Stettler’s town council voted to keep the cost of business licence fees the same for the coming year after a rate raise was implemented last year.
Currently, it costs $150 for a resident and $350 for a non-resident to purchase a business licence in Stettler, a raise of $25 each from last year.
This rate puts the residential licence fee slightly above the area average, but puts the non-residential licence fee below the average.
Greg Switenky, the CAO for the town, said it will be likely that council will “hold the line” with the fee for a few years, given the recent increase after a relatively long period of no increases, but also noted that council examines the cost annually.
The town also approved the purchase of a 65-foot lift from United Rentals in Red Deer. While the town usually purchases new, Switenky said that with the $60,000 budgeted by the town for the purchase earlier in the year, it simply wasn’t possible.
However, the unit purchased from United Rentals is in top-notch condition and is already in use, he said. It came in at $55,250, and came with a six-month warranty included in the cost.
Stettler Regional Fire and Rescue also came to council for approval for a purchase of new airpacks, the tanks worn on the back of firefighters that provide oxygen to the wearer.
The department had 26 airpacks which had been purchased between 1979 and 2009. The purchase of 22 new Scott airpacks will replace the current fleet of oxygen tanks, which will be sold to a refurbishing company, allowing the department to recoup $13,600.
The best bid came in from Wholesale Fire and Rescue, with a cost of $194,924.68.
The town had budgeted $167,500 for the purchase of the new tanks, and with the additional money from selling the old ones, the fire department would find itself $13,824.68 over budget.
Fire Chief Mark Dennis told council the department could choose to reduce the purchase by two units for $14,400, or would ask to use additional funds from the Miscellaneous Equipment budget to cover the cost.
Council voted to let the department use the money so the department could purchase the 22 tanks.
With the new equipment being completely uniform and top-of-the-line, Stettler’s fire department will be able to take advantage of a decrease in training time as well as a decrease in weight from some of the older units.
In addition to the carbon-fibre tanks themselves, the purchase includes with each unit buddy breathing connection, heads up display, integrated man down alarm and integrated personnel accountability system.