DIDSBURY - The Town of Didsbury has made the final payment on a loan for land in the Shantz subdivision, according to the chief administrative officer (CAO) report presented to council during the Feb. 25 council meeting.
The municipality entered into a promissory note with Canadian Minerals Inc. on Feb. 14, 2010 for $1,093,500 at a rate of three per cent per annum.
The Town of Didsbury's annual payment was $91,598,76. On Feb. 14, 2025 the municipality made the final payment on the loan.
With the loan paid off the town’s total debt now stands at $1,456,688.
“That’s an incredibly good figure to have our debt now down to under $1.5 million,” deputy mayor Curt Engel said during the meeting. “Congratulations to everyone involved in that.”
The CAO’s report was presented by acting CAO Amanda Riley following the recent resignation of CAO Ethan Gorner.
The report also included engineering, infrastructure and economic development updates.
The third-quarter engineering and infrastructure report stated that the 23rd Street sewer line repair project was completed, with approximately 80 metres of sewer pipe replaced and an unknown water leak from a service line identified and addressed.
“The project was completed under budget and there were no homeowner complaints received,” said Riley. “The local contractor’s site management was commendable.”
The report also stated that the installation of the Southridge playground has been completed.
“This extensive project involved the removal and disposal of the old playground and border, and utilized over 700 public works man-hours,” she said.
Coun. Bill Windsor said, “I’m wondering if there was any disruption of service to the community because of the equipment of four-and-a-half months of full-time employee, a 40 hour a week employee, expended on the revitalization of the playground?”
Craig Fox, director of engineering and infrastructure, replied that, “It does take a fair bit of effort to execute these playgrounds but it is something we’ve done consistently (over) the years.”
The report also stated that the lagoon dredging project has been completed and under budget.
“Five water leaks were identified and repaired; three were curb stop failures, and two were service line failures.”
Coun. Dorothy Moore said, “I’m always excited when projects are done under budget and successfully. On the 23rd Street sewer line and the lagoon dredging project I really appreciate that.”
Council accepted the CAO’s report as information.
Also during the Feb. 25 council meeting, council approved two new road names in the latest phase of the Valarosa neighbourhood development.
“The subdivision proposal includes names for the new streets created for the project,” administration said in a briefing note to council. “The tentative plan of subdivision shows the extension of an existing road, Valarosa Way, as well as the new roads.”
The new roads in Valarosa Phase II of the subdivision will be called Valarosa View and Valarosa Green.
