Kneehill County was successful in passing a resolution to the Alberta Association of Municipal District and Counties (AAMD&C) to help farmers deal with agricultural plastic.
The AAMD&C’s annual conference was held in Edmonton last week. Kneehill and Lacombe County sponsored a resolution that request that “Alberta Environment and Parks develop a recycling program that will assist municipalities in providing for the collection and recycling of agricultural plastics in the province of Alberta.”
Ag plastic includes items such as grain bags and twine.
“It’s a growing issue,” said Kneehill Reeve Bob Long. “What we are trying to do is get that out of the landfills and keep it away from being burned on farms. We are asking for Alberta Environment to take over the file.”
When a resolution is passed it becomes a lobbying item for the AAMD&C to take to the provincial government.
This was the first AAMD&C convention since the election of the new Notley government in Alberta, and was an opportunity for municipal officials to meet the new ministers.
“We had our Caucus Meeting, and the premier addressed us. Is there anything new or startling? No,” he said. “This government is about collaboration, and I have nothing against that. What we have done in our municipality, we have collaborated with our partners and we are also sharing on our linear (tax revenue).”
He explains there was discussion on sharing linear taxes. Linear property consists of oil and gas wells, pipelines, telecommunication, cable and electrical power property. Many urban municipalities would like to see this shared.
This is where rural municipalities share a portion of this tax revenue with municipal centres. He says Kneehill already contributes $1.25 million they divide between Trochu, Three Hills, Carbon, Acme and Linden. He acknowledges many counties do not share.
“There are certain costs for small towns, we think we have to try and keep small town viable, and we’ll help,” said Long. “Our position all along is to leave the money local. Our fear is they were going to take the money from rural Alberta and give it to larger centres.”
He has mixed feelings about
the new government. While on the one hand, they welcome spending on much needed infrastructure, he is worried about how it will all be paid for.
“The biggest thing I am hearing is the borrowing,” said Long. “Everyone of us have a mortgage to get housing for example, it is just what you do. The difficulty we are going to have during this period of low oil revenue, is how are you going to maintain infrastructure and then continue to pay the debt after. That will be the challenge for this government in the future.
“I don’t really hear anyone complaining about investing in infrastructure, the complaint I am hearing is we are going to have to pay it,” said Long.
