Innisfail town council voted Oct. 24 to approve second and third reading of an amended Traffic Bylaw that will limit how long trailers and recreational vehicles (RVs) can be parked on local streets.
Only one resident attended the open house prior to the vote, raising concerns with the proposed 96 consecutive hour limit for parking RVs in town, as well as worries that the RVs would also cause problems for fire trucks attempting to access certain areas of town.
Following the open house, Coun. Mark Kemball made a motion to reduce the proposed parking limit from 96 to 72 consecutive hours. The amendment carried unanimously.
Under the amended bylaw RVs can be parked on town streets from April 1 through October 31, but for no longer than 72 consecutive hours. It will have to be moved to an “off-highway” location for at least 48 hours before it can be parked on town streets again.
Council approves budget adjustment for Public Works building
Town councillors approved a budget adjustment of $93,850 to cover the final cost of Innisfail’s new public works building.
Council committed to repay the funds, which will come from the Public Works Water Sewer Reserve, over two years. The adjustment includes a five per cent budget adjustment of $77,350 to cover extra construction costs required with the expanded building and $16,500 in consultant fees.
“Is this it for the public works building?” Coun. Jason Heistad asked. “Is this the last one that’s going to come through?”
“I’d like to think so,” Innisfail mayor Jim Romane responded.
A number of additional costs, including $10,688 for lockers, $3,000 for a security system, $7,300 for a power washer, and funding for furniture and a phone system will also be added to the 2012 Budget.
On Oct. 11, council approved a $34,697.92 amendment to cover the installation of a new sewer and water line to the building.
“Five per cent is a low contingency,” Innisfail CAO Helen Dietz explained. “But we feel that we can work within that.”
Personal protective equipment policy approved
A new policy governing the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) by town employees was approved by Innisfail town council at the Oct. 24 meeting.
The new policy was developed over the past few months as the town updated its health and safety policies. It may require Innisfail employees to don PPE depending on the job hazard analysis listed in each department’s health and safety manual. All town employees, contractors and visitors will also be required to use PPE when visiting a worksite where it is required.
Coun. Derek Baird questioned what the added cost of the new policy would be.
Darryl Joyce, director of corporate and protective services, said there could potentially be some added cost in some areas.
“In most cases staff are utilizing personal protective equipment (PPE) such as the hearing protection and hard hats and so forth,” he said. “We’ll be more diligent in doing the job hazard analysis as part of our review of our health and safety program. There could be a little extra cost but each area does have a budget for health and safety so it should be accommodated within their existing budgets.”
Council sets committee and board appointments
Innisfail town council approved the appointments to a number of local and regional committees and boards during an organizational meeting following the Oct. 24 regular council meeting.
At the same time council approved the deputy mayor rotation until next October. Heather Taylor will act as deputy mayor from November until January; Jason Heistad will assume the role from February until April; Derek Baird will act as deputy mayor for the months of May, June and July; and Brian Spiller will fill the role from August until September.
