M.D. of Taber council meeting briefs from March 11

Posted on March 27, 2025 by Taber Times

By Heather Cameron
Taber Times
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The following are selected briefs from the M.D. of Taber Council meeting on March 11.

Protocols, Announcements, and Recognitions

Council briefly discussed the departure of employee Doug Odland, who served the M.D. of Taber for 17 years as a Grader Operator prior to exiting, and expressed appreciation for the service and good representation he gave the M.D. of Taber in his work with the M.D.’s roads and infrastructure as well as his personal contribution to the community. Council also invited Odland to speak and Odland described the M.D. as ‘a big family who helps as much as they can,’ something they should be proud of. 

Upcoming Meetings and Events

Council reviewed several upcoming meetings and events including: 

The Southern Alberta Economic Summit 2025 on March 27, 2025 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Lethbridge Agri-Food Hub and Trade Centre.

The Vauxhall Academy of Baseball Annual Fundraiser Banquet on March 28, 2025 from 5:45 to 11:30 p.m. at the Vauxhall Community Hall.

The Cowboy Poetry event on March 29, 2025 at Parkside Manor in Taber from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The EDA Experience 2025 Leaders’ Summit and Conference from April 9-11, 2025 in Kananaskis.

The Local Producers Dinner Gala on April 11, 2025 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Lethbridge Polytechnic Garden Court Restaurant.

The M.D. of Taber AGM on April 17, 2025 at 7 p.m. at the Vauxhall Community Center.

In addition to that, Council discussed an item that was not on the agenda: an FCSS All-Council Meeting on April 2, 2025 at 6 p.m. in Coaldale at the City Civic Center, an event that all municipalities who make up FCSS are invited to attend.

Council also briefly made mention of the Taber Charity Auction at the Taber Auditorium on April 5, 2025.

A motion was made for Council to receive the upcoming meetings and events with the mentioned changes for information and the motion was carried.

2025 Public Works Projects

Council discussed a memo that Administration had put together to highlight progress that was made in 2024 on Public Works projects in that year, but to also reference projected targets for 2025. M.D. of Taber Director of Operations Corey Greene shared the memo, which stated that the summer season is expected to be in full swing by early April, but some operations programs will start earlier if weather allows. 

In the past years, the memo stated, weather, equipment breakdowns, staff shortage, additional projects and service calls have impacted the operations , and steps that are being taken to mitigate the concerns will include performing maintenance to equipment during pour weather periods, procuring newer equipment and completing maintenance at regular intervals, ensuring sufficient staff is hired and training is current, prioritizing of projects that come up, creating sufficient staffing that will allow operators enough time to address all areas regularly which, in theory, should reduce service calls. 

The memo stated that the projects include, but are not limited to the Enchant Landfill Expansion, Enchant Pedestrian Intersection realignment and various gravel pit maintenance requirements, and that the projected 2025 operations targets are: 

Road Gravelling – 359 miles 

Gravel Recovery – 105 miles 

Shoulder Pull – 17 miles, which is limited in 2025 due to Landfill and Pedestrian Crossing.

Drainage Projects – 65 sites

The memo, Greene says, also listed information regarding the aforementioned 2024 construction season, listing Actuals for 2024 vs Proposed/Targeted for 2024.

Road Graveling – 282 miles completed/592 miles proposed. 

Gravel Recovery – 51 miles / 83.25 miles proposed. 

Shoulder Pull – 13.5 miles / 22.5 miles proposed. 

Drainage Projects – 47 sites completed/50 sites proposed.

Following discussion for clarifications, Reeve Miyanaga stated that it is nice that Council always gets project updates shared with them, as she feels it’s a very good addition to the CAO report, a good source of awareness, and the report also creates familiarity with the projects. Reeve Miyanaga also stated that the M.D. has ‘dedicated a significant portion of the budget towards roads, drainage, recovery of gravel, and gravel crushing, and not just operationally, but also to buying necessary equipment. Council, Reeve Miyanaga stated, recognizes the importance of safe and good roads to travel throughout the municipality. A motion was then made that Council receive the memoir presented on the 2025 Public Works construction and construction gravelling plan for information and the motion was carried.

Hamlet Cleanup

Council reviewed a Request For Decision memo presented by Administration regarding adjusting scheduled Hamlet Cleanup events. According to the memo, Administration stated, the Agricultural Service Department has conducted semi-annual Hamlet Cleanup service, typically towards the end of April and the end of October for the last 20+ years, the Hamlet Cleanup event takes place in the hamlets of Enchant, Hays, Grassy Lake, Purple Springs, and Johnson’s Addition. Administration established to Council that this municipally delivered service has given hamlet residents opportunity to clean up their yards and properties, making the hamlets safer and more appealing, but the need for a semi-annual event has ‘diminished greatly.’ Administration’s recommendation to Council was that the M.D. of Taber adjust scheduled Hamlet Cleanup events to occur once each year during the Spring. To support this recommendation, M.D. of Taber Director of Operations Corey Greene explained that ‘the program has served its purpose well and will continue to serve its purpose,’ but Administration is finding that there aren’t as many loads being taken from the hamlets in the fall. The clean up event, Administration stated, offers residents of hamlets a way to get rid of their large items, but now that the hamlets are ‘easily manageable,’ they feel that the event could be held just once per year. Ultimately, Councillor Reynolds made a motion that the M.D. of Taber adjust the scheduled hamlet cleanup events to occur once each year during the spring and the motion was carried.

Paving Overlay Project

Council reviewed a Request For Decision memo from Administration regarding awarding the contract for asphalt overlay for Range Road 18-4 and Township Road 15-0. According to the memo, Administration explained, six quotations were received in a range between $1,162,375.00 and $1,553,475.00, with the two of the higher bids disqualified due to not having the proper bonding in place. Administration explained to Council that the approved 2025 capital budget for this project is $1,500,000, and after proposal evaluations were performed, Brooks Asphalt and Aggregate Ltd. (BAA) was selected based on the criteria including RFQ requirements, prior experience, references, fees, and value added. Administration also explained that the sections of road involved in the discussion received soil stabilization and various chip seal applications approximately 17 years ago, but due to the nature of soil cement and chip seal potholes are developing and becoming an additional load on the patching crew. The memo established that because of those issues, an overlay is being proposed for the section of road, as it has had great success on other soil cement type roads and the only section that will be left out during the overlay will be roughly a two-mile section at the east end of Twp Rd 15-0 with Administration suggesting that that s section of road should be turned back to gravel when the deterioration of the surface falls further into disrepair. Administration was clear in that those last two miles are directly affected by the two new feedlots in this area and any hard surface we place in this area will likely be damaged due to the amount of heavy truck traffic. With all those facts established, Administration recommended to Council that the M.D. of Taber award the contract to Brooks Asphalt & Aggregate Ltd. (BAA) for $1,162,375.00, in order to complete the construction of the asphalt overlay on Range Road 18-4 and Township Road 15-0. A motion was ultimately made that that the M.D. of Taber award the contract to Brooks Asphalt & Aggregate Ltd. (BAA) for $1,162,375.00, in order to complete the construction of the asphalt overlay on Range Road 18-4 and Township Road 15-0. The motion was carried.