Stormwater funding
Town council approved awarding the tender for stormwater management upgrades meant to help ease flooding problems at Lee Street and Robinson Avenue and Dundee Crescent and Lincoln Street.
The total low bid for the work came in at $362,596, said the report. Part of that, $244,783, will be paid for through the 2013 capital work budget, and possibly any extra needed pulled from reserves according to the report given to council.
The other $117,813 of funding is to be from the money received from the federal gas tax.
Council voted to award the tender to Urban Dirt Works.
The total cost of the projects was originally estimated to be $383,000.
“While I don't like borrowing money for projects and stuff, this is something we need to do,” said Coun. Chad Hoffman.
Council voted unanimously to award the tender, with Coun. Heather Klein absent.
Borrowing bylaw passage delayed
A full three readings of a borrowing bylaw meant to increase Penhold's line of credit from $700,000 to $2 million was stymied when a councillor voted against proceeding to third reading.
Hoffman voted against the first and second readings. He also voted against proceeding to third reading. When council wants to do all three readings required to put a bylaw into effect in one sitting, unanimous consent must be had from council to do third reading.
“Do we need the extra borrowing limit?” Hoffman asked after he voted against the first reading.
Chief Administrative Officer Rick Binnendyk said “it has been close on several occasions.”
The bylaw is for short-term borrowing. Binnendyk said it can help create a buffer zone in case extra money is needed on a project or similar instances.
Hoffman said the town should be able to plan better than to need a $2-million overdraft.
Binnendyk said the $700,000 has been the same for a decade.
Coun. Danielle Klooster said she didn't think moving a line of credit to accommodate for costs once every 10 years was a problem.
The rest of the councillors present had voted in favour of the first and second readings, as well as proceeding to third reading.
The bylaw will return next meeting for third reading.
Industrial concerns brought forward
Penhold resident Kevin Small made a presentation to council to raise concerns about a fracking sand operation's upcoming expansion.
He flagged concerns about noise, idling restrictions and lineups on the road. He noted the truck route is occasionally missed.
The owner of Farmers Wholesale Inc., Myles Monea, came to the meeting and responded to the questions. He said the expansion will decrease wait times for trucks coming in to load up, helping alleviate lineup concerns.
Grant sought for pump station
Town council voted to submit a request for funding to Alberta Transportation to assist in upgrades to the water pump station.
Binnendyk said Alberta Transportation has identified the upgrades as the highest priority for funding.
“We'd just like to get this in front of them,” Binnendyk said. The deadline is Nov. 30 and Mayor Dennis Cooper said it could be some time before approval is given.
The report said Penhold can proceed with the upgrades prior to receiving funding.
Cooper said the upgrade would add a fourth chamber to the water treatment process, allowing more sink time that will give more time for chlorine.
“It's also to meet a new standard that's coming down the pipe,” he said. The upgrades would replace the pump, he said.
Binnendyk said if funding is not approved council will have to hold a budget discussion about the upgrades.
Council voted unanimously to approve the recommendation to accept a report from Tagish Engineering Ltd. and to submit the funding request to Alberta Transportation.
