Presenting … Sustainability
The Cochrane High School (CHS) Sustainability Development Committee delivered a warmly-received presentation to council on March 12 highlighting their solar panel project.
A student-led volunteer organization that has been active for 15 years, the committee operates under the mandate to “be the change we wish to see in the world.”
The group continues to fundraise for the total price tag of $125,000 to outfit the roof of the Cochrane High gymnasium in 144 low-lying solar panels this fall. They aim to have completed their fundraising goal by May and will not be asking the town for any dollars.
Coun. Pat Wilson asked about the life span of solar panels, which is 25 to 30 years. The project is estimated to recoup costs in 15 to 20 years.
Mayor Jeff Genung pointed out that he would like to see the solar panel project and the high school committee tie into the town’s big vie for $50 million grant prize through the Smart Cities Challenge – where the town is looking to make the map by getting tech savvy.
Lands Re-designated
The site adjacent to the future RCMP station in the west community of Heartland is seeking land re-designation to local commercial from its current status of multi-residential.
If re-designation is granted to the eight-acre site owned by Heartland developer Apex, it could potentially become public service lands to facilitate the RCMP site.
The applicant is also proposing the site include a future lube shop within the commercial site.
A public hearing date is scheduled for the next council session, at 6 p.m. on March 26.
Wildfire Threat Assessment
Chief David Humphrey of Cochrane Fire Services presented a report to council on the town’s overall wildfire threat.
As a municipal partner with Alberta Forest Service and other municipalities, the town applied for and received a $10,000 grant through the Forest Resource Improvement Association of Alberta to fund the assessment, which was conducted in the fall of 2016.
The report revealed that while most areas within the town have adequate clearance through resident and town landscaping and mowing, as grasses are one of the bigger causes of wildfires, some areas face increased risks due to steep slopes or being on private lands.
Some recreational trails also afford inadequate access for emergency response vehicles, namely due to trail width, grade or bridge capacity.
Humphries stressed the increased wildfire risk posed by bark-mulch landscaping due to inadequate setbacks from homes.
Moving forward, homebuilders and residents are cautioned to use more fire resistant materials to mitigate risks from roofing, siding, decking and fencing debris.
Parks and Spaces
At the behest of Coun. Tara McFadden, a parks and open spaces committee is being enacted by the town and will open up to include one town councillors and eight public-at-large members.
The role of the committee will be to engage with different stakeholder groups in town to identify and prioritize community needs as they pertain to green spaces, parks, pathways and recreational spaces.
Recruitment will begin right away for public-at-large members, including senior and youth representatives.
Brad Luft, manager of parks and open spaces for the town, gave an overview presentation of the different classifications of maintenance standards by the town.
Ranging from high maintenance spaces in category ‘A’ (such as downtown sites) to category ‘E’(wildlife corridors), council was interested to learn how concerned townspeople could address areas in need of additional maintenance – as the town typically does not promote residents to maintain public lands.
Council was advised that a simple phone call to draw attention to areas in town believed to be classified in the wrong maintenance categories is usually sufficient.
