Council has decided to wait for the results of the Inventory Study currently being conducted by Dillon Consulting before finalizing the Townís capital budget.
The report is expected to be finished in April. In the meantime, council authorized the expenditure of $23,000 in Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI) funding for lagoon cleaning, which needs to be done every 10 years.
Mike Rigg, the Town foreman, has decided to hire the same company that completed the recent assessment of the lagoon.
Council requested that tenders for this work be included in the next agenda package. Mayor Lisa Constantini pointed out that it is not councilís responsibility to approve the actual quote, only to approve the funding while administration approves the quote.
CAO Melton agreed to include the quotes in the next agenda package.
Other capital projects being considered include repairs to the outdoor rink, an alley repair where Booth Crescent meets Sixth Street and replacement of the Townís skid-steer.
To date the following MSI projects have been approved by Alberta Municipal Affairs for 2012:
ï Riding Lawn Mower replacement: $16,000
ï Dump Truck/Plow: $76,000
ï Community Hall Roof Rehabilitation: $35,000
ï Community Hall Furnace Replacement: $16,000
ï Rec. Complex Building Addition: $20,000
ï Bylaw-Enforcement Contract: $12,000
ï Solid Waste Collection: $31,200
ï Hand Held Equipment: $8,175
ï Library Operating Funds: $3,599
ï Transfer Site Contract: $10,000
ï Purchase of Water $16,777
ï Councillor Josh Taylor informed council the Winter Festival on Jan. 28 went very well with indoor carnival games, a hotdog lunch, outdoor activities and an evening teen dance.
More than 175 people took part in the events. Thirty volunteers from the community services board (CSB), Scouts, Venturers, and Calvary Chapel helped Town staff.
ï Youth Centre - CSB received $18,000 in funding from Rocky County Family and Community Support Services to assist with the operations of the Irricana Youth Centre in 2012.
The grant will pay for a centre coordinator and help with the costs of rent and utilities.
The Youth Centre is in its ninth year of operation with more than 100 registered members from ages 10 to 17.
ï Auditors are now finished their inspection of the Townís books and records and a final report is expected soon, said CAO Alvin Melton.
ï Several residents have complained about a barking dog and Melton advised council that as soon as an agreement with the new animal control officer is ratified, those complaints will be dealt with.
ï Melton also noted that the Town is still in negotiation with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) regarding the staff contract.
Accounts payable in the amount of $191,319 were approved.
Council agreed that from now on, each month when all five councillorsí sheets have been turned in to the office and authorized, the sheets will be included in the agenda.
The next meeting of Irricana council will be March 5 at 7 p.m. in council chambers. The public is welcome.
