Bridge work

Two of the St. Albert’s pedestrian bridges will be shut down this spring and summer for repairs.

The Berrymore pedestrian bridge that crosses the Sturgeon River from Red Willow Trail to St. Albert Centre, will close to the public from March 11 to May 30 (weather dependent) as crews give it a facelift. Trail users who want to cross the river can do so at either St. Albert Trail or Boudreau Road.

The city will be repairing some concrete on the bridge, as well as shrinking the spaces in between railings on the pedestrian walkways and erecting signs asking cyclists to dismount as they cross the bridge.

The McKenney pedestrian bridge will also get some work done this spring and summer, though no specific dates have been announced.

That will bring to four the number of city pedestrian bridges the city has rehabilitated as part of its long-term bridge maintenance strategy. Last year the Braeside Ravine and Oakmont bridges were completed. The total for the rehabilitation of all four bridges is approximately $250,000.

Tax sale

Residents looking for a good home at market value might have a chance to bid on a few properties next month

City council approved on Monday a date of April 24 for its annual property tax sale. The sale allows the city to sell the homes of individuals whose property tax accounts are two years or more in arrears. The homes must be sold at market value and any buyers must pay a 10-per-cent deposit and balance within 30 days of the sale.

All lands are offered on an “as is, where is” basis.

This year the city has 11 properties on its arrears list that are eligible to be sold by the city to recover outstanding property taxes, including one condominium parking stall.

But history is not on the side of actually holding an auction. Greg Dahlen, the city’s director of assessment and taxation services, said he knows of only one piece of property the city has actually taken possession of, and that was a piece of remnant property. He said the city has never take possession of a residential property as homeowners or mortgage companies usually make arrangements to repay their taxes before the city holds its auction.

Solving conflict

Sturgeon County and the City of St. Albert will ask their respective administrative leaders to get together to help solve any problems that arise between the two municipalities in the future.

On Monday city council endorsed the idea of setting up an administrative sub-committee of the existing intermunicipal affairs committee.

In effect, city manager Patrick Draper and county commissioner Peter Tarnawsky will be charged with meeting and working out potential solutions to any disputes that might arise between the two municipalities. Those solutions would then be presented to the intermunicipal affairs committee, which consists of members of both councils.

Both St. Albert and Sturgeon approved the idea at a joint council meeting last week but both are now required to pass a motion individually. Draper said Monday he will report council’s approval to Tarnawsky, who will arrange a similar vote for Sturgeon County council.

While Draper said there are no immediate disputes that need to be worked out, relations between the two sides have been strained for several years. Sturgeon County is holding a public hearing on its municipal development plan, which St. Albert has expressed concern about, on Tuesday.

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