Stettler town council met with an RCMP delegation on May 21 before considering changes to the Sharp Memorial Park agreement and various other budget reviews.
Staff Sergeant Cam Russell addressed the council, presenting the quarterly report and saying most of the statistics for the area were trending downwards.
Russell also said his priorities for next year will remain the same.
His top priorities will be crime reduction and community engagement.Currently, the police department has two vacancies, but an officer with five years’ experience is in the process of being transferred, he noted.
Russell also noted that, although there have been some delays, the detachment building is still slated for renovation, but no expansion of space is anticipated.Several councillors commented on the great efforts to increase community engagement, the continued deployment of RCMP to schools and the reduction in speeding in marked areas.
Development Officer Angela Stormoon updated council on the proposed subdivision Request for Decision (RFD), which would split a residential block housing a two-family home into two.
It was pointed out that currently, the sewer line from one half of the property joins with the other line before entering the main line. Administration recommended that the division request be approved with the provision that a separate line be created for the second property. The recommendation was approved by motion from Councilman Scott Pfeiffer.
City Council voted to recommend city tax increases for both existing residential and non-residential properties. The increases average 3 percent and were thoroughly discussed at the previous budget meeting. The recommended increases were approved by motion from Councilman Gord Lawler.
The town then handled correspondence with the Stettler Legion chapter.
Legion has informed the town that it can no longer afford the annual electricity costs for the street lights at Sharp Memorial Park. After footing the bill for lighting the area for the past few decades, the town has decided it can no longer afford to do so as part of an effort to cut operating costs.
Administrators noted that both the Clearview School District and the RCMP believe lighting in the park is beneficial in terms of safety and security in the area.
The administration presented two proposals to the council. The first was for the town to cover the cost of the lights. The second was to offer a cost-share agreement to the Clearview School Department. Councilman Travis Rundell made a motion for the town to move forward with the first proposal, which passed.
Town Operations Director Melissa Robbins presented two capital budget items to the council.
The first job was replacing the water main on 47th Ave.
The project was budgeted at $350,000, and Wally’s Backhoe Services bid $227,557. Robbins said with contingency and necessary engineering costs, the project will cost approximately $335,612. The motion to award the contract to Wally’s Backhoe Services passed on motion from Councilwoman Cheryl Barros.
The second capital budget item was the cost of new overhead doors at Stettler Recreation Centre, with Red Deer Overdoor Inc. bidding at $27,143.
The administration recommended accepting the project with a budget of $30,000.Motion from Councilman Wayne Smith carried.
