A master plan to expand the trail network in the Town of Stettler has been approved.
At its regular meeting Sept. 21, town council adopted an updated trail master plan to expand and upgrade pathways to connect to Stettler Hospital and around Cold Lake.
As part of the committee-of-the-whole meeting on Sept. 14, council also accepted recommendations from Stettler Parks and Leisure Services director Lee Penner that the town will consider a plan to connect to the hospital after a proposed building project is completed and the construction and development of the trail system be reviewed annually when the town reviews and plans the capital budget.
The top three priorities, as considered by the community when surveyed this spring, were to connect to Cold Lake, create more loops and connect to the hospital, said Penner.
It is expected that over the next 10 years, that pathway development will be an annual standard capital expenditure and that spreading the costs over several years will make the completion of the network more affordable upon annual budget pressures, he said.
ATCO Electric
Five wooden electricity poles in the Parkdale area will be replaced in 2011 at the cost of $5,000 to the town after ATCO Electric reported deficiencies with the existingones .
“We would be wise to go with wooden poles,” said Councillor Redford Peeples.
Installing five metal poles would have cost the town $30,000.
Employee service recognition
Rates have been set for the town buy gifts to town employees who reach long-service milestones and resign or retire.
“These long-tenured employees deserve to be recognized,” said Mayor Dick Richards.
This policy and the rates date back to 1992, said town manager Rob Stoutenberg.
Under the updated policy, long-serving employees will receive a gift for each year for 20 years and each subsequent year, he noted.
Council adopted a policy where town employees will receive a gift of $400 for 35-plus years of service, $350 for 30 to 34 years, $300 for 25 to 29 years, $250 for 20 to 24 years, $200 for 15 years, $150 for 10 years and $100 for five years.
For employees who resign or retire, the town will give a gift of $1,500 for 26-plus years, $1,250 for 21 to 25 years, $1,000 for 16 to 20 years, $750 for 11 to 15 years, $250 for six to 10 years and $100 for the first five years.
Staff awards will be presented at an annual dinner each April.