At their May 19 meeting, Stettler town councillors approved the final version of the 2015-16 budget.
The delay in formally approving the budget was necessary because staff had to make adjustments to the anticipated costs of gasoline, which due to the lower gas prices has come in below what was expected.
After that adjustment, and the signing of the recreation agreement with the County of Stettler, the budget was ready to be sealed and so it was with a unanimous vote.
Councillors also went through recommendations from the Committee of the Whole, which heard requests from groups in the community requesting funding for projects for the coming year.
Council approved a request from students from William E. Hay Composite High School to help fund the cost of a tri-caster 40 multi-camera mixer, which would be used by its arts and visual department. It also received a request from the Skate Park association regarding solar lights. The councillors approved the request for lights on a trial basis, and if they do not work out, agreed to buy the lights from the skate park so they can be installed elsewhere in the community. The trial period will gauge if the lights are a disturbance to people in the community, though councillors admitted they were not expecting problems given the use already experienced at the skate park and the lack of complaints received since its opening.
Councillors heard that the Skate Park association had also repaid a loan given by the Town last year. The money was given to the group so they could ensure construction began and finished in 2014, rather than having to wait for this year. The association paid the loan in full.
The Kinette's park project, which would see a playground be installed in West Stettler Park, is progressing well, according to Kinette representative Allison Baird, who came to the meeting to report.
The playground would be located near the entrance closest to the Rotary Spray Park, but not adjacent to the existing facilities. It would be located in West Stettler Park itself.
Town Councillors also received a report on the playground from the Committee of the Whole, which noted some of the landscaping in the area would need to be knocked down for the new playground.
"It's an awfully ambitious project," Mayor Dick Richards said to council and Baird. "You are all to be commended for your work."
To date, the Kinettes have managed to raise $180,000 of the $215,000 budget for the playground since it started fundraising last July. Baird explained the Kinettes were hopeful a grant would come through, which would allow them to order the equipment.
The building of the playground itself would be expected to take around four days.
Council voted unanimously to support the Kinette's park and allow the landscaping in the area of the park where the playground will be located to be modified to suit.
Council heard that some sidewalk renovations are planned for this year, with $130,000 of the budget set aside for concrete and labour to redo the sidewalks. One of the major sidewalk projects is in front of the Stettler Schools complex, from the church to the corner.