INNISFAIL – Town council and administration are heading into what is expected to be three days of tight 2021 budget deliberations but everyone got to have an advanced peek last week at the proposed list of new capital projects.
And when budget discussions are over this week between council and staff, formal decisions will be made on the future of all new capital budget items that now have a total price tag of $4.7 million, just a bit over the $4.5 million approved in the 2020 capital budget.
This week’s scheduled budget deliberations on Nov. 24, 25 and 26 will also include the town’s operating side, which is expected to be heavily scrutinized due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I think there will be more conversation on the operating side than the capital side this time due to COVID and overall expenses,” said Heather Whymark, the town’s director of corporate services, during the Nov. 16 capital budget preview at council’s Agenda and Priorities meeting.
The preview of the proposed new capital projects was valuable for most councillors as it was a chance to make sure priority items were not missed, particularly so for Coun. Gavin Bates who asked why the planned train whistle cessation project was left off the official list of new capital projects.
The highly anticipated CP Rail crossing project was on the main list of new capital projects with a cost of $600,000, a project that will include 400 metres of fencing.
“I feel it is a very high priority, the horn (whistle) cessation,” said Bates. “I want to see the horn cessation on the priority list.”
Coun. Donnie Hill added he believes there is a feeling in the community the pedestrian crossing and whistle cessation projects were planned to be done at the same time.
“That’s how the people I have talked to have felt, that they are tied together. I think there is a priority for both,” said Hill, adding he was in support of the issue being put on the main capital project priority list.
Steven Kennedy, the town’s director of operational services, told council there is an upgrade required at 42 Avenue for the whistle cessation project that will cost $75,000. He said it was a separate issue to the rail crossing project, and was only determined the week before during a meeting with CP officials.
“Based on a conversation with them (CP) that would achieve the requirement to go further with the whistle cessation,” said Kennedy.
Whymark said it’s hoped both CP rail projects, if given final budget approval by council, should be completed by mid-summer of 2021. Whymark said once both projects are completed the town will be able to officially apply for Alberta Transportation grants that could see the project costs offset by between 10 to 90 per cent of the total cost.
Council also had a look at the price tags of several other projects prioritized by staff, including $2 million worth of road infrastructure repair plans for 53rd and 46th avenues, as well as a separate $615,000 surface improvement project and $500,000 overlay plan.
Administration also listed a separate sheet of projects not listed for the 2021 capital budget, including $400,000 to $1 million for either an upgrade to the closed heliport or a new site.
Coun. Jean Barclay pitched her desire to see money for the upgrading of the heliport, which must be done to Transport Canada’s standards of compliance or a new site found and developed. She also noted the town might be able to find money through community fundraising, noting about $450,000 was raised a decade ago for the Community Bus.
“I can see that potential happening again,” said Barclay.
Mayor Jim Romane said a decision has to be made soon on the heliport. He said another “serious look” with the community may be needed if there is support for a new location.
“Otherwise we are going to have to make a hard decision, and it is not going to go away,” said Romane. “We have to come to some kind of conclusion on that whether we can even try to do it next year or a year later.”
