OLDS — Town council is expected to consider $655,000 worth of projects for parks, sports fields and trails during budget discussions on Monday, Dec. 13.
According to a Town of Olds report, $605,000 of that money would be funded via a provincial Municipal Sustainability initiative (MSI) grant. But that could change in the case of plans for Centennial Park.
The remaining portion, for revitalization of a couple of ball parks, would be drawn from town reserves; the second year of a three-year program.
All those expenditures came up for discussion during council’s Dec. 6 policies and priorities meeting.
The largest chunk of money, $250,000, was earmarked for revitalization of Centennial Park.
Community services director Doug Wagstaff said if council isn’t willing to spend the entire amount now, he urged them to spend $20,000 for a consultant to look into a plan for the southwest portion of that park, including the installation of power for cameras.
He said that work would be to develop a concept plan in 2022 for that area, including the electrical detail, basic construction engineering and the high-level architectural drawings for “the development a large green space with electrical outlets” for installation of the cameras.
Coun. James Cummings asked if the money for that project would come out of the town’s capital or operating budget.
“It can go through the capital budget, as long as there is a tangible asset that will come out of it,” finance director Sheena Linderman said. “So I need a guarantee that something will happen. Otherwise, generally this study should come through operating.”
Wagstaff agreed with that thinking.
Cummings expressed support for engaging a consultant to draw up that plan.
“It’s not a significant amount of money, but I just want to make sure it’s in the right spot,” he said.
Linderman said the plan could be brought back for discussion in April when council hammers out its regular budget.
Coun. Heather Ryan asked if the report will include input from park users “because we don’t want to be assuming that people need this and they need that and it never gets used.”
Wagstaff said: “We’ll want to do some visioning with both the public and council before we engage the consultant fully so that we can narrow that focus down with the consultant and make sure the money we’re spending with them is good and focused.”
“So that would be something we would do not at a cost, but use our resources internally.”
A total of $150,000 is earmarked for improvement to existing trails and possible new trails in the community.
Another $155,000 would fund the fourth year of a five-year wayfinding program.
Linderman said the money for ball park revitalization is slated for dugouts at ball diamonds in O.R. Hedges and Imperial parks.
Plans also include $50,000 for installation of porta potty enclosures to protect them from vandalism, tipping or other issues.
