Dust suppression Special Tax Bylaw for M.D.

By Cole Parkinson
Taber Times
cparkinson@tabertimes.com

Municipal District of Taber council has once again passed a special tax bylaw in regards to costs around dust suppression.

During their regular meeting on May 28, council had a chance to review the bylaw and discuss any potential changes they saw fit for the document.

“It’s a bylaw we pass each year in regard to properties around Highway 3 business park,” explained Reeve Merrill Harris.

There are five lots, Lot 3, Block 1, Plan 1212111, Lot 4, Block 1, Plan 1212111, Lot 5, Block 1, Plan 1212111, Lot 6, Block 1, Plan 1212111 and Lot 7, Block 1, Plan 1212111. A municipality may levy, through an annual bylaw, a special tax to provide a special service that will benefit a defined area.

The estimated cost of the dust suppression for the area is $6,250 and the M.D. has jointly shared in the costs 50 per cent along with landowners. 

“During development at the west Highway 3 business park, the development agreement included that the M.D. has an option to levy a special tax against the lots created in the subdivision on an annual basis for the purpose of providing dust suppression to the standard desired by the M.D,” stated Bryan Badura, director of corporate services.

A total of $3,125 will be collected by special tax bylaw. Council had also carried a dust mitigation program policy at their Dec. 11 meeting which changed the rate paid for calcium dust suppression to $1.25 per lineal foot and to amend the maximum cost-share distance to 750 lineal feet.

Council carried all three readings of the bylaw.