Grande Prairie Minute: Free Skates, Cricket Pitch, and a Feasibility Study Approved

Grande Prairie Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Grande Prairie politics

This Week In Grande Prairie:

• Tuesday is Standing Committee Day. There are several meetings, and the agendas can be found online. A meeting of the Strategy and Communication Services Committee, originally scheduled for Tuesday at 9:00 am, is cancelled.
  
  
• The road rehabilitation project on 84 Avenue is finally underway after equipment delays pushed back the original start date of August 21st. Stage one involves full-depth reclamation between 113 and 116 Streets. During this phase, over-height and oversized loads will be rerouted to 116 Street, while other traffic will use a 100 Avenue detour. Local traffic and pedestrian access will be prioritized throughout the project, which is expected to finish by October.
  
  
• The Dave Barr Community Centre is offering free PD day skates for the third year, running from fall into next spring. Sponsored by ARC Resources, the skates are scheduled once a month starting on September 20th. Participants must bring their own skates and helmets, and residents of all ages are encouraged to pre-register on the City's website.

Last Week In Grande Prairie:

• Council has decided to proceed with a feasibility study and public consultation regarding the future of the Bear Creek dam and reservoir in Muskoseepi Park. The study, estimated to cost around $200,000, will inform a decision on the reservoir's long-term future, expected in 2026. Immediate technical work and reinforcement are required at the dam, while major reconstruction will be needed within the next 30 years. Longer-term plans will depend on the study's findings and community input.
  
  
• Council reviewed a report on Councillor pay during a Committee of the Whole meeting. The report recommended indexing the Mayor's salary to the Alberta Consumer Price Index, with no increase if the cost of living decreases, while Councillors' salaries will remain at 55% of the Mayor's. A comparison showed Grande Prairie's Mayor had the lowest base salary among similar cities but ranked higher when benefits and allowances were considered. Council also discussed parental and bereavement leave for Councillors, and considered relocating the cricket pitch to the Signature Falls area, with potential support of up to $150,000 for the cricket club’s equipment needs.
  
  
• Grande Prairie has opted into the provincial Extended Producer Responsibility recycling program, which could reduce recycling fees for Aquatera customers by up to 30%. The new program shifts the responsibility for waste and recycling collection from municipalities to producers. Despite this change, Mayor Jackie Clayton said that services for residents will largely remain the same, though glass recycling could be added depending on the Province’s agreement with the facilitator. Administration is now working on negotiating a new contract with Aquatera to maintain service continuity.