Sundre town council has come out in support of keeping a full-strength RCMP detachment in town.
During last week's governance committee meeting, Mayor Annette Clews said keeping the detachment unchanged is important for the entire Sundre area.
The towns of Olds, Didsbury and Carstairs have been in discussions with RCMP officials about the possibility of regionalizing the RCMP coverage in those communities.
The Town of Sundre was invited to join those discussions, but has declined.
“Mayor Lance Colby from Carstairs has been investigating that possibility and feasibility of regionalized policing, and we were invited to the table,” said Clews.
“Once we had an initial look at it, we decided that we don't support becoming part of that because of our location, because of our distance from the Highway 2 corridor, and the large area that they have to patrol.
“While the concept may be ideal for those other communities, for us it does not make sense. We want Sundre to keep a full-size detachment. Yes, it would be nice to have a new building.”
The town has already notified Mayor Colby of its decision not to participate in regionalization talks.
Sundre RCMP Sgt. Percy Leipnitz said he “absolutely” supports having a full-strength detachment here.
“It's good for the community,” said Leipnitz. “Regionalization is not about them taking our detachments away. It's just a matter of sharing resources for backup and stuff like that. It's not that they are planning to take our detachment away.
“For example, if we need backup and they have guys working, then they can be utilized. It's a matter of sharing resources.”
Council asks for east side servicing options
In other council news, councillors have instructed administration to present possible options for moving ahead with east side servicing.
During last week's governance committee meeting, town CAO Ryan Leuzinger asked councillors to hold discussions about the various options that may be available for east side serving.
The town must undertake the east side servicing project by early 2014 or lose a $6 million federal BCF grant.
“We are hoping to get some feedback (from administration) on the options for costs and then we will be looking at those,” said Mayor Annette Clews. “The construction and the grant have to be spent by March 2014. We need to move forward on this or we will lose the grant.”
Coun. Chris Vardas said he would like to see the town move ahead with east side servicing once the various options have been discussed.
Coun. Paul Isaac said he would like to see construction on the east side project get underway this year if possible. He said further planning and discussions with area residents would be necessary before the project can get underway.
Coun. Michael Baird said council needs to see the various options, including costs, before proceeding.
In March council defeated a motion for second reading of the East Side Services Local Improvement Tax Bylaw and the East Side Services Local Improvement Borrowing Bylaw.
That second bylaw outlined how individual property owners would be taxed to pay back the $4.5 million council proposed to borrow for the east side servicing project.
To pay for the $19 million project – which would have seen water, wastewater, curb and gutter and other improvements – council had proposed using $8,689,853 in grants, $5,918,826 from the municipality at large, and $4.5 million in separate taxes to east side property owners.
The bylaw defeats came after a resident petition aimed at halting the proposed financing plans was presented to council. That petition was later declared invalid.
Mayor Clews said she hopes councillors will be able to review new options, including costs, in August.
Town council supports shopping local
Councillors have reiterated support for the town's existing shop local policy, with the town planning to educate local businesses and organizations about the policy.
“Shopping local supports local businesses and we want to do that,” said Mayor Clews.
Policy #303 provides a procedure for administration to follow “for purchases or projects affecting municipal operations in all departments which will result in a consistent method of dealing with contractors and supplies and will ultimately result in the municipality receiving the ‘best price' for goods and services.”
The policy statement includes that the town “recognizes the merits of dealing with local firms and suppliers, and that the lowest or any tender is not necessarily the ‘best price'.
“It also recognizes that, in addition to prices, other factors which influence a purchasing decision include reference checks, ability to do the work, completion schedule, and the town's previous experience with the contractor or supplier.”
Under the policy, purchases are grouped into two classifications, termed minor and major purchases.
Minor purchases are those under $10,000. “These purchases can be made by administration provided that least cost alternatives are practiced and they are within the budget guidelines as approved by council.”
Major purchases are those over $10,000. “These purchases can be made by administration if the price falls within budget guidelines as approved by council provided a price comparison has been completed. However, all contracts must be tendered.”
All contracts must be tendered and administration must obtain a minimum of two tenders prior to recommending an action for council.
Bunt transportation study approved by town council
Councillors have passed a motion approving a traffic study that looks at possible long-term developments and changes to Sundre's road network.
Bunt and Associates Engineering prepared the 155-page Bunt Transportation Study. The motion came during the last regular council meeting.
“The purpose of this transportation master plan, as stated in the proposal, is to develop a transportation model that identifies/confirms the infrastructure and planning needs and priorities for the short term annexation, IDP fringe area, and referral area horizons,” said Leuzinger in a note to council.
“In essence, it takes into account land use assumptions, traffic volumes, recommended future road network and associated costs.”
The plan is not a statutory document, meaning it is not binding on council or future councils, but rather will be used to guide possible future development.
Councillors Patricia Toone and Tony Jordan voted against the motion approving the study, saying it should have gone back to the governance committee for further review.
Among the report's recommendations are the following:
• That the intersection of Hwy. 27 and 11 Street N.E. be monitored for signalization;
• that the intersection of Centre Street and 2nd Ave. N.W. be reviewed on a stand-alone basis in order to determine appropriate and site specific improvements.
• That the section of Hwy. 27 between Hwy. 22 west of town and Centre Street be upgraded to a four lane cross section with a raised median and separate turn lanes from Hwy. 22 to east of 6 Street S.W. and upgraded to a four lane cross section with no median or separate left turn lanes through the town east of 6 Street to Centre Street.
Other recommendations include enhanced pedestrian crossings such as curb bulbouts and raised intersections on Centre Street.
Three more appointments to committee
Councillors approved the appointment of three residents to the town's economic development committee.
The new members are James Eklund, Marty Mennear and Wendy Morton.
There are now eight members on the committee, as well as council and town representatives. The committee works to promote Sundre and area economic growth and sustainability.
Coun. Chris Vardas said, “It's great that we have so many people on this committee. I'm all for it.”
