SUNDRE — Council was recently presented with a progress report on a number of development and infrastructure projects that are either in the works or in the planning stages.
During a special meeting conducted by teleconference on July 28, Linda Nelson, chief administrative officer, told council the list of projects was comprised of three categories: projects in process; upcoming priorities; and other important matters.
In process projects
Included among the items in the first category was the launch of a wage survey request for proposal that had been posted to the municipality’s website seeking responses from firms to perform a compensation and benefit review of municipal staff, management and council.
According to information on the town’s website, the last such review occurred in 2015. The closing date for the request for proposals was July 31.
Another major priority is the municipality’s impending wastewater treatment facility’s upgrades, a project that has been underway for a couple of years, with staff coordinating with the town’s engineering firm, CIMA+, as well as the provincial government and other stakeholders, she said.
Administrative staff also continues to work with Alberta Transportation on the Highway 27-Main Avenue overlay project, which includes a redesign of the downtown core featuring safe community sidewalks and crosswalks along the road, she said.
“The project will go ahead. Timing is pending (Alberta) Transportation’s financial situation," she said.
Additionally, efforts remain underway to pursue affordable housing options for Sundre, with staff working alongside two developers.
One is looking at the affordable housing market, while the other is investigating affordable rental accommodations as well as micro commercial space, she said.
Crucial to keeping tax increases to a minimum, she added, is growing commercial and industrial development, which always remains ongoing.
As a note of interest, she said as a result of the Candre cannabis production facility, the municipality was able to maintain this year’s mill rate at a zero increase.
“And the new commercial business by Tim Hortons will also help with the 2021 assessment base,” she said.
Upgrades and maintenance at the Sundre Arena are also a major priority, with the municipality in the process of completing a building envelope study to determine the entire structure’s integrity, as well as replacing an ice plant that had been budgeted in the capital plan for a number of years.
Discussions also remain underway for a tri-services building, a project identified on the 10-year capital plan, “but there is no immediate plan for this to proceed as there are other critical priorities” such as the sewage lagoon, she said.
Upcoming priorities
Proceeding to outline plans for upcoming priorities, Nelson said the projects highlighted were presented in no particular order of importance.
“They are all important,” she said.
The first is broadband, which essentially speaks for itself, with an update expected in the fall, she said.
Another is the objective of making Sundre a year-round tourist destination, as well as investigating options to develop a dog park — potentially on the site of the former Esso that is currently being remediated, she said.
Additionally, administration is looking at the cost to redesign council chambers to accommodate the ability for citizens to virtually participate in council meetings as part of the greater effort to promote public participation, she said.
Other important matters
This list includes items like contacting the school to discuss the possibility of rejuvenating the tennis court behind Sundre High School, as well as considering ways to offer pickleball, she said.
“We have had some interest (expressed) from some community members,” she said. “Apparently, pickleball is becoming very, very popular. So, we’ve been asked to have look at that.”
Administrative staff will also continue coordinating with the new Sundre & District Aquatic Society’s board to ensure the volunteer group is successful, she said.
Additionally, grant funding is being sought out for the scar on Snake Hill, a natural asset she described as a part of the community with an important history of being used by the schools, outdoor enthusiasts and the possibility of enticing tourists to visit Sundre.
Lastly, she said costs are being investigated for the possibility of purchasing a boom for a town truck so as to save on the expense of hiring a boom truck for many projects that currently require third-party hiring.
Council carried a motion to approve the report for information.
