your county: 2015 in review

YOUR COUNTY: 2015 IN REVIEW
Your Playground of Opportunity
VISION Welcoming by Nature; Your Playground of Opportunity.
MISSION Lac La Biche County is committed to building a region of excellence by
delivering progressive, sustainable programs and services
COUNTY COUNCIL
Omer Moghrabi Mayor
Wanda Austin Councillor Ward 1
Robert Richard Councillor Ward 2
Rick Olson Councillor Ward 3
Dave Phillips Councillor Ward 4
MJ Siebold Councillor Ward 5
Tim Thompson Councillor Ward 6
Hajar Haymour Councillor Ward 7
John Nowak Councillor Ward 7
From left to right: John Nowak, Omer Moghrabi, Rick Olson, Tim Thompson (back row), Dave Phillips, Hajar Haymour,
Robert Richard (middle row), MJ Siebold, Wanda Austin (front row)
Stay in touch with us!
[email protected]
780 623 1747
780 623 2039
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laclabichecounty.com
Box 1679, Lac La Biche, AB, T0A 2C0
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION
Shadia Amblie Chief Administrative Officer
Melanie McConnell Assistant Chief Administrative Officer
Jeff Lawrence Senior Manager of Recreation & Community Enhancement
Dan Small Senior Manager of Finance & Grants
Brian Shapka Senior Manager of Public Works
Gordon Shaw Senior Manager of Planning & Development
Year in Review Highlights
Executive Summary
The year 2015 was one of transition and new beginnings for Lac La Biche
County. A new, permanent Chief Administrative Officer was hired and key
management positions in Planning and Development, Environmental
and Transportation Services were filled. With a full complement of staff in
leadership roles, County departments were reorganized with a focus on
streamlining service provision.
Under the leadership of County Council and the County’s new Administration,
many capital projects were begun or completed in 2015. Over 2.5 kilometres
of sidewalk was replaced in the hamlet of Lac La Biche as part of the County’s
Sidewalk Replacement Program. This multi-year program will see aging curbs,
gutters and sidewalks replaced in the hamlets of Lac La Biche and Plamondon
and adjacent road surfaces repaved where necessary. Engineering was
completed for the paving of a number of County roads, including the Old
Trail west of Lac La Biche to Plamondon. The 101 Avenue back alley in Lac
La Biche was repaved and the storm sewer system upgraded. A walking trail
was developed along Highway 881, connecting Holowachuk Estates with the
Young’s Beach subdivision. In Plamondon, a new RV waste disposal site was
constructed. Finally, one of the most anticipated projects completed in 2015
was the Paul Richard Memorial Spray Park. Thanks to a generous donation of
$250,000 from the Richard family, the spray park was built and the waterworks
installed in the summer and fall of 2015, with the grand opening to occur in 2016.
A major project still underway in 2015 was the continued revision of one of
the County’s most important bylaws—the Land Use Bylaw (LUB). This zoning
bylaw outlines what kind of development can be done in the County, as well
as where and how. The draft LUB was released to the public in January 2015
and two open houses were held to gain feedback from residents on proposed
changes. Hot button topics were the location of work camps in the County and
parking requirements for downtown businesses. Public input was gathered
and revisions to the draft LUB deliberated by Council. The County’s new Senior
Manager of Planning and Development and staff are currently working to
complete the draft LUB in-house for the review of Council and residents in 2016.
Recreation and Community
Enhancement Branch
Fire Services
Lac La Biche County responded to over
1,000 emergency response incidents in
2015. Emergency Response Action Plans
were prepared for all County buildings and
any local businesses wishing to participate.
In 2014, the County applied for and received
a FireSmart grant to help protect the
County against the spread of wildfires.
In 2015, work began on these wildfire
prevention projects—one will update
the existing draft Lac La Biche Wildland/
Urban Interface Plan; another will see a
100-metre brush reduction buffer created
on the Crown land surrounding Imperial
Mills; and a third will see an eight-hectare
brush reduction buffer on County-owned
property north of Deer Ridge.
Ten fire fighters were trained to National
Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1001
standards and key members of County
Administration were trained in Community
Emergency Management. The County’s
Fire Services department entered into Mutual
Aid Agreements with neighbouring counties
and communities, ensuring assistance
during any large scale disasters. Finally, a
record $41,000 was raised by Lac La Biche
County Fire Services and the Lac La Biche
County Fire Fighter Society. The money
was used to buy food and gifts for local
families in need during the holiday season.
