INNISFAIL – The Town of Innisfail has targeted April 3 as the launch date for the new on-demand transit service.
Meghan Jenkins, director of community services for the Town of Innisfail, briefed town council at its regular meeting on March 6 during a directors’ update on capital projects.
“Currently our big focus is the PACE bus service transition that is targeted to launch with Prairie Bus Lines on April 3,” said Jenkins.
On Jan. 23, town council unanimously approved an administration recommendation to enter into a year-long contract beginning April 1 with Red Deer-based Prairie Bus Lines (PBL) to deliver Innisfailians state-of-the-art transit service for an annual cost to taxpayers of no more than $120,000.
The new price tag is about $30,000 more than what the Innisfail Royal Canadian Legion Branch #104 charged to manage local transit for Innisfail and area citizens.
Late last year the legion notified the town it was ending its agreement in April to manage local transit service.
Jenkins told council the start-up process has included working on public engagements, finalizing a new schedule, and working with the app developer. Council was told the service phone number has been set up with the PBL call centre.
Jenkins said the contract for the new service will be presented to council this month.
Council was also told the plan for the launch is for the current drivers to reach out to the current users of local transit.
‘They are going to be our priority for the first part of the transition to ensure the current users of the service get onto the new service with as little disruption as possible,” said Jenkins. “And then we'll sort of shift our focus to promoting more widespread use of the (service).”
She also told council the second PACE Bus is finally expected to be back in service this month after an engine issue last November rendered it inoperable.
Solar panelling begins
Jenkins advised council solar panel installation started on the exterior of the Innisfail Curling Club in early March.
She said it will continue in the coming weeks at the fire hall and administration building. Jenkins also advised council the new furnace installation at the Innisfail Twin Arena will be completed later this month.
“That's the final components of the energy management actions that were initiated in 2021,” said Jenkins.
In May 2022 the town brought in its new Energy Policy. Its goal was to reduce the energy consumption and ecological footprint of the town and community.
That same month the town invested more than $360,000 into solar PV generation systems for the fire hall, curling rink, and the administration building.
Jenkins added that the ice on the red rink at the Innisfail Twin Arena is now being removed and transitioning for the lacrosse season.
On March 31 the two-day 2023 Spring Trade Show will begin at the Innisfail Twin Arena.
Jenkins said the town will have three booths set up to showcase “general town activities”, such as ones held by the local age-friendly committee, as well as new playground projects and employment opportunities.
Auditor’s Report and Tax Bylaw
Erica Vickers, the town’s director of corporate services, told council she’s now working on her year-end report.
“We’re almost done. We have to have everything finalized and into the auditors by tomorrow (March 7),” said Vickers. “The auditors will be in the office next week to do their in-person audit.”
She told council members they should be able to see last year’s surplus in front of them later this month, with the Auditor’s Report coming on April 24 for final approval.
Vickers also told council the annual Tax Bylaw will be presented to town council by March 27. This will include the regular Tax Bylaw and two Special Tax bylaws.
Mayor Jean Barclay then asked Vickers when borrowing options for the town will be presented.
In recent weeks Coun. Gavin Bates has been seeking more information about the proposed Borrowing Bylaw designed to pay for the $5.5 million capital improvement project at the new Southwest Industrial Park.
Vickers said she expects a plan will be presented by early April to town council for members to make a final decision.
Road improvements
Steven Kennedy, the town’s director of operations, said staff is soon tendering out projects for its Surface Improvements Program.
Kennedy said he would soon be coming back to council to deal with a 45th Street Close project.
“We've pretty much got most of our capital projects done and tendered,” said Kennedy. “We'll be coming back to you in regards to 45th Street Close.
“That is probably the last capital that we ask, so we're doing quite well when it comes to that.”
He told council there has been seven submissions received for the town’s new toddler playground at Mac’s Park.
“We'll be reviewing those to have them ready for the trade show,” said Kennedy, adding there is a new project his staff is focused on. “For operations projects we're working on developing the sidewalk program, as well as manholes and valve replacement programs this year, which is just new to the operations.”
