Multiple policies approved
Council carried three motions to approve previously discussed draft policies outlining procedures and guidelines for the following: multi-year business planning and budgeting; capital financing and debt management; as well as restricted surplus accounts.
Chris Albert, director of corporate services, said the policies remained largely the same as previously discussed with the exception of some minor revisions based on council discussions during the workshop in October.
Among the changes in the multi-year business planning and budgeting policy are reducing the chief administrative officer’s discretionary spending limit to $50,000 from $100,000 for capital expenses and to $25,000 from $50,000 for operating expenses, he said, adding most of that policy otherwise remained the same.
The capital financing and debt management policy remained the same as previously presented. Council was given a period of time to review and raise questions but there were no further inquiries or concerns that were brought to his attention, he said.
The situation was the same for the restricted surplus account policy, which aims primarily to simplify council’s decision-making process as well as build up stabilization funds from scratch for individual departments. The process could take anywhere from three to 10 years depending on available funds, he said, adding that document had not been changed from the original draft.
Sander system purchase approved
A previously tabled request from the municipality’s fleet services to purchase a sander system that attaches to a truck was brought back for decision.
Jim Hall, operations manager, said the previous unit had begun to rust and thus reached the end of its useful lifespan. The request, initially planned to be brought before council in January, was bumped up largely because of concerns stemming from the season’s early snowfall, he said.
Coun. Todd Dalke asked about the new unit’s life expectancy, and Hall said the system, which is made from stainless steel, should outlast the previous one and will be reviewed in 10 years.
Council unanimously carried a motion to approve the purchase of a SaltDogg sand spreader system at a cost of a little more than $9,300 plus GST from Commercial Truck Equipment Co., with the funds to be transferred from roads reserves.
Appeal board appointments
During the Oct. 15 meeting, council approved a bylaw to establish an intermunicipal subdivision and development appeal board in accordance with the Municipal Government Act. Council additionally approved an agreement among Cremona, Carstairs, Didsbury and Sundre.
The next step, Linda Nelson, chief administrative officer, said during the Nov. 15 meeting, was to appoint two members to join the eight-person panel.
Council carried the recommended action to appoint Mike Beukeboom and William Logan to the appeal board for one-year terms.
Waste commission options requested
Council discussed correspondence from the municipalities of Didsbury and Carstairs, whose councils had recently supported a directive be given to the Mountain View Regional Waste Management Commission to do the following: provide options for disposal of the commission’s assets; provide options for the successful financial and operational management of the commission’s landfill and transfer stations; as well as to have that information outlined for presentation to member municipalities by the commission in six months.
Mayor Terry Leslie, Sundre's council representative on the waste commission board, expressed concern about the timeline, which he considered far too tight, and cautioned his colleagues against passing the recommended motion as presented, instead suggesting a one-year window.
“My advice is to give it a year,” he said, citing as one of his reasons the lengthy process involved in finding commercial contracts, which he called the key to a more sustainable revenue stream.
However, the rest of council largely seemed comfortable with the six-month timeline, and proceeded to carry — with only the mayor opposed — the same motion carried by Didsbury and Carstairs councils.
Supporting post-secondary presence in Sundre
Jon Allan, economic development officer, sought council’s approval to allow Linda Nelson, chief administrative officer, to sign an agreement with Campus Alberta Central on behalf of the Town of Sundre. The agreement creates a partnership that would not only provide the organization with use of the municipality’s community boardroom at market rates but also “allow for somebody in my position to work with Campus Alberta Central, Red Deer College and Olds College to help promote courses that will begin to be taught in person here in Sundre.”
Since the colleges are not leasing any sites, the end result would not necessarily be a satellite campus but rather a learning or teaching service centre in town, he said.
“They just need some assistance getting the information out there,” he said, adding that will also involve working with industry partners to determine what kinds of skills training programs should be developed.
Council unanimously carried a motion directing administration to sign the agreement with Campus Alberta Central to help promote post-secondary learning in Sundre.
