Archived Springbrook and Area News
January 2007

Jan. 26, 2007
Scheduled Flight Temporarily Dropped; BC Service Proposed
Northwestern Air has temporarily dropped the Wednesday Red Deer to Saskatoon and back flight due to the lack of bookings for February. The Monday and Friday flights to Saskatoon that carry on to Meadow Lake and Fort McMurray and connect to Fort Smith and Yellowknife will continue. The Wednesday flight will likely restart in March. The airline is considering adding a flight to Kelowna, BC. The service had originally been offered by Regional 1 and was very popular until they shifted their business to charter flights.

Jan. 23, 2007
County 'Mayor' to be Elected; New Divisions in Next Election
Red Deer County Council passed two by-laws that will change the way the next municipal election is held. The first is that an elected 'mayor' will replace an appointed 'reeve' as head of council. The second is that there will be six divisions instead of seven, each redistributed to reflect a similar population. Currently, Division 7 represented by Ken Van Dewark, includes Springbrook, Gasoline Alley west, Woodland Hills, Poplar Ridge, Mission Hill, Waskasoo Estates, Oakwood Estates and the McKenzie subdivision. The revised Division 3 that now surrounds Penhold and goes south toward Innisfail, will include Springbrook and Mission Hill but the other residential subdivisions will be in Divisions 2 & 6.
County Budget 2007 Includes Improved Access to Airport
Red Deer County Council passed the 2007 budget today that includes $700,000 for improved access to the airport from the north and ultimately to Springbrook. The budget also shows a 2.5 mile base construction project to be started in 2007 for Range Road 280 between McKenzie Road and the reservoir with a budget of $1.5 million. Another part of the budget shows a new deal funding grant of $354,000 for Springbrook infrastructure. Other budget items (of many) include $75,000 for Springbrook (Heritage) Urban Design, $40,000 for heritage management, $100,000 for trail development, $100,000 for hamlet enhancement, $43,000 for conceptual design and layout for the Springbrook playing fields, $40,000 for hamlet signage and $60,000 for phase 3 of the Open Spaces Master Plan.

Jan. 18, 2007
Red Deer County Studies Recreational Needs
A regional recreational facility is one of the possibilities that Red Deer County is reviewing in a $70,000 recreation, sports and leisure feasibility study to be conducted this year and presented to council in the late fall. A 2005 Community Needs Assessment Study showed that recreational opportunities are falling behind expectations. The new study will take inventory of existing facilities and programs and establish what new facilities are required. Residents also want more open space, trails and cultural opportunities. The study will also determine the best use of the land south of Airport Drive that the county purchased several months ago.
Red Deer County Studies Public Transportation
Some form of transit service linking Gasoline Alley and the city transit system is being studied by Red Deer County. Red Deer Transit has also indicated an interest in serving the area on a cost-recovery basis. The county study is also looking at the feasibility of service to rural communities. There has been some interest in creating some kind of bus service between Penhold, Springbrook and Red Deer. A report is expected to be ready by the end of the year.
Red Deer County Studies Historic Sites
One of several studies planned by Red Deer County this year and included in the proposed budget is to take a photographic inventory of historical sites and structures within the county. If approved by council, an application will be made to the provincial heritage partnership program for a matching grant of $40,000. The long term goal is to develop a heritage management plan that may include a new bylaw to protect historical resources.
 

Jan. 9, 2007
County Tables 2007 Budget
Red Deer County has tabled a $42 million budget for 2007 consisting of $20 million for operating expenses and $22 million for capital projects. The budget includes borrowing $7.2 million in order to move forward with the completion of the waste transfer facility near the Hwy. 42/2 junction, construction of the Petrolia Park reservoir and treatment facility near Gasoline Alley East and improvement to the Burnt Lake Business Park intersection. Borrowed funds will be paid back from off-site levies. The capital budget also includes $8 million for road upgrades. $1.7 million has been set aside for intermunicipal funding, facility upgrades, open spaces development and recreation board support. Tabling the budget allows for public input and further council discussion. Budget approval is set for the Jan. 23 council meeting. Tax rates won't be set until the spring when education levies will be known, but it is expected that taxes will not increase significantly except for those properties that assessments have increased dramatically.

Jan. 8, 2007
Community Association Discusses Centre, Casino, Trails, Crime
The Board of Directors of the Springbrook Community Association discussed several topics related to the community's welfare at tonight's meeting. A future community centre is being researched in terms of construction and operating costs, alternatives to a centre and integration with future county plans in the community. A casino, the largest single fund-raising project for the community every 18 months or so, will be held toward the end of April. Proceeds will be distributed according to the following formula: 35% toward youth programs, 35% toward community trails, 25% toward a community centre and 5% toward administration costs. Funding from previous casinos has already been earmarked for the building of a community centre. A community meeting is being planned for early spring to discuss crime prevention with a possible guest speaker and other topics of interest to residents. The New Years Eve dance, in spite of unexpected increased costs, should still net about $500.

 
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