressing appreciation for the administration taking time to view his information on the proposed Bridge Crossing subdivision. It will consist of 52 units if approved.
The property that the subdivision will be built upon was previously owned by Norma Stevens and is located north west of the Raymond Stake Center.
Counc. Needham made a motion to send the proposal to a first reading, but Mayor Bohne expressed concerns about road widths and Hasegawa was able to placate the concerns
During the meeting, Hasegawa stated that the subdivision name, Bridge Crossing, has been given arbitrarily and he welcomes other suggestions. Counc. Needham also expressed concern about the map changing, but those concerns were also placated.
The motion for first reading was passed by all in attendance, with the discussion of scheduling a public hearing to be held at a later date, which has yet to be determined.
Raymond approves 2015 tax rate
Bylaw 1012-14 was moved for approval by council. The 2015 tax rate for residential and farmland properties was approved at 7.5 percent; the non-residential rate was approved at 12.2 percent while the same rates within the Alberta School Foundation Fund and Opted-Out School boards were approved at 2.46707 percent and 3.62409 percent and the Senior Foundation was approved at 0.36307 percent.
More information about the rates and the bylaw itself can be found on the Town of Raymond’s website.
Main Street crosswalk safety
During the council round table, Counc. Holt expressed concerns about increasing public safety at the Main Street crosswalks. The subject will be reviewed by administration with any ideas being presented at the next committee meeting.
During the roundtable portion of the meeting, Counc. Ralph mentioned that the Chinook Arch Library will be closed for repainting from April 3rd to April 11th with the library reopening again on April 13.
Grant applications
The town of Raymond approved the making of two applications last week. The creation of two applications for funding from Small Community Fund grants to expand the local sanitary/sewage lagoon and the creation of a northwest infrastructure expansion grant were proposed.
The making of both grant applications were unanimously approved by council.