Parks and Open Spaces
Parks and Open Spaces staff spent 2015
managing and maintaining the County’s
many parks and playgrounds and making
improvements to the County’s community
spaces. Thick underbrush at McArthur Park
was cleared to increase park space for
families and to improve visibility and safety
at the park.
The aging Viewpoint Deck on Churchill
Drive was demolished and replaced with
a new structure. Benches, waste containers
and pet waste stations were installed
along the walking trail on Beaver Hill Road.
Parks staff facilitated the stocking of 1,200
rainbow trout at the Alexander Hamilton
Park Trout Pond and developed a skating
oval on the pond for use during the 2015
Family Day Festival.
Boat launches were repaired and enhanced
in the hamlet of Lac La Biche and at
Holowachuk Estates. Parks staff landscaped,
managed and maintained Willow Park
Cemetery. Parks staff were also responsible
for maintaining the County’s 22 kilometres
of walking trails and provided support and
set up for community events like Lac La
Biche Pow Wow Days and the Canada Day
celebration at the Mission.
Enforcement Services
The County’s Enforcement Services department
was restructured and reorganized in 2015.
Under Council’s direction, the County’s
Peace Officer program adopted a greater
focus on bylaw enforcement. The County’s
bylaws are in place to ensure a safe, clean
municipality for residents to live and work in.
County Peace Officers underwent additional
training in 2015 in the areas of animal control,
professional standards and officer safety.
Facilities
Facilities staff renovated and replaced fixtures
in County-owned facilities, including the
new Richard Memorial Spray Park, the
Plamondon Arena, and the Bold Center.
Two of the biggest projects were Jubilee
Hall (with basement, bathroom, and exterior
renovations) and Portage Pool (resurfacing
floors, replacing toilets, maintaining
technical equipment, installing new
drains and building a new reception desk).
Staff have continued to maintain County
facilities, including the Bold Center,
McArthur Place, Jubilee Hall, the Multicultural
Building, Beaver Lake Place, the Utilities
Shop, the Water Treatment Plant, the
Airport Terminal, the Airport Shop, Portage
Pool, and the County Airport House.
The department supported J. A. Williams
High School’s work experience program by
giving students the chance to test careers
in the trades.
Family & Community
Support Services (FCSS) and
Community Development
FCSS and Community Development
organized events targeted at seniors
(Canada Volunteer Income Tax Program,
Golden Day Tours, Seniors Holiday Social),
children (circus camp, babysitting courses,
home alone courses), and families
(Community Potluck, Cafe Nights, Ooey
Gooey Workshop, National Child Day).
The department distributed funding for
community projects. This includes $51,100
in FCSS grants, $50,000 in community social
service grants, $98,749 in event sponsorships,
and $6,050 in ad hoc funding.
The Parent Link Centre hosted 498
individuals over more than 500 hours of
programming and 2,000 hours of service.
Parent Link also partnered to host major
events like the Splash N’ Boots concert and
training events on early literacy.
Child Mind staff in the Bold Center cared
for 225 children over the course of 5,043
visits.
The County’s paratransit service provides
transport to seniors and those with
mobility issues so that they can attend
doctor appointments, professional service
appointments, and service centres.
Paratransit gave 3,847 rides this year.
The department recognized volunteers
during National Volunteer Week.
FCSS provided information and referral
services through the community services
directory, pocket directory, interagency
meetings, and the Community Awareness
Registration Evening (CARE) event.
Recreation
Recreation staff offered 396 programs and
classes at the Bold Center and Portage
Pool, with 2,320 participants. The Bold
Center hosted a number of events,
including the Festival of Trees, Lac La
Biche Pow Wow Days, an Edmonton Oilers
hockey camp, KidSport Alberta Sports Day,
the Lac La Biche Safety Fair, the Wow-Pow
Volleyball Tournament, J. A. Williams High
School’s graduation ceremonies, and the
Alberta Minor Hockey Pee Wee Provincials.
equipment. The amount of money in the
reserve is based on the estimated useful
life of each piece of equipment and its
estimated replacement cost.
