The Town of Sedgewick’s imposed outdoor watering ban remains in effect as reservoir water levels have not yet risen to appropriate levels. Levels have increased somewhat since the ban was declared 7 days ago with the greatest jump recorded on Monday, August 23rd, a day that saw low temperatures and steady rain. Prior to the ban being put in place the reservoir had been depleted by over 25% which is a level considered to be critical.

Based on historical data, average overnight water demand has been approximately 2.5 liters per second in summer months. This overnight rate allows the reservoir to replenish itself rather quickly. Despite a current water ban and previous to that water restrictions being in place, levels during this time period in the last few weeks have rarely fallen below 4.0 liters per second. While there have been limited instances this summer of the water demand falling to 2.5 liters per second, the duration has not been long enough to make significant headway in replenishing the reservoir.

The Town of Sedgewick reminds residents that outdoor sprinklers including those on timers need to be completely shut off during a water ban. Once the water levels recover to their normal level, the ban will be lifted.

The Town of Sedgewick has imposed a Total Watering Ban in response to critically low reservoir levels. The ban is in effect as of Thursday, August 19th and will be in place for a minimum of one week with its status updated again before Thursday, August 26th. Should water levels be replenished by that time, the ban will be lifted.

A total watering ban applies to all properties both inside and outside of town corporate limits which use the Town of Sedgewick domestic water supply system. The ban restricts all watering of lawns, filling pools and hot tubs, and other outdoor water usage. Drip irrigation, hand held hoses, and using water containers continues to be permitted.

The reservoir levels have been depleted in excess of 25% of capacity. These levels place the Town in a challenging position in our preparedness for the risk of fire. Despite a watering restriction which permitted watering on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday evenings, watering has continued outside of this schedule resulting in the water treatment plant not been able to keep up to demand and levels continuing to fall. The Town of Sedgewick would like to remind residents that a healthy lawn requires no more than 1 inch of water each week. This summer, water distribution rates have regularly risen to 5 or 6 liters per second in the middle of the night which points to automatic sprinkler systems being used more than once/week and during restricted hours.

Although the ban focuses on outdoor watering, we ask residents to conserve water in any means possible during this period. 2018, 2019 and 2020 saw no water restrictions being put in place in Sedgewick demonstrating that the reservoir was able to serve the community adequately. There is no data pointing to a deficiency in the water system, but rather there is data showing demand is beyond what it has been in past years.

Bylaw 542 authorizes the Town of Sedgewick to issue violation tags to offenders of a watering ban. A person who contravenes any provision of the bylaw can be liable under summary conviction to pay a fine of not less than $100 and not more than $2500.

The Town of Sedgewick is reminding residents that a water restriction is still in effect with watering only permitted on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays between 7pm and 11pm. The water treatment plant reservoir continues to be at low levels and this would be alleviated if all outdoor watering was limited to this schedule. Excessive watering outside of the permitted hours is leading to the reservoir being at dangerously low levels. Should this not be corrected shortly, a full water ban will need to once again come into effect.

The following issues were discussed by Council at their August 5th, 2021 regular meeting.

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After an almost 2-year absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Town of Sedgewick is proud to announce that they have secured legendary Canadian rock band Streetheart to perform on Saturday, September 18^th at the Wild Rose Co-op Recreation Centre with the performance billed locally as “The Day the Music Came Back”.  Streetheart, originally from Regina, Saskatchewan and later based in Winnipeg, is best known for turning out the 80’s hits “Here Comes the Night”, “What Kind of Love is this?” and “One More Time” among others.

The performance brings live music back to the Campbell-McLennan Chrysler Stage for the first time since the community hosted Honeymoon Suite on October 19^th, 2019.  Gord Bamford’s #REDNEK tour was slated to make a stop at the venue in spring 2020 however the show was postponed and ultimately cancelled due to the coronavirus.  Streetheart formed in 1977 and by 1980 had won the Juno award for “Most Promising Group of the Year”.  The following decades earned them six gold and four platinum albums in Canada and several more awards including a People’s Choice Award as most popular Canadian act.

Taking the stage at 8pm as supporting act will be Who Made Who, the definitive tribute act to AC/DC.  Formed in 2005, the band quickly became the most in demand and unrivaled tribute to AC/DC in Canada.  Who Made Who takes pride in having the largest stage production with all the exacting gear to reproduce the sights and sounds of an AC/DC concert.

Tickets go on sale on Wednesday, July 28^th at 10am and can be purchased at the Town office in Sedgewick, at the Sedgewick and Killam Wild Rose Co-op Food Stores, and on Ticketmaster.ca

Ticket prices range from $64-$74 plus fees and taxes and corporate tables can be purchased by calling Randy at (780) 720-8779.

