DIDSBURY - Town council has passed a motion to waive subdivision fees in the municipality for the period of Jan. 1 to March 31.
The move came during the regularly scheduled Jan. 12 meeting, held by teleconference.
In December council approved the waiver of business licence fees, development permit fees and animal licence fees for the first three months of 2021 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
After reviewing that initiative, the development incentives committee and administration recommended that subdivision fees be added to the program.
The average subdivision fee revenue over the past five years is approximately $8,400 a year, council heard.
The loss of subdivision fees will be made up from the town’s Municipal Operating Support Transfer (MOST) grant funding provided by the province.
In other news from the Jan. 12 council meeting, councillors accepted as information a report on funding provided by the town for the Olds & District Kiwanis Music Festival totalling $500.
The festival is scheduled for March 15-25. The funds will be used for awards at the local level, as well as toward scholarships at the provincial level.
“This annual event is dedicated to promoting music and speech arts, where performances are viewed and critiqued by an adjudicator in a non-non-competitive learning environment,” administration said in a briefing note to council.
“Annually, this festival sees participation from Didsbury school music programs, as well as Didsbury music and performance students from local cultural businesses.”
In their application for the funding, festival officials said the event will be held this year even though it may move to a virtual format due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Administration reviewed the funding application under Policy CS 211 and found that it meets requirements.
“This group does not operate within the Didsbury municipal boundaries, however, many Didsbury groups and residents will participate in the festival,” the notes states.
