Lacombe police set priorities

Crimes against the person and drunk driving have been identified as top priorities for Lacombe Police Service to tackle in 2009.

Chief Gary Leslie said a survey was mailed in the spring to 4,000 residents and about 250 or six per cent were returned for analysis. The survey consisted of nine questions relating to overall performance and competence of the police members.

“The service found the survey to be an excellent tool in gauging public opinion and something that the service will definitely do again in a couple of years,” Leslie said.

The survey also included a list of six types of enforcement and asked the respondents to list them in priority.

An independent group then tallied the survey during the summer and provided the results to the police service this fall. Leslie said the results will be incorporated into the 2009 police business plan.

Drug enforcement was the third priority while crimes against businesses ranked fourth, traffic enforcement fifth and computer crime sixth.

The survey also allowed for personal comment.

Variety of charges laid in Lacombe

A combined police Check Stop program saw more than 1,000 vehicles checked during a five-day period in the Lacombe area during the Christmas season.

Lacombe Police Chief Gary Leslie said Lacombe police were joined by the RCMP and Alberta Sheriff’s Department in the stops.

Leslie said about 45 charges were laid. Leslie said 24-hour suspensions topped the list of offences with 13 issued. Other charges included:

• 11 vehicles towed;

• three drug charges;

• five Gaming and Liquor Act charges;

• one other Criminal Code offence;

• two seat-belt charges;

• two suspended drivers;

• three graduated licence charges;

• two other traffic charges;

• one 30-day vehicle seizure;

• one equipment charge.

Cold helps cool down crime calls

The bitterly cold weather may have been a factor in a decline of almost 200 calls last week to city RCMP for assistance. The reduction is based on the 2008 weekly average of 812 calls.

The temperature rarely climbed above -24C last week and police received 623 calls for assistance, according to statistics released Monday for the week.

Numbers were down in all categories, with just four domestic violence calls compared with an average around 35 for several weeks at the end of 2008.

Automobile thefts were on par with 12.

There were no robbery reports last week and just seven break-ins of businesses and residences. The 2008 weekly break-in average was about 12.

Police also reported 26 assaults and 41 thefts.

Other figures released included:

• 45 bylaw infractions;

• eight drug investigations;

• 11 frauds;

• 28 mischief calls;

• 21 suspicious person vehicle or activity complaints;

• 40 victim services assistance calls.

Notre Dame adds portable class

Red Deer Catholic Regional School Division is hoping some temporary classroom space will provide a measure of relief to crowded conditions at Notre Dame High School.

On Monday, Red Deer’s municipal planning commission authorized the development of a modular addition on the northwest corner of the school. The 1,940-square-foot structure would be linked to the main building and match it in appearance. It would contain one classroom.

Ken Jaeger, the school division’s supervisor of support services, said after the commission’s meeting that the addition should be ready by September. He added that other modular buildings are planned that would give Notre Dame at least six more temporary classrooms, but funding for these has not yet been approved by Alberta Education.

“We’d like them as soon as we can,” said Jaeger. Until then, the high school will manage with the space it has.

“It just means the school is going to have to be a bit more creative when they’re doing their timetable and assigning classroom spaces.”

For instance, he said, space occupied only part of the time — such as a computer lab — might be converted into a classroom. And some programming might be scheduled outside of regular school hours.

Red Deer Catholic Regional School Division is seeking funding for another high school in the city, but when such a project might be approved is unknown.

Methane well projects at MPC

A proposal to develop a pair of coalbed methane wells and a pipeline on Red Deer’s southern outskirts was cause for concern at the city’s municipal planning commission meeting on Monday.

Just Freehold Energy Corp. is seeking approval from the Energy Resources Conservation Board to drill the wells and construct a pipeline east of Red Deer’s waste management facility. The site is in Red Deer County, but falls within the city’s designated growth area under the Intermunicipal Development Plan.

The commission heard that the wells and pipeline could remain active for 15 to 20 years. Information provided by Just Freehold Energy indicated that nearby water wells could be tested before and after drilling, and that some flaring could occur.

Councillor Lorna Watkinson-Zimmer wondered if the matter should go to city council because the area is slated for future development.

“I just feel that this needs to be much more public,” she said.

Paul Goranson, Red Deer’s director of Development Services, pointed out that responsibility for a decision on the matter rests with the ERCB and that the city would only be able to register an objection.

He agreed it’s important to ensure future growth is not impeded and suggested that a side agreement with Just Freehold Energy might be a good way to achieve this.

The city previously entered into such an agreement with another energy company, said Goranson.

Tony Lindhout, city planning manager with Parkland Community Planning Services, noted that Just Freehold Energy’s facilities would be located along the boundary between quarter sections, which would minimize the disruption to development. They are also proposed for an area slated for industrial use, he said.

The commission voted to table the matter for one week to get additional information about the city’s future growth plans.