Recycling for commercial customers, steps to encourage art and cultural festival(s), a pathway to Stettler Hospital and a new police station for Stettler RCMP top the latest priorities for the Town of Stettler council.
At its regular meeting June 15, town council approved five additions to the list of tasks that need to be given priority. These include:
• Sidewalk/pathway to Stettler Hospital – with a final report and recommendations to council at its meeting Aug. 3
• Communication on annexation with residents affected by annexation of land to the Town of Stettler from County of Stettler – with plans to provide information until the annexation has been approved by the Government of Alberta cabinet in late 2010.
• Development of commercial recycling – with plans for administration to present a report to council at a council meeting in September.
• Encouragement of arts and/or cultural festival(s) – with plans for the second annual Stettler Steel Wheel Stampede in August.
• New RCMP station and added rural policing – with plans to meet with Drumheller-Stettler MLA and Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Jack Hayden and Solicitor General Frank Oberle with a meeting in late June.
“We have made a lot of accomplishments on the strategic plan this year,” said Mayor Dick Richards.
The town continues to work with provincial health authorities to upgrade facilities at Stettler Hospital and Care Centre.
“We sent a letter to Health Minister Gene Zwozdesky to invite him to come to Stettler to tour the hospital, but we have not had a response yet,” said town manager Rob Stoutenberg.
Council also wants to work closely with government officials on plans to construct 88 spaces for continuing care, with funding announced in April, as officials seek a contractor to build the facility.
“Ideally it would be located by the ball diamonds (east of the hospital) and we need to get Alberta Health Services and other partners working in the same direction,” said Mayor Richards.
A meeting to explain annexation to affected property owners has also been added to the strategic plan.
The Town of Stettler has applied to annex six quarter sections from the County of Stettler, the town plans to host a meeting with affected property owners to explain the changes.
Stoutenberg noted that a final approval from Alberta Municipal Affairs is expected in about two months.