By Carson Ellis
For the Stettler Independent
Council opened its April second meeting with a delegation for the Steel Wheel Stampede.
Steel Wheel Stampede board members Kaeden and Clint Satre requested an exemption on the town’s noise bylaw during the 2024 event.
The exemption would apply during the evening portion of their event when they plan to have live bands.
The committee members explained that they plan to have the events tent pointed towards the grandstand to help reduce the noise, but would still require the exemption which would end at 2 a.m. each night.
Coun. Gord Lawlor motioned to approve the exemption noting the organizers had to advise nearby residents and RCMP of the exemption. The motion was carried once the organizers agreed.
Director of Operations Melissa Robbins then addressed several topics with council, starting with improved wording on policy VI-5(a) which deals with the Town’s toilet replacement program.
Robbins explained that changes include the rebate, which originally was applied to the applicant’s utility account, which can either be applied to their account or have a cheque issued. The form has also been improved and is available online and at the town office. The changes were approved with a carried motion from Coun. Wayne Smith.
Robbins then updated council on the ongoing efforts to upgrade the water meters in town.
Robbins reviewed the Utility Accounts Billing Correction policy, noting that when the old meters are removed, the usage is checked with the billing history and any discrepancies are then addressed and the property is billed or credited according to the guidelines in the policy.
If an account was estimated for 2 years and found 140 cubic meters of water not billed over 24 months that difference would be divided by 24, and the monthly amount would then be multiplied by 12 and would then be billed to the landowner. This amount could be paid in installments with no monthly penalties being added. The same formula would be applied for credits.
Robbins says she wanted to review the policy in case council members were contacted by landowners unhappy with the additional billing.
Coun. Cheryl Barros motioned that administration continue with the policy as it has been and accepted the review as information. The motion carried.
Robbins next addressed the approved expenditure of $35,000 for a new skid steer, including a trade-in of the existing unit.
Robbins noted they received several responses from the tender. Brandt’s submission was the lowest at $89,900 with Stettler Equipment being next at $90,440. She did note that the policy allowed for a difference of $1,500 for local tenders.
The trade-in value for the existing unit was also put between $50-65,000.
Robbins also reviewed municipal trade-in programs offered by Brandt and Bobcat. Brandt provides a trade-in for a new unit every year with a cost of approximately $8,000/year. Bobcat’s program offers a new unit trade-in for a cost of approximately $15,000/year.
Administration presented a recommendation to award the purchase to Brandt (John Deere) for $89,900, which would also require counterweights, for $1,650 and a box blade attachment for $6,000.
They would also sell the existing unit for between $65-$70,000. This would put the expenditure between $27,550 and $35,550 excluding GST.
Coun. Scott Pfeiffer’s recommendation to award the purchase to Brandt was carried.