Garbage collection ends for residents in the Claresholm airport area

By Rob Vogt
With the Town of Claresholm stopping garbage collection in the Claresholm airport area, the Municipal District of Willow Creek has decided not to step in, so residents will have to manage their own garbage and dispose of it at the landfill or the M.D. garbage trailer located in the Town of Claresholm.
The decision came at M.D. council’s Nov. 15 meeting after a presentation by administration.
Derrick Krizsan, the M.D.’s chief administrative officer, explained that on Oct. 20, the Town of Claresholm informed the M.D. it will no longer be collecting residential garbage in the airport area as it is not cost effective.
The M.D. then compiled three service options and conducted a short survey to understand how this is best dealt with to ensure the M.D. is meeting the community expectation and their willingness to pay for the service.
The three options are:
• Option 1 – The service would no longer be provided and residents would have to manage their garbage and dispose of it at the landfill or the M.D. garbage trailer located in the Town of Claresholm. This option would not have a cost to the residents.
• Option 2 – A large bin would be located near the residential properties in the area. Garbage had to be carried to the bin for removal. This option would cost residents approximately $10 per month. This option is at full cost recovery to the municipality.
• Option 3 – A residential garbage bin would be given to the residents and the M.D. would collect and dispose of the garbage weekly from the front of each property. This option would cost significantly more at $125 per month per residential property.
The survey results revealed five of seven residents participated in the survey, with 100 percent of respondents preferring Option 2, and 100 percent of respondents willing to pay for the service which was estimated to cost each residential property $10 per month.
Coun. Glen Alm said everyone else in the M.D. has to take their garbage to the bin in Claresholm every week.
Coun. Brian Nelson said these are rural residents.
Alm responded this would mean offering a service for a select few.
Reeve Maryanne Sandberg asked what about the survey results?
Alm replied the M.D. did not survey the other 35 surrounding ratepayers.
Council then agreed to go with Option 2, with everyone voting in favour except Sandberg and Coun. Earl Hemmaway who were opposed and Coun. John Van Driesten who was absent.