BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association
Your Data Your Rights
The Town of Oyen council heard an update on a growing residential development during their Oct. 14 regular council meeting.
In a phone call with The Oyen Echo Oct. 15, Mayor Doug Jones noted the council meeting featured a number of important delegations; the first was Pete Lundy of WP Holdings to discuss the Oyen Estates development. Jones stated the development owner wanted to update town council on the arrival of modular homes to the development, noting one had arrived with more on the way.
Jones stated town council was informed there are to be four modular homes in total.
The second delegation was Sgt. Mike Brown, representing the Oyen RCMP detachment, who provided councillors with a regular update on community and public safety trends. Jones noted nothing unusual stood out in the report, just that crime issues in Oyen are similar to other rural areas across Alberta and could be linked to things like the economy and high cost of living.
Jones also noted that Town of Oyen representatives met with a new regional RCMP commander recently, an officer who is responsible for all of the detachments south of Airdrie. The mayor stated it was nice to meet this new person and get to know them face-to-face.
The third delegate was local property owner Darrell Tompkins, who wanted to talk to council about trees that were to be planted by the Town of Oyen this summer near Tompkins’ property; Jones noted that the town wasn’t able to get the trees planted and as it’s late in the year they won’t be placed until 2027. The mayor noted new trees when planted would be four- to five-foot-tall plants.
Tompkins also voiced some bylaw concerns and Jones stated that town council is talking about forming a committee to discuss those issues this winter.
Jones noted that the fourth delegate, local property owner Lorraine Gukert, didn’t appear for the council meeting; the agenda noted Gukert was going to discuss Oyen economic development and matters of conflict and Jones stated certain issues covered by Government of Alberta privacy legislation required discussion in “closed session”; that is, the discussion would be held privately.
The Municipal Government Act (MGA) and privacy laws such as Access to Information Act (ATIA) require certain topics such as a person’s finances or staffing issues be discussed privately.
Councillors also had a previous request by the Community Foundation of Southeast Alberta (CFSEA) on their agenda, specifically a request for $5,000 for the Town of Oyen to join the Special Olympics Canada Summer Games Legacy Fund. Jones noted the council will discuss this issue at a future meeting. The mayor related that town council usually likes to grant money locally but this request remains on the table.
Councillors approved a donation of $1,000 to the Royal Canadian Legion Branch Oyen for an annual school Remembrance Day ceremony; the ceremony is held for students from Oyen, New Brigden, Acadia Valley and Empress. The mayor stated council felt the ceremony was very important to support.
Jones noted that Oyen town council is preparing to talk about the 2027 budget and has a pre-planning meeting planned soon.
As well, the annual organizational meeting where councillors are assigned their committee work has been re-scheduled as some new boards may be formed. As well, Jones stated he’s in favour of councillors moving onto some new boards and committees so they get more experience.
Councillors pondered a Public Works committee recommendations report, with the mayor stating Oyen wants to be ready for next year when a paving contractor is in the area.
Jones observed that siding for the medical professionals apartment building has arrived and that a contractor has been found to finish the work. The mayor stated this siding is the concrete style that’s quite durable and long-lasting.
As well, a contractor is currently working on the new medical clinic’s unfinished parking lot. Jones stated there are hopes the clinic could be in use by December of this year.
The Local Journalism Initiative (LJI) is a federally funded program to add coverage in under-covered areas or on under-covered issues. This content is created and submitted by participating publishers and is not edited. Access can also be gained by registering and logging in at: https://lji-ijl.ca
You can support trusted and verified news content like this.
FIPA’s news monitor subscribers, donors and funders help make these available to everyone rather than behind a paywall. We appreciate every contribution because it makes a difference.
If you found this article interesting and useful, please consider contributing here.
