MVC council has approved a partnership with Red Deer County and the City of Red Deer to jointly acquire new aerial photos of the municipalities.
During a recent county council meeting, councillors OK'd the MVC's estimated $60,000 portion of the cost.
“While our preference would ultimately be to participate in a data acquisition partnership with Sustainable Resource Development (SRD) and other municipalities, it does not appear that SRD enters into these partnerships like they once did,” CAO Tony Martens said in an note to council.
“Red Deer County is interested in a partnership for 2013 which would reduce our costs while providing us with better quality imagery.”
The photos will be used for a number of things, including parcel design for subdivision, background information for planning and development applications, preparing environmental farm plans, applying for growing forward programs for landowners, riparian fencing projects, and gravel pit reclamation, council heard.
“An information poll was completed across the organization. The results of the poll were that most users wanted imagery no older than three years, with some wanting less than one-year-old data. The commitment is to maintain imagery no greater than five years old with the potential to acquire new imagery after three or four years based on cost/benefit analysis,” administration said.
The project will now be put out in a request for proposals.
In other MVC news, councillors have passed a motion approving an updated policy for the use of county equipment by county taxpayers.
Although a policy for the private use of county equipment has been in place since 2002, the new policy #4020 sets out in much more detail what equipment can be rented and under what conditions.
The equipment covered under the new policy is a tag reader, pull-type range and pasture sprayer, skid mounted sprayer, ATV mounted sprayer, backpack sprayer, skunk trap, plastic mulch applicator, tree planter and cattle weigh scale.
“Rental equipment is only available for use by county taxpayers, and is intended for use within the boundaries of Mountain View County. Exceptions may be made if a taxpayer is using rental equipment on adjacent properties in an adjacent municipality,” the policy states.
“Approval for use of county equipment shall be approved and managed by the administrative department responsible for that equipment.
“When providing rental equipment for taxpayer use, consideration shall be given to not compete with private enterprise. Cost recovery rates will be consistent with the county equipment costing system and/or the Alberta Road Builder and Heavy Construction Association Equipment rental rates.”
According to Schedule A of the policy, there are fees for the use of the tree planter and the cattle weigh scale, and no charge for the other pieces of equipment covered under the policy.
"Red Deer County is interested in a partnership for 2013 which would reduce our costs while providing us with better quality imagery."Tony Martens, CAO
