The Mountain View County policies and priorities committee has reviewed about $25 million in proposed capital and operational projects as part of the 2017 budget process.
The review of project sheets came during the committee's recent regularly scheduled meeting.
The projects were put forward by the departments of corporate services, planning and development services, legislative, community and agricultural services, and operational services.
The committee is made up of sitting county councillors.
Operational services projects proposed include the following (as quoted in the project sheets):
• Re-chipping program, $2,445,000.
• Industrial subdivision paving, $2,115,000.
• Annual re-gravel program, $1,800,000.
• Road base stabilization, $600,000.
• Westfork Estates subdivision improvements, $420,000.
• Asphalt long patching, $400,000.
• Fallen weight testing of surface roads, $255,000.
• Subdivision deferred chip program, $120,000.
• Sundre Airport paving, $120,000.
Legislative services projects proposed include the following:
• Fire equipment, Cremona, $994,000. The expenditure is based on a replacement schedule for the Cremona Fire Department.
• Fire equipment grants to urban centres, $843,000. The expenditure is based on agreements with the towns to supply funding to major equipment based on a replacement schedule.
• Cremona Ag Society arena renovations $500,000. Renovations needed at the facility include handicap accessibility, repairs to the plumbing and heating, redesign of mail level area, and the addition of a commercial kitchen. Total cost of the renovations has been set at $1.2 million.
• FCSS grant transfers to urban centres in the county, $212,500.
• Records management program and storage solution, $150,000. The goal is to provide administration, council and the public with access to all records, physical and electronic.
• Business park signage, $120,000. Signs for the entrances for the county's six business parks. The project would be contingent on additional grant funding.
• Cremona Fire Department communications, $65,000. Installation of the Alberta fires responder radio communications system.
• Olds Regional Exhibition kitchen project, $50,000. The project would include retrofitting the existing galley-style kitchen, small boardroom and office into a multi-functional commercial space.
• Alberta High School Rodeo funding, $25,000. The AHSR Association will be hosting the provincial championships in Olds in May 2017. The funds will be used to support the event.
• STARS funding of $24,718, representing $2 per capita.
• 2017 Agricultural Services Board summer tour $20,000 -- The funds will be used to support the July 2017 tour in the county.
• Distracted driving scope, $3,500. The Vortex Viper spotting scope would be used by county enforcement officers to spot and photograph distracted drivers in the municipality.
Corporate services proposed projects include the following:
• Building asset evaluations, $60,000. The project involves evaluation of existing building assets to determine replacement value and remaining usable life for county-owned buildings.
• Public self service, $35,000. The project would allow public access to various services through the web including assessment information and tax certificates.
• Security upgrades, $21,500. The project would focus in part on making the administration building security system more functional.
• IT development, $10,000. The project involves engaging info-tech to address some specific needs such as developing a full disaster recovery and business continuity plan, as well as bringing technology policy up to date.
Planning and development department proposed projects include the following:
• South Carstairs Economic Growth Node area structure plan (ASP), $80,000.
• Highway 2/27 ASP review, $11,400.
• Eagle Valley ASP review, $10,000.
• South McDougal Flats ASP review, $10,000.
Committee members asked administration to bring back more information and clarification on several of the proposed projects, none of which have been approved by council.
Reeve Bruce Beattie did not attend the Oct. 29 committee meeting. All other councillors were in attendance.
