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Environment
Nearly all respondents (97%) know what can be done to reduce bear attractants and that a bear coming in to town continually will be destroyed. Most people (70%) know that there is a bylaw that prohibits placing garbage outside until the morning but some comments indicated that this was difficult to comply with due to shift work; workers have to place their garbage outside the night before because they don’t get home in time from night shift. In any case, 54% of people think that it should be prohibited to place your garbage outside until morning and the same percentage of respondents believe that it should be placed in containers only.
Almost everyone (92%) knew about the bylaw prohibiting feeding deer and some people commented that the deer in town is a major problem. Some comments included implementing a deer culling program due to deer attracting bears and cougars into yards and starting a Deer Aware program similar to Bear Aware.
Recycling
Most people (97%) state that they use the recycling bins in town (in the Heights and at Esso) and many (79%) are satisfied with the current recycling program. Only 17% believe that a door to door blue box system should be implemented. Comments on this system and recycling in general include:
- If it would help people recycle then yes [implementing the blue box system].
- I like the blue bin recycling program if it’s not too much of an increase I would definitely recycle more.
- If I have to pay to recycle then I’m not going to.
- Although it would cost more for door to door recycling I feel more people would recycle if it meant that placing it outside on pickup day. We also need an option for disposing of batteries and other hazardous waste as I understand it is just put into our landfill the same with syringes and needles from the hospital. It is NOT ok for these things to be buried.
- Put paper recycling containers at each post office box around town so people recycle junk mail instead of putting it in the garbage containers.
- I don’t believe that it should be necessary to double our current garbage bill to introduce the blue box system. Perhaps 10-20 percent.
- I am personally satisfied with the location of the yellow bins but the public seem to want the individual blue box system. We should do more to let residents know what the cost would be.
Well over three quarters of respondents (83%) knew about the active removal of infested pine trees in Sparwood since 2003. The next question asked what areas in town are sensitive and should only have the infected pine removed. Near to a third (31%) of respondents believe that all areas of town are sensitive, 32% think that all greenbelts, parks, recreation areas should be considered sensitive. Twelve percent believe that areas around homes or on hillsides should be classified sensitive. Only 5% of respondents believe that no area of town should be labeled sensitive.
Several areas were mentioned specifically that should be classified as sensitive: Old Rodeo grounds, along Pine Avenue, greenbelt between Michel Creek Road and town centre, campground, the Heights, between the Heights and Highway #43, by Mountain View school and on the bank behind houses off of Pine.
There were several comments mentioning a complete disagreement with the pine removal program:
- All areas [should be considered sensitive]. I think the "Pine Beetle" thing has gone too far.
- I would say the knapweed is a bigger problem
Some are concerned about the level of pine removal occurring in Sparwood and the plans for after logging:
- We should have a plan " now" not after all the trees are removed
- All of the developed area of Sparwood should not have the Pine removed until there is a plan in place to replant with trees of a size that will provide some screening (2-3" caliber).
- Trees across from our house were logged but the loggers said that there was no infection yet removed anyway!!
- They don’t want to live in a clear cut
- Don't cut every tree please
- You already removed a sensitive area by the rec centre and there was no pine beetle
Mosquito Control
Only 60% of respondents were aware of the Mosquito Control Program and about 26% were aware of the West Nile Virus Mosquito Surveillance Program and Emergency Response Plan. The only comment made about mosquitoes was that tires on the roofs of mobile homes should be removed as they create a breeding ground for the insects.