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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.
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. Contact Council.
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 are the third Wednesday of each Month starting at 9:30 am at the Municipal Office located at #10, 19447 Hwy 12 and Zoom. Council meetings are open to the public.
Bottle donations
If you wish to donate your empty bottles and cans there is a bin in the parking lot of the Community Hall beside the garbage dumpsters. We have a group of volunteers who sort the bottles and cans which are then picked up by the Bottle Depot. The monies received from the Bottle Depot are then given to the Hall Society who manages these revenues. The money is used to fund social functions such as a Canada Day Celebration and a Fall Wind Up Barbecue. Food is supplied at no cost to the residents. The Hall Society has also contributed to the costs for benches and picnic tables along the beaches and flower beds throughout the community. Your donation of bottles is put to good use within the community.
Recycling/Garbage
In the parking lot of the Community Hall are garbage bins for household waste. You can bring your garbage to the bins at any time. Please note the signage for items that cannot be left here. There are also recycle bins for plastic and tin within the fenced area of the dumpsters. A cardboard recycle bin is supplied just outside the dumpster area. Please flatten your cardboard boxes. There is also a Diabetes Donation Bin for non-breakable items. Simply put your items in a plastic bag and deposit them in the chute. We thank you for being environmentally aware and using the recycle bins.
Take it or leave it shed
Beside the Bottle sorting shed and behind the cardboard recycle bin is another shed where you can leave household items you no longer need or pick up items you can use. The shed is always open. Donations can include dishes, games, books, toys, life jackets, etc. Anything that is in re-useable condition. We ask that you do NOT leave linens and clothing – these should be placed in the Diabetes Donation box outside the Take It or Leave It Shed.
Please do NOT leave broken furniture & appliances, TV’s, computers, printers, lawn mowers, BBQ’s, mattresses. You must dispose of these at the landfill. Information for the landfill locations and hours of operation are provided at the Take It or Leave It Shed.
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:
- “What’s up at White Sands”
- “Owners at Buffalo Lake”
- “Summer Village of White Sands”
- “Boaters at Buffalo Lake”
- "White Sands Community Hall Society"
Water fill station
At the entrance into White Sands, there is a water fill station where you can purchase fresh water for your household. You can pay by coin or you can set up an account with the County of Stettler. Their office is located in Stettler or you can email them at [email protected] or call 403-742-4441.
Property taxes
Property taxes are sent out in the latter half of May and are due by 4pm on July 30th of each year.. To get on the program for monthly installments, use this form. 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 dropping down a cheque is another option.
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 408 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 Land Use Bylaws 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.