DIDSBURY — Council has instructed administration to explore and make recommendations regarding a possible review of future housing needs in town.
The move came by way of motion at the recent regularly scheduled council meeting.
“Administration acknowledges the need for such a review and assessment, and would like to explore this issue further along with possible options to bring back for council’s consideration,” said Ethan Gorner, the town's chief administrative officer.
There have been multiple points of information brought to administration’s attention about the potential need for future housing in town, he said.
“This is something that has come to our attention,” he said. “At this point, we are recommending in this motion that we look at options on how council might potentially look at doing some kind of review.”
Mayor Rhonda Hunter said a housing needs assessment should be for all types of residences.
“It is our business to know what our municipality needs for housing,” said Hunter. “I think it is a very worthy cause to at least explore it. I talk to seniors all the time that want to move somewhere, but they don’t want a $300,000 home. They want to live on their own and have a house.
“I think it’s valuable information for our community and I’m totally in support of getting more information on it.”
At this time, administration is not recommending any funds be spent, said Gorner.
“This is to look at the concept of an assessment review, not to do an assessment review,” he said. “This is to explore and learn all we can about the options and the potential cost, and bring back some information for council’s consideration.”
Council also passed a motion to have the issues of governance of public art and perpetual care cemetery fees referred to the policy and governance committee for examination and recommendation to council.
Street project contact awarded
Meanwhile, council has awarded the contract for a $454,000 street stormwater project. The move also came by way of motion at the recent regularly scheduled council meeting.
The 20th Street stormwater and surface revitalization project has been awarded to Olds-based general contractor Kaon Infrastructure, one of six companies that bid on the project.
CAO Gorner said the company has a “strong local experience component and that is what scored them well. All their subcontractors are local and that helped in their favour. That really helped in their favour.”
