Canada: Tangible results in plant management and road safety

Lamont County, in the heart of Alberta, is recognized as a benchmark operation in land management and municipal road maintenance. It operates as a public municipality headquartered in Lamont, with the mission of ensuring safety, order and efficiency in all public spaces. Five of the 96 people employed by the organization are specifically dedicated to managing vegetation.

Within its jurisdiction, Lamont County independently manages the clearing of municipal ditches, roadside maintenance, and the removal of vegetation which could compromise visibility or cause accidents. The work of maintenance extends for 10 meters (33 ft) from the edges of the highways, with a particular focus on the removal of existing vegetation and wood debris which could pose a risk to public safety.

In addition to road maintenance, the County Council is responsible for controlling vegetation in the central areas of Lamont County and supervises the maintenance of public infrastructure such as utility networks and pipelines.

Since 2011, Lamont County has chosen to work with FAE as its exclusive partner for forestry and municipal maintenance equipment, replacing its old RAYCO machines (87 and 140 models). Today, its FAE fleet includes a PT175 tracked carrier purchased in 2016; a PT300 initially purchased in 2011 and recently replaced (in 2025) with a new, latest-generation PT300 equipped with a Sonic head; and a UML/S/EX/VT-150 mulcher for excavators, purchased in 2020 and mounted on a John Deere 250 excavator.

All FAE machinery has been purchased brand new, with the county never opting for used models. The PT tracked carriers operate autonomously, while the UML/S/EX/VT-150 is used together with the excavator for more targeted operations. The maximum working depth reached, around 2.5 cm (1 inch), is more than sufficient for the soil in the region, which contains no stones and few rocks.

Lamont County prioritizes quality performance over speed or fuel efficiency; its main goal is to ensure long-lasting results and maximize road safety. For this reason, operating speed and fuel consumption are not monitored.

Manager of Agriculture Services at Lamont County Terry Eleniak, interviewed for this FAE Story, proudly recollects how the collaboration with FAE began over 14 years ago. Since then, Lamont County has been a client of FAE to the exclusion of all other brands, in a relationship made all the stronger by the excellent after-sales support offered by Edge Equipment, the official FAE dealer in Edmonton.

Despite collaborating for more than a decade, the county has only ever experienced one problem with their products, which was promptly resolved thanks to the joint efforts of FAE and Edge Equipment.

In general, satisfaction levels with the FAE equipment are extremely high. Lamont County represents a shining example of public administration investing in high-quality equipment, building long-term

relationships of trust with suppliers, and adopting a sustainable and responsible approach to land management.

The fact that they have continued to choose FAE equipment down through the years is a testament to the brand’s reliability, excellent after-sales service, and shared values in the field, on the roads, and in their long-term strategies.

From left to right: Terry Eleniak, Lamont County County Supervisor and Alberto Toniolo, CEO of FAE Western Canada.