INNISFAIL - The town is moving forward with an updated five-year recreation and culture agreement with Red Deer County, as well as a new deal for library services, that will see significant revenue increases for Innisfail.
The two agreements, presented by Meghan Jenkins, the town’s director of community services, were approved by Innisfail town council at its regular meeting on Nov. 28.
The current Red Deer County/Town of Innisfail Recreation & Culture Grant Agreement, which outlines the county’s share of operational funding for the town’s many recreational and cultural services, expires at the end of 2022.
Innisfail town council was told Red Deer County had proposed an updated agreement for recreation and culture, as well as a library agreement for a five-year period ending in 2027.
The updated recreation and culture agreement has a 2023 allocation of $400,305 from Red Deer County, which is a 2.7 per cent increase from the $389,790 the town received in 2022.
The town will receive $410,312 in 2024 and $420,569 in year three of the agreement.
In years four and five, the allocations increase dramatically. In 2026, the town will receive $479,663, and in 2027, the fifth and final year of the agreement, the town gets $491,656.
Coun. Janice Wing praised the agreement, saying it was a “positive step” but noted in the immediate years to come the town could have a brand-new aquatic centre – one that could cost up to $20 million and possibly morph into a full multiplex - and have a “very different” operating revenue model.
Wing said she wanted it specified that the updated agreement would not preclude the town seeking a start-up capital contribution with an understanding that once the facility is operating the town’s recreation budget will change.
“I just don't want to lose sight of the fact that we want capital (and) we also have increased costs as we move forward,” Wing told council members.
Jenkins replied the county is aware the Town of Innisfail is looking to build a new aquatic centre but serious discussions with the neighbouring rural municipality on the planned new facility are not immediately time sensitive.
“Based on the conversations we've had with council to date, year five would probably be the earliest that we would be having an operational pool. So, I think we have that opportunity to revisit,” said Jenkins, adding capital discussions are another matter. “We can still have the capital conversation throughout the agreement.”
Todd Becker, the town’s chief administrative officer, weighed in by noting it's a “bigger philosophical discussion at the political level” that will be required if the town wanted to make future adjustments on the new recreation and culture agreement.
Council unanimously approved a motion to move forward with the updated Red Deer County/Town of Innisfail Recreation & Culture Grant Agreement from 2023 to 2027.
As for the new library agreement between the two municipalities, Jenkins said it was “new funding” for the town, and an initiative that has been on the table for quite some time – to have direct library funding from counties to urban libraries.
“This is a good step,” said Jenkins, noting rural municipalities have previously contributed to urban libraries in a “roundabout way” through a provincial grant. She added Red Deer County had divided up their library money between several libraries within their jurisdiction, with each getting about $4,800 annually. “This (new agreement) does represent direct contribution to the library. So, it's new. It's good.”
Council was told funding from the new library agreement is based on rural memberships for county residents and is an average over a three-year period. There are now 366 county memberships with the Innisfail Public Library.
Jenkins told council the plan will have the county allocate $30 per membership for the first three years and $40 per membership for the final two years of the five-year agreement.
For the first three years, the Town of Innisfail will receive an annual payment of $10,980 for its library services to county residents. In years four and five the town will receive $14,640.
Jenkins said the funds will then go into the town’s library budget account. The money will then be requisitioned to the library as it requests funds.
Council unanimously approved a motion to move forward with the new Red Deer County/Town of Innisfail Library Grant Agreement from 2023 to 2027.