Recreation staff collaborated with the
Communications and FCSS & Community
Development departments on the Winter
2015-2016 Lac La Biche County Activity
Guide. The guide offers a list of County-run
fitness classes, activities, and programs
offered in 2015 and the beginning of 2016.
The County also funded some major
projects from capital reserves, including
Phase One of the Old Trail road improvement
project, the installation of water and
wastewater lines in the hamlet of Lac La
Biche and the development of a cell at
Beaver Lake landfill that will be used solely
for construction and demolition waste.
Staff implemented changes to Bold Center
memberships, including a corporate
discount and pre-authorized payment
plan. The Bold Center now has 181 annual
members (up 100 from 2014), and saw a
total of 57,554 membership swipes (up
1,208 from 2014).
Bold Center staff aimed to make recreation
more accessible to the community with
free sponsored programming, a shoe drive,
and Everybody Gets to Play funding.
Facility rentals of the Bold Center, Portage
Pool, McArthur Place, and Jubilee Hall
brought in $530,858 of revenue. Sponsors
donated $85,394 and advertising dollars
brought in $21,870.
Portage Pool completed upgrades to its
facilities, adopted an Aquatic Services Strategic
Plan, and saw 2,200 users per month.
Finance and Grants Branch
Finance
County Council approved the 2015 budget
on March 26, 2015. The County’s Operating
Budget was set at $51,042,958 for the
year, with Capital Budget expenditures
of $19,962,977. Council approved $1.9
million in community group funding in
2015, to support local recreation, culture
and agriculture societies as well as popular
community events like the Plamondon
Mud Bogs and Lac La Biche Pow Wow Days.
In 2015, Council adopted a new funding
strategy for the County’s fleet of vehicles
and equipment. Now there is a reserve
in place to fully fund the replacement of
The County’s 2014 audited financial
statements were completed and released
to the public on May 1, 2015.
Public Works Branch
Transportation Services
The County’s Transportation Services
department regravelled 270 kilometres of
the County’s gravel road surfaces; re-oiled
24 kilometres of the County’s oiled—or
cold mix—roads; and replaced nearly
three kilometres of sidewalk in the hamlet
of Lac La Biche in 2015. Asphalt roads were
resurfaced in many of the places where
sidewalk replacement was completed. All
of these road enhancement programs will
continue in 2016.
Line painting was completed along 85
kilometres of the County’s paved roads.
A new sand and salt storage facility was
built with the capacity to store the winter’s
supply of sand and salt and to allow staff
to mix the materials indoors.
The Roadside Clean Up program saw litter
and debris cleared from County roadsides
in the spring and fall of the year. As for capital
projects, engineering was completed for
paving projects along Range Road 143,
Nipewon Road, Township Road 684A,
Township Road 682, Old Trail and 88 Avenue.
Sir Winston Churchill Park Road was
resurfaced, solar pedestrian crossing lights
were installed at five high-traffic locations,
and a walking trail was developed along
Highway 881.
Equipment Services
The County’s Equipment Services shop
was busy during 2015 maintaining and
repairing the County’s vehicles and
equipment. The shop routinely services the
County’s 33 fire trucks, 82 fleet vehicles,
28 graders, packers, dozers and backhoes,
as well as the County’s 91 skid steers,
tractors, mowers, sweepers and trailers
and 49 bucket lifts, fork lifts, and augers. In
addition, 150 smaller pieces of equipment
are maintained, including brush saws, line
trimmers, chainsaws, water pumps, lawn
mowers and generators.
In 2015, $1,700,000 was used to purchase
replacement equipment. A waterless street
sweeper was purchased to allow for early
spring street cleaning when temperatures
may still be below-freezing. A landfill
compactor was purchased for the Beaver
Lake landfill, allowing for up to 50 per cent
more compaction and increasing the life of
the landfill.
The department also worked with local
schools to provide placement for work
experience and Registered Apprentice
Program students.
Utility Services
Utility Services staff installed 15 natural gas
service lines to new homes and businesses
in the County in 2015 and two kilometres
of natural gas pipeline was installed.
The County and the Lac La Biche District
Natural Gas Co-op are developing a joint
natural gas distribution pipeline to respond to
the increasing demand for natural gas now
and into the future.
A portion of the County’s storm sewer
system was upgraded to improve draining
into Lac La Biche Lake and to reduce flooding
in certain areas of the hamlet of Lac La Biche.
