Plans have been launched to upgrade the Town of Stettler wastewater treatment facility at a total cost of $2.6 million to meet the growing needs of the community with funding of $1.4 million from the Canada-Alberta Infrastructure Stimulus Fund.
“In order to meet Alberta Environment requirements, we have designed and need to build a system that has capability to treat effluent or a population in excess of 12,000 people,” said Wes Williams of Tagish Engineering Ltd. of Red Deer as he updated council at its regular meeting Aug. 3.
Currently the Town of Stettler has an official population of 5,843, as counted in a census in 2008.
“Alberta Environment strongly recommends that the town increase its storage capacity to meet existing and long-term growth,” said Williams.
With a total cost of $2,644,692.02, the project will meet several requirements for the Town of Stettler.
“Our wastewater licence with Alberta Environment needs to be renewed so we have to meet new environment requirements,” said town manager Rob Stoutenberg.
“We want to reduce odors from the lagoon and we are short on wastewater storage so we need to increase capacity.”
Work has already started on the project and on schedule.
“We have to complete the project by March to access the stimulus funding,” said Stoutenberg.
With the town required to support the balance of the cost, council will need to decide to whether that funding comes from debt, sewer reserves or other potential government funding.
“We are not sure whether the balance will be totally debt or a combination of these resources,” said Stoutenberg.
Tax public auction
To collect outstanding property taxes, council approved a staff recommendation to set the 2010 tax public auction for Oct. 12, and use the 2010 assessment values as the reserve bids for all 2010 tax sale properties and that the terms for the sale be cash or certified cheque.