Mountain View County (MVC) council has agreed to support the Alberta Agricultural Service Board summer tour 2017 in conjunction with Red Deer County.
“I think it's a good thing,” said MVC councillor and ag board member Duncan Milne. “This is going to be an agricultural tour.”
During the recent regularly scheduled council meeting, councillors were asked to approve spending of up to $50,000 for the county's 50 per cent portion of the 2017 tour cost.
“While no formal budget has been set, the goal is to ‘break even', balancing a budget for low losses or low profit,” CAO Tony Martens said in a briefing note to council.
“Based on the financial information provided by municipalities that have recently hosted an ASB summer tour it is unlikely any losses would exceed $100,000. Loses would be shared equally by each host municipality. Any possible revenue would be discussed between the municipalities to determine an agreed upon allocation of funds.”
The immediate goals are to set a date and draft a preliminary budget. As progress develops with planning the ASB summer tour the information will be brought back to council.
Council approved the motion supporting co-hosting the tour and providing the funding up to $50,000.
Meanwhile, council defeated a motion calling for the purchase and installation of an all-season diesel exhaust fluid distribution tank for the Didsbury yard for $35,000.
Diesel exhaust fluid is used in the county's seven highway tractors and six light fleet trucks as part of existing environmental standards.
“In the immediate future, all the off-road equipment, including graders and loaders, will have the requirement to use DEF,” CAO Tony Martens said in a briefing note to council. “Currently MVC orders DEF by the jug for equipment or uses DEF distribution pumps at one of the cardlocks to meet our needs.
“The issue with this is that not all cardlocks in the county had DEF for sale. Also, the storage of DEF needed at the shop is an issue since DEF cannot be frozen or stored in direct sunlight because the fluid will degrade.”
Administration proposed the purchase of a 1,000-gallon tote of DEF and UFA will be able to refill the tote upon request, he said.
“The cost of the DEF tank is $30,184.35. It is estimated that it will cost $4,000 for an electrician to wire in the tank to power,” he said.
After defeating the purchase motion, council instructed administration to come back with more information on proposed usage and possible other options.
“This is an out of budget request and we need more information,” said Coun. Al Kemmere.