The work of several years, a large sanitary
sewer pipeline installation project was
completed in 2015 along Highway 55. This
line provides sanitary service to the Lac La
Biche West commercial and industrial area.
A Water Treatment Plant pilot study was
completed to prepare for further upgrades
planned for 2016 to improve the water
treatment process. The Biological Nutrient
Removal Wastewater Treatment Plant
continues to provide effective wastewater
management, removing contaminants
and nutrients that negatively impact
local lake water.
Finally, a new RV waste disposal site was
constructed in Plamondon.
Environmental Services
New tipping fees, based on weight instead
of volume, were approved by Council in
2015 and scheduled to take effect in 2016.
To support the administration of these
fees, a digital weigh scale system was
installed, calibrated and certified at both
the Beaver Lake and Plamondon landfills
and was fully operational by the end of
2015. The new system allows staff to
efficiently invoice landfill users and
accurately track waste streams.
A new scale office was installed at the
Beaver Lake landfill with the previous
Beaver Lake scale office replacing the
undersized scale trailer at the Plamondon
landfill. A perimeter security fence was
also installed at the Plamondon landfill.
New Standard Operating Procedures were
developed to streamline processes at the
County’s landfills and transfers stations,
which will improve safety and customer
service at the sites.
Assistant CAO Branch
The County continues to work to protect
our local environment and divert recyclable
waste from our landfills. Environmental
Services staff performed beach and lake
sampling to ensure the quality and safety
of local lake water during the summer
months. In 2015, 152 tonnes of recyclables
were collected through the Curbside
Pickup program—an increase from 121
tonnes in 2014.
Information Technology continued to
support County staff and Council, fulfilling
work orders that kept County-provided
computers, phones, and other technology
in working condition.
Agriculture Services
Legislative Services
Agriculture Services staff worked to support
the County’s agricultural producers,
especially during the State of Agricultural
Disaster that was declared in the summer
of 2015 due to dry conditions and
grasshopper infestation.
Over 1,000 weed inspections were
completed, with spot spraying done
throughout the County for noxious and
prohibited noxious weeds, with a focus on
Canada Thistle. Similar to 2014 numbers,
37 weed infestations were located and
addressed in the County. Agriculture staff
sold and distributed 2,600 seedlings and
23 plots were assigned in the Community
Garden.
The shoulders of the County’s rural and
paved roadways were mowed and one
third of the County’s ditches were sprayed
for weed control in order to increase
motorist visibility and safety.
Nearly $90,000 in funding went to
agriculture research and veterinary
service subsidy in 2015.
Information Technology
Water tower communications equipment
was maintained and upgraded.
Information Technology set up a disaster
recovery setup to protect County data.
Legislative Services provided support for
74 Council and committee meetings in
2015. Staff prepared agendas and recorded
minutes for all meetings.
The department facilitated three Subdivision
and Appeal Board hearings. Staff
scheduled meetings, worked with board
members, attended hearings, drafted the
board’s written decisions, and circulated
the decisions.
Legislative Services fulfilled 3 Freedom
of Information and Protection of Privacy
(FOIP) requests.
Legislative Services’ Records Management
branch continued to refile, reorganize,
and digitize County records to make them
easily accessible.
Planning & Development
Branch
Planning and Development
Planning and Development saw a number
of personnel changes, most notably
the arrival of a new senior manager in
September 2015.
Under the new senior manager’s direction,
Planning and Development began revising
the County’s new Land Use Bylaw in
house (rather than hiring consultants).
The department aims to create an easily
understandable policy for developers, the
public, County Administration, and Council.
The department issued development
permits worth over $110 million, which is
lower than 2014 but consistent with earlier
years’ totals.
CAO BRANCH
Communications
Communications produced 11 editions
of the Your County In Touch newsletter,
which provides residents with regular
information on County programs and
services. Communications also helped
produce a variety of County documents,
including the first County Activity Guide
and the annual Green Initiatives Calendar.
The department continued to build Lac
La Biche County’s online presence. Staff
launched new, easier-to-navigate Lac La
Biche County and Bold Center websites.
Staff also continued to monitor and grow
the County’s social media presence,
especially on Facebook.
