Hinton News

First and second reading for the tax rate bylaw were given last week, but council failed to achieve unanimous consent to give third reading, meaning a special meeting had to be called this week so tax notices could be sent out as soon as possible.

Council voted on giving unanimous consent to move to third reading, but Coun. Stuart Taylor opposed, meaning third and final reading will have to be given next week at a special council meeting on May 13.

"It begins with education, and you just got to keep pushing on it."

Residents pay for these services up-front and receive a substandard job or are asked to pay more than originally quoted. The contractors will then disappear from the area before people realized they have been scammed.

"This is a Canadian icon, and we're actively wiping them out, and I think that should just be a big disappointment to all Canadians and to Albertans. It's embarrassing."

This option will generate a $800,000 surplus with a third going to the recreation centre reserve, a third to a tax rate stabilization reserve and the final third to asset management. These allocations got unanimous support.

"This is a planned exercise to test evacuation procedures and raise awareness about emergency readiness in the event of a wildfire."

Earlier this year, the Alberta government pledged $2 million toward developing the regional transit service to help workers and displaced residents commute between Jasper and Hinton.

A majority of the boardwalk will be fully walkable and open for public use by May 11, but some sections will remain in their pile state until the contractor returns next winter to complete the remaining work.