SUNDRE – Additions to the previously proposed 2025 Town of Sundre budget include full-time hours for the municipal bylaw officer, a modest funding boost for the Sundre and District Museum as well as upgrades to make the Greenwood Campground washrooms available year-round.
Council deliberated the additions at length during the Nov. 25 meeting, which including some delegates was attended by a full gallery of approximately 15 people. The updated four-year budget and 10-year capital plan was expected to be approved during the Dec. 2 meeting.
Originally adopted in December 2022, the 2023-26 budget that is reviewed annually based on new information and requests was last updated this fall following a council workshop, said Chris Albert, director of corporate services.
Regarding the Greenwood Campground’s community park, Albert said the level of service had been increased and added that while the gate will now be left open during the winter, the road in will be cleared only after other priority areas.
“The washrooms are not heated; they’re not plumbed properly. So, to open the washrooms for year-round use, that is actually a further conversation,” he elaborated.
Albert said expanding the bylaw officer position to four days a week from three was also incorporated. As this position was established to serve as a transition away from a previous animal control contract, the department’s mandate was to work within the costing confines of that former contract, he said.
“It was only three days a week because that was all the budget would allow,” he said, adding that it has gone well and thus was recommended to be expanded to four days.
Following Albert’s presentation, council went around the table debating whether to approve the additions. Only Coun. Paul Isaac was not present on an approved leave of absence.
Coun. Owen Petersen asked if there would be a decreased level of service regarding animal control.
“The level of service under animal control has actually decreased,” said Albert, adding the former contractor had provided for kennelling and an adoption service that they weren’t paid for.
When the contractor notified that they would no longer be taking the job, administration attempted to find out how the level of service could be duplicated, he said.
“We can’t – it’s not possible. We can’t get a contractor that will respond in the middle of night to a loose dog and keep it for a number of days,” he said. “It has been a decrease from what it was two years ago to what it is now – it will not decrease lower than what it is now.”
Albert also confirmed a question raised by Coun. Jaime Marr that the bylaw officer position was initially trialled as a pilot.
Marr asked when the position becomes permanent or if animal control might be put back out to tender, but Albert said there’s no sense seeking a new contractor.
“We cannot get the service that we got previously,” he said. “Nobody wants to do it.”
Linda Nelson, chief administrative officer, added the position becomes permanent once it has been established on the salary grid.
Mayor Richard Warnock said he had received positive comments from the public regarding the impact of having both the peace officer as well as a bylaw officer more frequently visible on the streets, and asked how much making the bylaw officer a full-time position would cost.
Albert estimated that bringing the position up to five days a week from the budgeted four would cost more than $10,000.
Coun. Connie Anderson moved to expand the bylaw officer to five days a week.
Petersen was opposed and suggested starting with four days. He expressed a concern about ending up with two peace officers that would potentially leave neglected bylaw enforcement tasks such as animal control and unsightly premises.
Marr was also against the motion.
“We’re super lucky to have a peace officer and a bylaw officer, and that in and of itself is an increased level of service,” she said, adding the increase to four days would for now suffice and that the next council should ultimately decide whether to further increase hours to full-time.
Anderson’s motion passed with Petersen and Marr opposed.
Increasing the Sundre and District Historical Society's funding to an annual $11,000 from $10,000 for the next two years was championed by Petersen with no opposition expressed.
“It is in the heart of our town, it is something that we rely on a lot for tourism, it hosts our town events,” he said. “I really think that sometimes we undervalue that space as kind of an anchor in our community.”
The society had only sought an additional $300 next year, and Petersen said they should be granted a bit more, arguing that “$2,000 over two years is tiny, but it will go a long way for this organization.”
Council also approved allocating $15,000 in 2026 to upgrade the plumbing and heating at the Greenwood Campground’s washrooms, with Petersen outlining his reasons for dissenting.
“Toilets have a very soft spot in my heart,” he said, drawing laughter. “(But) my vision for a public toilet is more precise than I thought.”
Petersen made an argument for taking the time to properly design and develop a new public facility instead of patching up the campground’s aging toilet and calling it a four-season washroom.
The mayor agreed the $15,000 upgrade amounts to a temporary “band aid” solution, but he added there simply isn’t hundreds of thousands of dollars to spare in the budget on a brand new building when there are millions already tied up in upcoming underground infrastructure projects.
Once priorities like the Centre Street capital project are completed, “then council can certainly build the building of their dreams if they choose,” said Warnock.
