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First town council meeting of 2017 covers budgets, chemicals

Town of Stettler councillors and mayor gathered for their first meeting of 2017 on Tuesday, Jan. 3, ushering in the new year with a pair...
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The Town of Stettler and Clearview School Board office building on 50 Street in Stettler.

Town of Stettler councillors and mayor gathered for their first meeting of 2017 on Tuesday, Jan. 3, ushering in the new year with a pair of presentations and a chemicals tender.

Stettler Board of Trade President Matt Dorsett and Executive Director Stacey Benjamin appeared before council to present its 2017 budget, plus a highlight of events of the previous year and plans for the coming months.

According to Benjamin, the presentation is one made at the start of every January, a process that is later repeated at the County of Stettler so the board can set its budget for the coming year.

Council was very supportive of the Board of Trade, praising it and its employees for their hard work at promoting Stettler as a community and a place to do business.

Council also ratified its decision, made late last year, to approve the board's council.

With the biggest of the Board of Trade's spring events, the Trade Fair, coming up in April, everyone is hard at work planning for the event, Benjamin said.

With this year being Canada's 150 birthday celebration, the theme of the event will involve that, Benjamin said in an interview.

She also noted that though the economy is still not where it was three years ago, the board has been busier than ever as part of 2016's drive was to promote the board and its services in the community.

The strategy has paid off, Benjamin noted.

"We've had a very positive reception," she said. "We are seeing a lot more interest about our programs and how we can help."

This year the board will embark on setting a five-year strategic plan and revamping its website to be more friendly to "businesses and new businesses," Benjamin said.

Councillors also ratified their support for the budget presented late last year by Stettler and District Family and Community Support Services (FCSS).

Unfortunately, FCSS Director Shelly Walker was unable to attend the meeting, but as the budget had been presented before the new year and there were no changes, council voted to reaffirm their support of the organization.

Chemicals tenderedEvery year, the town puts out a chemical request for proposal for the supply of various chemicals. The 12 chemicals have various uses, many in water/wastewater.

Bidders included Cleartech, Brenntag, CCC, Chemtrade and Klearwater; of those, four were recommended by staff.

Council voted to support staff's recommendation, leaving Klearwater and Chemtrade to each win one chemical bid, Brentag two, and Cleartech sweeping the rest.