Emergency communications system upgrade considered
During a recent capital planning session, Sundre council voted to consider spending $60,000 in 2015 to acquire a new radio system for emergency responders, during upcoming budget deliberations.
The project would include installing a new digital repeater, antenna and handheld and base unit for the town's emergency communication system.
The money would be spent from Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI) Operating Grant funding.
“At present, emergency communications between town staff are conducted by cellphone. In Sundre, due to system network weaknesses, experience indicates this is unreliable in the event of a true emergency,” town officials reported to council during the capital planning session.
“A modern two-way radio system, with access to all emergency and privacy channels, and a dedicated digital repeater has been recommended to replace the current antiqued system, used only by fire and police.”
The new system would function reliably between Coal Camp Road and Eagle Hill, according to officials.
Council recently sent a letter to provincial government officials requesting a meeting, after voting unanimously against spending $28,000 on engineering services to apply for a grant for flood related projects.
The provincial government launched the Alberta Community Resiliency Program in June for flood-affected communities. The program grants 90 per cent of engineering and construction costs towards approved projects that cost up to $3 million, and 70 per cent for projects exceeding $3 million.
But Sundre councillors say they believe the province should pay for 100 per cent of the costs.
Town purchasing two emergency light towers
Council recently approved purchasing two emergency light towers for $27,006 using provincial flood mitigation grant money town officials have already received.
Officials say the towers would assist with emergency containment and cleanup.
“During the 2013 flood emergency, responders noted a need for much better illumination of river areas, particularly at the Highway 27 bridge, Greenwood Park, the cenotaph, and some other locations where there is minimal effective installed lighting,” Dave Hill, the town's director of operational services, reported to council at the Nov. 3 meeting.
Each tower costs $12,860, and taxes for purchasing both towers are $1,286, for a total cost of $27,006.
Town reserving money to replace steel gas piping
During a recent capital planning session, Sundre council voted to consider spending during upcoming budget deliberations $50,000 each year for the next four years on replacing steel gas piping through town with plastic.
The project would replace aging steel gas pipe with larger plastic pipe, which would be four inches in diameter. It would require excavation and welding to hook up existing customers to the new line.
Town officials already have $11,317 in reserves for the project and plan on spending $38,683 from Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI) Capital Grant money towards the project as well.
“The pipe change will replace pre-1978 steel pipe that is poorly coated and is susceptible to corrosion and leaks,” town officials reported to council during the capital planning session.
“There is a need to begin changing this aging infrastructure as it is not coated well and is beginning to corrode and leak.”
Council will negotiate new MOA with county
Sundre council has approved negotiating a new Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Mountain View County.
Mountain View County officials have decided not to renew the MOAs with the urban municipalities located within the county's boundaries.
Under the MOA, county revenues are paid to the town in exchange for services. It was signed in 2007 and expires in 2016.
“The county would propose to contract Bill Sutherland to facilitate the process of developing new agreements,” Tony Martens, the county's chief administrative officer, wrote in a letter to Dave Dubauskas, the town's chief administrative officer.
“In addition to developing new agreements, we would like to develop a stronger relationship with the Town of Sundre and a process as to how we will work through those times where we do not reach agreement.”
Sutherland is a strategic advisor and mediator/facilitator. He prepared a document in September outlining the inter-municipal cooperation process.
“Municipalities, whether they are urban, rural or a combination of both, can no longer exist and thrive in isolation of their neighbours,” Sutherland explained in the document.
“It is in the best interests of municipalities to find ways to collaborate and cooperate with each other to achieve mutual benefit and in so doing better serve their respective communities.”
To begin the process he plans to meet with each party separately to understand their perspectives and interests.
During the Nov. 3 Sundre council meeting, council also approved designating the county as the administering partner to apply for the Alberta Community Partnership Grant, which would cover costs related to the inter-municipal collaboration process.
If county officials do not receive the grant, they plan on using funds from the Municipal Area Partnership account.
“It's really a joint will on both parties to discuss how we're going to work together for the community,” said Dubauskas.
