The Rocky View Weekly has learned that Rocky View County has purchased a 1956 pick-up truck for restoration.
Once the vehicle is restored, it will be used for councillors to drive in parades and County events.
Rocky View County’s Acting Communication’s Manager Tara Richards said no details are available, as the restoration is yet to commence.
But according to a local businessman, should the project go forward it could cost taxpayers up to $100,000.
“It all depends on the condition of the truck,” said Chris Heighton, owner of Heighton Auto Restoration in Beiseker. “If they need everything, if they need the mechanics and the body redone, with typical rust and the interior, you are looking at $100,000.”
“A basement price would start at about $30,000. That is bargain basement. Typically (restorations) will run somewhere between $70,000 to $100,000,” Heighton added.
“The truck would have to be pretty mint and mechanically sound to get into the $30,000 range.”
Associated costs and estimated completion date has not yet been decided.
Rocky View County council approved a budget adjustment allowing $73,500 for the completion of a section of the Garden of Peace Cemetery, located 1.6 kilometres east of Calgary at 16th Avenue, Oct. 25.
Phase three of the Aga Khan Garden will accommodate more than 1,000 lots.
Rocky View County has provided cemetery services to the Aga Khan community since 1974, when the group purchased 100 burial plots.
Since then the County has established two separate garden areas.
It has been 18 years since a new garden was developed or set aside.
In 2010, the community purchased 200 lots, and a portion of the funds were designated for construction of a future garden, as per the County’s Cemetery Master Plan.
The third phase was to be built in 2012, but an increase of plot usage means the new section will be needed by the end of the year.
The money will come out of the County’s Unearned Cemetery Revenue account.
“It’s a win-win for both groups,” said Councillor Lois Habberfield.
“This is being funded by their group and not taxpayers.”
Rocky View County council unanimously approved a four-acre Springbank subdivision, Oct. 25.
The remaining parcel, located 5.6 kilometres west of Calgary, is 15.6-acres in size and contains a house, accessory dwelling and other buildings.
The two homes are serviced by a well and a private sewage treatment system.
Lot two is vacant and will be serviced by connection to Westridge Utilities and a new private sewage treatment system.
There are three approaches to the site off of Range Road 31A.
The southerly approach will have to be upgraded to reach community standards.
Rocky View County council approved an 11-acre subdivision in east Rocky View, Oct. 25.
The remaining parcel, located 150 metres north of Highway 22X on the County’s east boundary, is 19 acres in size and contains a home and accessory buildings.
The land was rezoned in March from Ranch and Farm District to Agricultural Holdings District and Residential Three District to facilitate the development of a tree farm.
The existing dwelling is serviced by a well and individual septic field.
The applicants, Nancy and Kelly Isley, will have to drill another well, as the existing one is located on the tree farm portion of the site, something Reeve Rolly Ashdown was against.
“Where there is an extremely wet area, I don’t see there is a reason we should force people to drill a well,” he said.
A number of councillors disagreed, including Greg Boehlke, who said it is necessary to prove there is potable water on any subdivision.
“We have to prove water before it is endorsed,” he said.
“It doesn’t matter if it is at the bottom of a lake.”
The tree farm will get its water from a dugout to be filled seasonally from the adjacent Western Irrigation District canal.
Council deferred half of the 10 per cent cash-in-lieu funding allowed for municipal reserves (MR).
“Personally, I am OK to defer it until later,” said Ashdown.
“If they decide to do something, at that point the MR would be due and payable.”
County staff received no response from 10 landowners circulated within the subdivision.
County council put off collection of almost $200,000 in transportation levies on an environmental reserve (ER) in a commercial lot in East Balzac, Oct. 25.
Council approved the 117-acre subdivision, which is located in the High Plains Conceptual Scheme area adjacent to Nose Creek, in June.
County staff recommended the deferral, stating in its report the burden of paying the levy may result in undeveloped commercial land to the detriment of Rocky View.
“The cost of paying… has resulted in under-utilized commercial land,” said Richard Barss, County planner.
Precedent has been set for deferral subdivisions along the banks of the Elbow River, added Barss.
If the ER is developed, the County will collect the funds.
Area Councillor Lois Habberfield was in favour of deferring the levy.
“If it greases the wheel for what they have to do, that is fine as long as it doesn’t cost the taxpayers,” she said.
“It is not gone forever, if they drain it, we’ll get it back.”
Eight out of nine councillors voted in favour of the deferral, with Division 1 Councillor Kim Magnuson the only dissenter.