Early in the year, Council adopted the
2015 to 2018 Strategic Communications
Plan, which outlines strategies and goals
that employees will use to get information
to the public. Communications reviewed
and updated the plan in preparation
for 2016, and ensured that the plan was
followed.
Staff coordinated the 2015 Citizen Satisfaction
Survey to get feedback from residents on the
quality of County programs and services.
Health and Safety
Health and Safety coordinated the external
Certificate of Recognition (COR) audit. The
COR audit ensures that the County complies
with provincial safety laws, and was
successfully completed in September.
The department purchased Simply Safety
software to streamline health and safety
records. Simply Safety allows staff to
enter and find information about injuries,
exposure, damage, security incidents, and
safety inspections.
Health and Safety purchased a dosimeter.
The device allows staff to test for dangerous
sound levels on worksites, complying
with part 16 of the Occupational Health &
Safety Code.
Human Resources
Human Resources compared County
compensation with several surrounding
municipalities in early 2015.
The department worked with the Hay
Group (a contracted consultant) to assess
job descriptions, review salary ranges, and
standardize staff performance evaluations.
Human Resources assisted with the
CAO recruitment process and filled all
management positions. The department
also supported the senior management
team in making organizational changes.
The department led the Employee Survey
Committee, which is charged with improving
the County’s workplace to better retain staff.
2015 By the Numbers
1,200 rainbow trout were stocked at the Alexander
Hamilton Park Trout Pond.
County fire fighters responded to over 1,000 emergency
response incidents.
85 households participated in the County’s Community
Organics Recycling Enhancement (CORE) home
composing program, diverting 43 tonnes of organic
waste from the landfill.
14,000 litres of oil and 1,718 plastic oil containers
were recycled.
100 tonnes of tires, 33 tonnes of electronics and
28,435 litres of paint were recycled.
At the County’s two bi-annual Household Hazardous
Waste Roundup and Municipal Shred-it events, 7,500
litres of household chemicals and 682 kilograms of
paper were recycled.
2015 Budgeted Operating Revenues: $83,387,361
WHERE THE MONEY CAME FROM
77% property taxes and local improvements
10% sales of goods and services
7% grants
5% other
WHERE THE MONEY WENT
33%
30%
24%
9%
4%
W
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transfers to capital
goods and services
salaries, wages, benefits
debenture payments
community grants
Your Playground of Opportunity
ORGANIZATIONS THAT RECEIVED FUNDING OR
IN-KIND SUPPORT FROM LAC LA BICHE COUNTY
IN 2015.
OPERATIONAL FUNDING
• Craigend Recreational & Agricultural Society
• Hylo 5HV Seniors Club
• Hylo/Venice Recreation and Agricultural Society
• Lac La Biche County Libraries/ Northern Lights Library System
• Lakeland Out of the Elements Men’s Shelter
• Lakeland Interpretive Society
• Lac La Biche Agricultural Society
• Lac La Biche Mission Historical Society
• Normandeau Community Centre
• Owl River Recreation Association
• Plamondon District Community Development Society
• Plamondon Hall Building Society
• Rich Lake Recreation & Agricultural Society
CAPITAL FUNDING
• Craigend Recreational & Agricultural Society
• Hylo/Venice Recreation and Agricultural Society
• Lakeland Interpretive Society
• Owl River Recreation Association
• Rich Lake Recreation & Agricultural Society
EVENT SPONSORSHIP
• Winter Festival of Speed
• Pee Wee Hockey Tournament
• PDCDS-Mini-Parc Heritage Festival
• Active Kids Society
• LLB Mission Canada Day Festival
• Lakeland Country Fair
• Trappers Association
• Plamondon Mud Bogs
• Lakeland Interpretive Society (Portage Rendevous)
• Lakeland Interpretive Society (Dinner)
• LLB Heritage Society Anniversary
• LLB Mission Old Fashioned Christmas
• Chamber of Commerce Evening of Excellence
• PDCDS-Community Christmas Party
• PDCDS- Business Christmas Function
• Lions Club-Festival of Trees
• Firefighters- Santa Comes to Town
• Chamber of Commerce Christmas Event
• LLB Rotary Club
• Royal Canadian Legion
• Pow Wow Association
Other Grants
• Plamondon Volleyball Club
• LLB Regional Humane Society
• St. Isidore Parish
• Portage College Thanksgiving Fundraiser
• Save Our Paws Society