The Town of Sedgewick has been under an outdoor watering restriction on and off from the middle of May. The hot weather combined with a concurrent high demand for water across the community is the reason for the restrictions. The restrictions are not exclusive to Sedgewick and are the norm throughout many communities in Alberta each and every summer.

Outdoor Watering is now permitted in the Town of Sedgewick on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays between 7pm and 11pm. Please keep to these times and conserve water when possible.

Between July 9th and 15th, 620,400 gallons of water were used and supplied by the municipal reservoir which has a capacity of 450,000 gallons. From the beginning of July to mid-month, even with a partial watering ban in place, the reservoir was emptied more than three times. Water usage above and beyond what the reservoir was built to handle is the reason for the water restrictions imposed this summer.

We understand that this has been a hardship for many as it is in many towns and villages across Alberta at this time. We apologize for the inconvenience and hope the small-town values of pulling together for the greater good are able to prevail during this time.

The senate election proclamation has been issued to each municipality and local jurisdiction by the Chief Electoral Officer. This is an official notification to each jurisdiction to conduct the senate election.

The Order in Council and Writ of Election for the 2021 Alberta Senate Election was issued on June 23, 2021, to hold an election to select 3 Senate nominees who may be summoned to the Senate of Canada, to fill a vacancy or vacancies relating to Alberta. The Senate Election will take place on October 18, 2021, in conjunction with the 2021 Alberta Municipal Elections.

All local jurisdictions holding elections on October 18, 2021 will facilitate the vote by also issuing the senate election ballot to electors. In addition to election day voting, local jurisdictions may also offer advance voting, institutional voting, and special ballot voting. At each voting opportunity, the senate election ballot will be provided to electors to vote in this election.

The proclamation may be viewed here.

News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 17, 2021

Sedgewick, AB – The Flagstaff Regional Emergency Services Society (FRESS) is pleased to announce their formal ratification upon holding their Inaugural Meeting on June 15^th, 2021.

At the meeting the Mayor of the Village of Lougheed, Debra Smith and Division 6 Councillor of Flagstaff County, Erik Skoberg were confirmed as President and Vice-President, respectively.

On the ratification of FRESS, Debra Smith said, “This is a proud moment for the Flagstaff region. It is the result of years of commitment and contribution by a number of people including elected officials, CAO’s and Fire Chiefs”.

Background – The Flagstaff region has a long history of working collaboratively in emergency services and the concept of an independent and collective emergency services governing entity has been discussed for some time. An Emergency Services Committee (ESC) was first established in 2005 to formally explore a regional fire services model. Later in 2018, after considerable consultations and analysis work, a final Flagstaff Regional Emergency Services Society Business Plan was developed and approved. The plan produced recommendations for the implementation of a regional fire service through a society-based model. In 2021 the Emergency Services Committee commenced work on a Master Agreement which will facilitate a staged transition to the Society assuming control of all fire services. In addition, the Committee proceeded with the recruitment of a Regional Manager as outlined in the Business Plan.

On June 15^th, 2021, at its Inaugural Meeting, FRESS confirmed their selection of Mr. Derek Homme as the Regional Manager, Emergency Services. Mr. Homme possess 25+ years of progressive business management leadership experience in the private industrial emergency services sector combined with 15 years experience as a volunteer fire fighter.  Mr. Homme will officially start on July 5^th.

Debra continued, “While this is indeed a significant milestone for the Flagstaff Regional Emergency Services Society and all residents of the region, there remains considerable work to be done with all invested partners to get to the final transition stage of a regional fires services structure”.

The Flagstaff Regional Emergency Services Society is represented by and governs the fire services for nine municipalities: Flagstaff County, including the Hamlets of Strome and Galahad; the Towns of Hardisty, Sedgewick, Killam and Daysland; and the Villages of Forestburg, Alliance, Lougheed and Heisler.

Elections Alberta is currently recruiting Returning Officers for the 2023 Provincial General Election. They are over halfway through our recruitment campaign and have had little success recruiting, in our area, using traditional advertising channels.

For more information checkout the Elections Alberta Facebook account at https://www.facebook.com/electionsAB/

or the Elections Alberta Jobs site at elections.ab.ca/jobs

A July 1st parade is currently being planned with the Flagstaff Scottish Club Piping Band and the Royal Canadian Legion Colour Party leading the way. The parade, starting at 10:30am, will run its traditional route through Sedgewick with the AP Convenience Store, at the intersection of 48th Avenue and 50th Street, being the point of assembly. All interested participants including those with floats do not need to register, but are asked to meet at the assembly point by 10:15am.

Sedgewick was one of the few communities who chose to run a 2020 parade during Covid, although strict social distancing measures were adhered to. The Town will monitor the current situation closely as the July 1st date approaches and respond to the advice at the time from the provincial government.