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Heritage Park improvements, new garbage truck coming to Air Ronge in 2019

Dec 26, 2018 | 11:00 AM

Air Ronge Mayor Gordon Stomp believes it was a good year for general operations in the village.

“We didn’t have a fire season or a flood season, so we had sort of a normal year to get through,” Stomp said about 2018. “We had excellent administrative involvement and maintenance kept the village going quite smoothly.”

Earlier this summer, work began at Heritage Park along the Montreal River in Air Ronge and Stomp noted more work will occur there in 2019. He added landscaping and the installation of new playground equipment still needs to be done, and council is considering building a structure to host events or barbecues. By the end of next year, Stomp is confident the majority of the work will be completed.

Stomp stated council is also excited about the near completion of a new landfill near Air Ronge. It will be used by La Ronge, Air Ronge and the Lac La Ronge Indian Band, as well as a number of other northern communities. The current landfill is operated by Lac La Ronge Waste Management and Stomp is hoping in the next year or two it will be incorporated into a separate identity.

“We also started discussion and actions to begin the incorporation of the regional fire department,” he said. “We hope those two things will continue in the next year and we’ll resolve some of the process to become fully incorporated with those two bodies.”

A new garbage truck with a mechanical arm is also expected to arrive in the spring of 2019. Hundreds of new waste bins have already been delivered and Stomp said having the new truck will change the way garbage is collected. He added the system will be more in line with occupational health and safety guidelines.

Stomp also expects council to begin discussions on a couple of large projects next year. He said there will soon be demand for new serviced lots in the village and the idea to build a community hall has also been brought up.

“There’s been discussion about creating housing development and that would be on the Big Stone Road,” Stomp said. “These are things that take a lot of money, planning, public meetings and an explanation to the electorate as well.”

Lighting improvements could also occur in Air Ronge in 2019, but Stomp noted SaskPower is yet to confirm if it will happen or not. The use of better and more lighting in the village will hopefully drive down some of the vandalism residents experienced in 2018.

With the year coming to a close, Stomp also wanted to wish a happy holiday season to residents on behalf of council.

“Merry Christmas and all the best in the New Year,” he said.

 

derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno