Mountain View County's Agricultural Services Department is offering a number of workshops and programs for local producers.

The upcoming events include:

• Annual Ladies Livestock Lessons on June 14 & 15. Click here for registration information.
• Controlled Grazing School; four dates in June. Click this link for further info.

On January 1, 2012 Bylaw No. 14/11 Community Aggregate Payment Levy came into effect.

Under the terms of the bylaw a $0.25 per tonne levy will be applied on all shipments of aggregate from any pit within the boundaries of Mountain View County. The levy will be applied against sand and gravel business operators and not the individual landowners.

Exemptions to the Community Aggregate Payment Levy Bylaw include shipments for provincial or municipal projects. However, those shipments must be accounted for in the semi-annual reports provided by the pit operators.

Council passed the bylaw on October 19 after a public input process, which included a public hearing that featured numerous representatives from the local sand and gravel industry. Council determined through the public hearing process and by reviewing submissions in regards to the bylaw to dedicate funds raised from the levy towards the cost of infrastructure upgrades and maintenance - in particular County roadways directly affected by the gravel industry.

Under the terms of the bylaw operators must provide semi-annual reports to Mountain View County within 30 days of June 30 and December 31. The reports must be submitted using an Aggregate Tonnage Roll that will be available from the MVC office or on the County's website at www.mountainviewcounty.com.

Within 45 days of receiving the report, the County will send out to each operator a levy notice in the form of an accounts receivable invoice. Payment will be due within 30 days of mailing of the levy notice.

In developing the bylaw, Council took into account that the levy is supported by the Alberta Sand and Gravel Association, an organization that collaborated with the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties, the Alberta Road Builders and Heavy Construction Association to develop the Community Aggregate Payment Levy concept.

According to the Alberta Sand and Gravel Association, 22 Counties and Municipal Districts in Alberta were collecting a Community Aggregate Payment in 2009. In November Red Deer County also approved a Community Aggregate Payment Levy Bylaw and southern neighbour Rocky View County has had a similar bylaw in place for several years. Additionally, the MD of Bighorn has had a similar bylaw in place since 2008.

The full bylaw can be viewed HERE and the tonnage roll can be downloaded HERE or by contacting the County office at 1-403-335-3311 or toll free at 1-877-264-9754.