Representatives from the Central Alberta Regional Trails Society (CARTS) and the Trans Canada Trail were on hand Oct. 11 for a presentation to Innisfail Town Council.
CARTS president Debbie Olsen and Trans Canada Trail foundation’s central Alberta coordinator Derry Armstrong appeared before council to ask for its support completing the section of the trail between Penhold and Olds and to appoint a representative from council and a town staff member to work with surrounding municipalities to complete the trail.
Armstrong said while much of the trail around Red Deer is largely complete, the section from Penhold to Innisfail and Innisfail to Olds are just in the planning stages.
“We really want to fire things up and get it to move forward,” Armstrong said, noting that the trail is scheduled to be completed by 2017.
Councillors agreed to name a rep at the Oct. 24 council meeting.
Council approves PRL budget
Innisfail Town Council voted unanimously to approve the Parkland Regional Library budget for 2012-14 during the Oct. 11 council meeting.
Under the proposed budget, Innisfail’s per capita cost will increase from $6.97 this year to $7.07 in 2012, $7.53 in 2013 and $7.91 in 2014.
While the overall budget features a slight increase, Darryl Joyce, director of corporate and protective services, said the per capita requirement has actually dropped.
“Although it’s an increase from 2011 it’s actually a decrease from what they were projecting,” said Joyce, explaining that the 2011-13 Parkland budget had called for a per capita contribution of $7.29 in 2012 and a $7.67 in 2013.
Traffic, land use bylaw amendments pass first reading
An amendment to Innisfail’s Traffic Bylaw that will make it illegal to park trailers and recreational vehicles on town streets during the winter months passed first reading at the Oct. 11 town council meeting.
“In a nutshell, they’re going to have to go into storage,” bylaw officer Colin Whymark said. Whymark said RVs can be parked in a driveway as long as they are in line with the front of the house or further back.
An open house has been scheduled for Oct. 24 council meeting to give council an opportunity to hear from RV owners and other residents on the proposed changes.
Bylaw officer Ryan Anderson said RVs parked on town streets during the winter months are a safety issue.
Council also approved first reading of an amendment to the Land Use Bylaw to allow RV parking in two areas where it was previously restricted – Aspen Heights and Napoleon Lake – while transferring RV parking to the Traffic Bylaw.
A public hearing has been scheduled for Nov. 14.
Budget adjustment for public works shop approved
Innisfail town councillors unanimously approved a $44,926.18 budget adjustment for the town’s new public works shop on Oct. 11.
The funding will come from the town’s contingency account in the 2011 budget and includes $12,754.95 for the installation of a new gas service pipe, a service header, and equipment to supply two pound gas to the shop; $16,569.65 for the installation of a fire alarm panel required under the building code following the installation of a sprinkler system; $5,601.58 for the installation of drainage pipes necessitated by the amount of organic material and soft clay unearthed during excavation; an estimated $7,500 for a new underground power line; and an estimated $2,500 for a new phone line.
A total of $34,697.92 was also spent to install a new sewer and water line, Innisfail CAO Helen Dietz said, though the project was “in-house” and was paid for through the town’s salaries budget.
Dietz said a further budget adjustment will be required at the next council meeting to establish a small contingency fund for the project, which had an approved budget of $1.567 million.
Train whistles under review
Innisfail Mayor Jim Romane said town council will re-examine the issue of train horns in town, in light of a letter from local businessman Daryl Hillman.
Romane said previous councils had discussed the issue at length and concluded the process, which would require the construction of pedestrian walk-over bridges and other safety features, was cost prohibitive. Romane said he has been in touch with Olds Mayor Judy Dahl to examine how that community dealt with the situation.
“We have to open that whole can of worms again,” Romane said. “We’ll be reviewing all the information we have to date.”
