M.D. of Willow Creek to support Nanton Junior Rodeo

By Rob Vogt
The Municipal District of Willow Creek will provide $1,700 for the Nanton Junior Rodeo.
At its April 26 meeting, the M.D. council agreed to provide the financial support to come from the discretionary funds of councillors, with Coun. Evan Berger contributing $400; Coun. Brian Nelson contributing $300; and Reeve Maryanne Sandberg and Couns. Glen Alm, Earl Hemmaway, John Kroetsch, and John Van Driesten contributing $200 each.
The Nanton Junior Rodeo series, running in June and July, allows contestants ages seven and under to 16 to develop and showcase their skills in barrel racing, pole bending, goat tying, breakaway roping, team roping, calf roping and steer riding.
High River health-care foundation
Council will provide $1,650 to the High River District Health Care Foundation for the 35th Annual High River District Health Care Dinner and Auction MASH Bash 2.0, with Berger and Hemmaway each providing $500 from their discretionary funds, Nelson contributing $400, and Alm providing $250.
Nanton Children’s Festival
Council agreed to provide $250 to the Nanton Children Society for the 2023 Nanton Children’s Festival with Berger and Nelson providing $100 each from their discretionary funds, and Alm contributing $50.
It will be a fun day for kids as part of the Town’s Round-Up Days.
Weed, pest inspectors
Council appointed Craig Scott, Duncan McLean, and Kirby Hugo as weed and pest Inspectors for the M.D. through the course of their employment with the M.D
Council also appointed Ryan Dovell as an agricultural fieldman as per the Agricultural Service Board Act acting on behalf of the M.D., filling the role of assistant agricultural fieldman/environmental technician.
Letter of support
Council agreed to send a letter of support for a grant application by the Oldman Watershed Dam’s Downstream Stakeholders Guild, or O-DAM, to the Land Stewardship Centre, which, if approved, would allow them to purchase computer equipment, pay for a year cell phone service, reduce the volunteer hours and services, and reduce the cost to the irrigators. It is for a project to gather information from irrigators on water usage and provide it to the operators of the Pine Coulee Reservoir for managing the release of water from the reservoir.
Rescinding road closure
Council gave all three readings to a bylaw to reopen portions of a closed public roadway to public travel as the road allowance is now required to provide access to certain properties located adjacent to the east portion of 32 and 29-8-25-4 southeast of Fort Macleod.
Volunteer appreciation
Council agreed to send Couns. Glen Alm and Earl Hemmaway and their spouses, if possible, along with Chief Administrative Officer Derrick Krizsan and his wife Rhonda, to a Volunteer Appreciation put on by Claresholm and District Family and Community Support Services on May 30 at the Claresholm Community Centre.
RCMP meeting
Reeve Maryanne Sandberg and Couns. Glen Alm, Evan Berger and Brian Nelson agreed to attend a meeting of the Claresholm and nanton RCMP detachments on May 4 in Claresholm to discuss the hubbing of the two detachments. Hubbing is where they essentially act as one detachment, with members from both detachments responding to calls in both areas.
Education
Council also agreed to send Coun. Brian Nelson to a virtual session on “Council’s role in strategic planning” on May 4. It is part of the elected officials education program.
Closed session
Council went into closed session at the end of its meeting.
Upon reverting to open session, council agreed to talk to the Municipal District of Ranchland to advise them the M.D. of Willow Creek is opposed to their proposed closure of a road that provides access to the Wilderness Ranch in the western part of the M.D. of Willow Creek.