Innisfail is in but only half way.
That is what council decided for the community at its regular meeting on Feb. 22 on whether to be part of an initiative by Parkland Community Planning Services (PCPS) to have a new geographic information system (GIS) for the planning needs of its Central Alberta communities.
In its report to council, administration said it had had several “concerns and uncertainties” about PCPS's plan, which is based on the organization's attempt to secure a $350,000 grant from the province's Alberta Community Partnership Program (ACP) that would fund the startup of the new GIS project. PCPS attempted to secure an ACP grant of $550,000 in 2015 for the same program but was not successful.
Council approved a motion to support the grant application but the town will also forward its concerns to PCPS before making any firm commitment to be a full partner.
For the past eight years the town has been receiving GIS services from Oldman River Regional Services at a cost of about $40,000 a year. One concern pointed out by administration was how much the new GIS service would cost the town if and when it's set up by PCPS, a planning agency that serves about two dozen municipalities across the region, including Innisfail, on subdivision applications.
Administration also asked whether the GIS service would after startup be provided by PCPS or through an external contract with other GIS service providers. And if that service is coming from an external contractor, what would be the financial impact to the community, as well as to town staff and resources, administration asked in its report.
“This report is not written up very well,” opined Coun. Patt Churchill of PCPS's application to the provincial government.
Mayor Brian Spiller said while the town approved the application by administration to support the application, it will not be bound to ultimately buy into the new service if their concerns are not satisfactorily answered.
“PCPS hasn't told us what it would cost us for this service after and when they bring on the same service. Until they tell us that it's going to cost us $30,000 or $50,000, we are just going to support their grant application,” said Spiller.
“If PCPS does get the $350,000 grant to bring in another GIS program, we can look at it and decide whether we want to switch to PCPS or stay with Oldman River,” he added, noting the town at this point has not committed any funds to the PCPS initiative. “Not a penny. All it cost was their (council) time and a signature from me on the grant application.”
Mayor Brian Spiller
"PCPS hasn't told us what it would cost us for this service after and when they bring on the same service."
