By Landin Chambers The Stettler Independent
Stettler Community Orchard Update
A fundraising update on the Stettler Community Orchard was given to Town Council earlier this month. As of January 4th, donations total around $6,000 for the project first proposed to council in early October.
The Heartland Beautification Committee is looking at doing the project in phases, if grant funding they’ve applied for does not come through. The current budget for the green space is an estimated $90,000, with about $40,000 of that to come in mulch costs.
Meantime, the committee will also be setting up a fundraising tree at the Stettler Rec. Centre to track donations, and are awaiting more before coming to council to request funding to order trees.
Finally, 250 truckloads of dirt have already been taken to the site to the east of the Stettler Mall, as the committee is set to meet again on February 1st.
2017 Budget Summary
Administration gave Town Councillors an update on the pre-audited 2017 Budget during their January 16th Regular Meeting. As of December 31st, town revenues sat at 95.62 per cent or $786,688 short of the 17,952,711 budgeted for 2017. Meantime, 82.83 per cent of the 2017 budget had been expensed, or $14,870,495 of the $17,952,711 set aside last year.
Councillors are now preparing to put together the Town’s 2018 Capital Budget. They will next meet on January 25th for a 2018 Council Strategy meeting. Here, councillors and staff have been asked to bring three ideas that they’d like to see the town tackle in the next year. Voting will then be held to identify the top five ideas that will formulate the 2018 Strategic Plan. Then it’s straight to the 2018 Capital Budget deliberations set for 3 p.m. on Tuesday, January 30th at the Town Office.
Water Treatment Plant Chemical Bid Awarded
Each year, Town Council sends out the tender for the process chemicals required at the Stettler Water Treatment Plant. Councillors approved a motion for the 13 chemicals, plus deposits for $145,000 to ClearTech, CCC Chemicals, and Chemtrade from the $155,000 set aside in the 2018 Operating Budget.
ATCO Franchise Fee
Town Council also passed 2nd and 3rd readings for the 2018 ATCO Franchise Fee during their second regular meeting in January. 1st reading came before council on October 3rd, amending the franchise fee from 6.1 per cent to 11.1 per cent. Franchise fees are remitted back to the municipality by the utility company for locating their facilities on municipal rights of way.
February 6th Council Meeting
Town Council also discussed the need to reschedule their regular meeting on Tuesday, February 6th. The Mayor and Councillors are double booked to attend the 2018 Masters Provincial Curling Championships banquet that is also set for that evening. Councillors will next meet on January 25th for a 2018 Council Strategy meeting, and again on January 30th for the 2018 Capital Budget deliberations.