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Council Round-up: Some residents still not aware of temporary trash pickup changes

Apr 24, 2013 | 6:37 AM

The City of Prince Albert has pushed back recycling and garbage collection to 5 a.m. until further notice, but many residents are still putting their trash out too late.

Ordinarily, waste collection would start at 7 a.m. But because there’s still snow melting in the rear lanes making it difficult for vehicles move through, the city has changed the start time for pickups for residences.

“We’re going earlier while … we have some frost working for us,” director of public works Colin Innes told the executive committee Monday evening.

And the fact the word hasn’t gotten out about the change to all residents is a concern for Coun. Tim Scharkowski.

He asked the committee to come up way to get the word out “front face and centre,” suggesting using digital signs or portable billboards.

“I know that there’s been a lot of complaints, having to run back two or three times to get the job done that way,” Scharkowski said.

Mayor Greg Dionne said he received two calls from residents about the issue. He said those residents don’t put their bins out until 7 a.m., when they are going to work.

“And they didn’t hear anything either, so, it’s, whatever we can do better to communicate.”

But Coun. Charlene Miller turned to social media to try to inform residents about the time change. She posted it on Facebook. “And everybody actually ‘liked’ it.”

After the meeting, Innes said because of the way the melt is shaping up, the start time of garbage and recycling pick-up may be 5 a.m. for two to three weeks.

“In some of the lanes, you don’t get a lot of sun on them, and so it’ll be a little while before they all get cleaned up. But I think we’re all hoping the snow goes here pretty fast. I think we’re all sick of it.”

NEW SERVICING AGREEMENT PROPOSED WITH WAHPETON DAKOTA NATION

The City of Prince Albert and Wahpeton Dakota Nation are looking to enter into a servicing agreement, which would include the First Nation adding property to its reserve. The property is located in Prince Albert and the Rural Municipality of Buckland.

Dionne said that this is a similar sort of service agreement the city has in place with “urban reserves.” But city manager Robert Cotterill pointed out that the difference between this and other service agreements, is that Wahpeton Dakota Nation will be acquiring land, versus where it owned the land before.

“This is for their two quarters of light industrial land north of the river,” Dionne said. He said they have two businesses they’re prepared to make an announcement about once the agreement has been signed.

“And they also have, just right across the road from this, there’s another quarter, but that’s actually in Buckland…,” he said.

The land within the city will be “set apart as an Addition to Reserve,” according to the servicing agreement. The agreement was signed by the Wahpeton Dakota Nation’s chief and four councillors April 12.

The agreement still needs to be signed by Prince Albert’s mayor and city clerk.

It will be up for final approval by council in an upcoming meeting.

tjames@panow.com

On Twitter: @thiajames