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Some information
for residents new and "not-as-new" Welcome to the Summer Village of White Sands! As a new resident you will hopefully find the following information helpful to settling into the community and staying informed on what is happening in our Village. |
Community Hall Society
This Welcome Wagon package is provided to you by the Hall Society and we welcome your input.
The Hall Society is registered under the Societies Act of Alberta. Our purpose is to manage the funds earned from the donation of cans/bottles that our residents leave. This started many years ago when residents determined they could donate their bottles and cans to the community rather than haul them to the bottle depot themselves. In turn, the money from the bottles is spent within the Village on social functions or beautification projects such as flower beds or benches and tables along the beach.
The Hall Society holds regular meetings including an annual meeting at which its directors are elected. Every property owner in the Village can attend meetings and run for the positions on the Executive. Notices of meetings, social functions and Village events are sent via email. To be added to the email distribution list, please contact the Hall Society Secretary at [email protected].
You can check their website at www.whitesandshallsociety.ca.
Complaints
The Summer Village of White Sands has developed a Municipal Bylaw Enforcement Complaint Form to deal with requests to resolve bylaw enforcement issues within the community. In order for Municipal Enforcement to proceed with an investigation and follow up of a complaint it must be in writing by submitting it in the following form Municipal Bylaw Complaint Form. The information that is supplied and received in confidence. Anonymous complaints will not be accepted.
Recreational Vehicles (RV's)
Land Use Bylaw 186-22 - The Summer Village of White Sands under the Land Use Bylaw 186-22, outlines the guidelines to recreational vehicles within the municipality, for more information please open the Land Use Bylaw 186-22 link above.
OHV use on Public Roads
The Summer Village of White Sands under the Traffic Bylaw No 212-25, outlines the guidelines for use of OHV's within the municipality in relation to the Provincial Government Legislation, please click for further information.
Golf Cart Pilot Project on Public Roads
The Summer Village of White Sands is in the process of passing a Golf Cart Pilot Project Bylaw No. 210-24, outlines the guidelines for use within the municipality in relation to the Provincial Government Legislation, please click for further information.
Village Council
The Summer Village of White Sands is governed by an elected Council consisting of Mayor and two Councilors. Municipal elections are held every four years.
Council is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the Village. They issue communications via a separate mailing list. To be added to this list, please contact village administration.
Regularly Scheduled Council Meetings information can be found here.
For those of you who use Facebook, there are a few links you can join to keep in touch with people and events around White Sands:
- Summer Village of White Sands - this the official public, municipal Facebook Page
- The following links are private community groups on Facebook:
Property taxes
Property taxes are sent out in the latter half of May and are due by 4pm on July 31st of each year. To get on the program for monthly installments, please go to Applications, Forms, & Permits. Payments can be made with most banks by setting the municipality up as a "Bill" and use your tax roll # as your account #. You can also pay with OptionPay, though there is approximately a 2% of the amount for a "load fee." Mailing or in-person payments in a form of a cheque, certified cheque, bank draft, exact cash are alternative options.
Buffalo Lake
For those of you who are new to the lake, you need to be aware that the lake greatly varies in depths so you may want to take a look at the depth maps before taking your boat out. Go to the stettlercounty.ca and under Public Notices there is a category called Maps. You want the Buffalo Lake Depth Map (available here).
Beach accesses
There are many beach accesses throughout the village. If you follow the roads adjacent to the lake, each one is marked. All residents are free to use any of the accesses. Or check the White Sands web site by going to the home page and clicking on Maps and then Visitor Maps. All beach accesses are marked on this map.
White Sands population
The Summer Village of White Sands has 406 residential lots. The last survey shows 292 of those have permanent dwellings on them. According to the last census, 120 residents call White Sands their permanent home.
Before you build a permanent structure
Please review the Planning & Development page before constructing any type of permanent structure on your lot. Please contact administration if you have questions.
Mooring Structures and Temporary Seasonal Docks
As of April 19, 2021, the Provincial Government, Alberta Environment and Parks has completed a new mooring disturbance standard for Alberta Lakes. For further information, please click on the following: https://www.alberta.ca/digital-regulatory-assurance-system
If you have a dock and or/lift, residents must apply yearly to place said structures in the water. Please read the policy Piers, Docks, and Boat Lifts for more information and how to apply to the Summer Village. The application can be found in the policy.
Postal Service:
There is no mail delivery service in White Sands. If you are moving here as a permanent resident, you must get a post office box in either Stettler or Erskine. If White Sands is a second home for you, you need do nothing with respect to mail service.