DIDSBURY - At its regular council meeting on Sept. 23, council adopted the amended 2019 Strategic Plan for the town. The strategic plan covers the years 2017-2027.
Tony Martens, interim CAO for Didsbury, said there were a few changes made to the original document.
The changes include updated vision and mission statements, additions of guiding principles, an update to strategic priorities, an expanded economic prosperity section, and addition of CAO to responsibility section of all strategic actions, and other responsibility and date changes.
In other council news, council approved the town entering into an updated municipal police services agreement. The agreement will come into effect on April 1, 2020 after the current arrangement ends.
The background information given to council states that due to the Town of Didsbury's population exceeding 5,000 the town is required to pay 70 per cent of the policing costs.
The cost in 2020 will be $393,905, which is based on nine remaining months in 2020. A full year of policing costs for the town will be $525,207.
"Council did approve it," said Martens. "The current contract expires on March 3, 2020 and the new one is scheduled to come in on April 1, 2020. It's a significant hit to go from when you're not paying policing to where you're paying policing."
Council received a report from administration regarding water and waste water allocations.
"Council was somewhat concerned about the amount of dollars spend in water and waste water," said Martens. "Administration was requested to come back with a report to say how those dollars were being spent, to break it down."
Council discussed energy pricing for the town. Currently, the Town of Didsbury uses Direct Energy as an energy retailer for both natural gas and electricity.
At this time both natural gas and electricity are at a variable or index rate, which fluctuates based on the market price, according to the background information provided council.
"Council accepted the recommendation in terms of electrical but not for gas," he said. "They'll do more review on it."
The recommendation from administration for electricity, which was accepted, stated that the town take a five-year block program with Direct Energy for electricity for all sites except street lights.
Council agreed to sponsor the annual Didsbury & District Chamber of Commerce business awards with a silver sponsorship for $250.
