Stettler Community Orchard Update
$6,000 has been raised as of January 4th for the Stettler Community Orchard, according to figures provided to council earlier this month.
The project is already underway, as around 250 truckloads of dirt have been taken to the site to the southeast of the Stettler Mall.
Meantime, the Heartland Beautification Committee is set to meet again on February 1st, and will be setting up a fundraising tree at the Stettler Recreation Centre to track donations, before coming to council to request funding for trees.
The committee is also looking at doing the project in phases if grant funding they’ve applied for does not come through. At this time, the budget for the green space is an estimated $90,000, with about $40,000 of that to come in mulch costs.
2017 Budget Summary
An update was given on the pre-audited 2017 Budget during the Town of Stettler’s January 16th meeting.
As of December 31st, town revenues sat at 95.62% or $786,688 short of the 17,952,711 budgeted for 2017. Meantime, 82.83% of the 2017 budget had been expensed, or $14,870,495 of the $17,952,711 set aside last year.
Council will next meet on January 25th for a 2018 Council Strategy meeting. Council and staff have been asked to bring three ideas they’d like to see the town tackle in the next year.
From there, votes will be held to find the top five ideas that will formulate the 2018 Strategic Plan. Then it’s straight to the 2018 Capital Budget deliberations set for 3 pm 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 second and third readings for the 2018 ATCO Franchise Fee during their second regular meeting in January.
First reading came before council on October 3rd, amending the franchise fee from 6.1% to 11.1%. 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. Mayor and council are double booked to attend the 2018 Masters Provincial Curling Championships banquet that is also set for that evening.
Councillors will meet twice prior to this date on January 25th for a 2018 Council Strategy meeting, and again on January 30th for the 2018 Capital Budget deliberations.
landin.chambers@stettlerindependent.com
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