DIDSBURY - After meetings and discussions, which started in November, Didsbury council has passed the 2019 capital budget. The vote on the budget came at council's recent regularly scheduled meeting.
Mayor Rhonda Hunter said that council is glad to have been able to approve the capital budget at this time.
"Approving budgets is a main function of council, so, of course, being able to get through the capital budget and have it approved before mid-February is positive for town departments," said Hunter.
"Department managers are now able to move forward with the projects they have had approved in the 2019 capital budget to ensure completion in 2019."
The capital budget has a total cost of $2,487,339. Funding is from operations -- $24,339; reserves -- $914,000; grants -- $1,050,000; and other sources -- $499,000.
The top items include a new pumper truck for the fire department at $387,500 (Didsbury's share; other half is paid for by the county); John Deere wheel loader at $230,000; and Didsbury arena roof upgrades at $225,000.
Major road projects are main street drainage/road rehabilitation at $800,000 and 10th Street paving at $250,000.
The $2,000,000 for the library expansion project was removed.
The 2019 operating budget is expected to be brought back to council at the Feb. 26 regular council meeting.
Hunter said she doesn't anticipate the budget being approved at that meeting.
"There is still outstanding information that council has requested and once presented at the February 26 meeting, council will take time to review the information," she said. "Additionally, the provincial assessment is not complete or available until February 28 for municipalities to review, which means that some information administration and council has now is subject to change, which in turn, may change our current projected rates."
In other council news, the rates, fees and fines bylaw was tabled after questions came up from councillors about whether certain fees could be reduced or dropped.
Coun. Erhard Poggemiller asked about why there were extra fees for businesses putting up signs.
"My reason for bringing that up is that we're trying to entice businesses to come to town and stay in town," said Poggemiller. "I'm wondering why we charge a fee for putting a sign on your own building. I realize things have to conform to a certain standard, but I think we should make a move forward to delete that charge when we're changing signs or putting signs on buildings."
Poggemiller said he has heard from business owners that the sign charge is an irritant.
Council also had concerns about the water charges for the multi-family residential units. According to the utility fees, there are 28 multi-family residential units, which are serviced by one water meter. This includes apartment buildings, townhouses and detached homes with secondary suites. This accounts for over $19,656 of water revenue and $21,060 of wastewater revenue each year.
The current fee structure for utility fees includes a fixed component (monthly flat rate) and a variable component (rate based on consumption).
"Council is asking for information on multi-use flat rate fees that are assessed per unit rather than per building," said Hunter. "The information presented was a comparison with other municipalities, and the information requested for February 26 is the budget implications and the adjustments to the budget that may need to occur if the flat rate fees are adjusted."
Council approved the 2019 FCSS (Family and Community Support Services) funding recommendations. In total, $62,000 had been budgeted for the grant. There were 16 applications that requested a total of $85,727.83.
Council approved $55,944.53 in FCSS community grants to 11 local agencies and service groups for use in their programs, events and operations in 2019, said Nicole Aasen, manager of community services.
FCSS is a partnership between the province and municipalities within Alberta that focuses on providing funds for preventive social programs at a local level. The funding is an 80-20 partnership with the province providing 80 per cent of the funding and the Town of Didsbury providing the other 20 per cent.
Approved were: Accredited Supports to the Community -- Healthy Families, $8,000; Chinook Arch Victim Services Society -- Safer Schools Together, $3,000; Chinook's Edge School Division (CESD) -- Family School Wellness Workers, $11,916.70; CESD -- Youth Empowerment and Support (YES) Program, $7,500; CESD -- Westglen School, presentations, $1,379; Didsbury Preschool Society -- preschool program, $7,047.57; HOPE -- The Conversation Has to Happen, $1,200; Mountain View Communities Adult Learning Society -- Bookworm Babies, $1,331.26; Mountain View Parent Link, Early Parenthood Program, $1,150; Olds and District Hospice Society, $1,000; and Didsbury Out of School Care Association, $12,420.
