Laura Thiessen, on behalf of the minor ball association, requested council’s permission for the association to construct new dugouts at the northeast ball diamonds. Funding of about $4,300 will come through a Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) grant. Council approved the application.
The Village of Linden has sent a letter to Municipal Affairs Minister Hector Goudreau requesting immediate action with regard to the Kneehill Water Commission’s high water rates. Copies of the letter were also sent to the other Commission members, including Beiseker and Irricana.
The letters states that Linden cannot possibly make the water utility self sustain itself. In Linden, if the Village were to bill its residents for the entire cost of water without any subsidization from taxes, the cost per cubic meter would be $6.25, close to twice the current rate.
Linden is asking the province to honors its promise of Jan. 5, 2011, to look into the Commission’s finances. At that time the province promised to get back to the Commission promptly with a possible solution.
• Town office received 13 complaints in the past month including one of a truck and trailer parked on Main Street, dandelions in a neighbour’s yard and a derelict car in an alley.
• The Town received $1,000 from Direct Energy and it has been given to the Lions for lock/keys and padlocks.
• All water used by the Town for watering plants, gardens and parks is ground water taken from the Town’s well and not potable water, saving hundreds of dollars every month, Melton noted. He also told council the hours of the splash park have been reduced from 1- 7 p.m. in a bid to save water.
• The Irricana library desperately needs volunteers for its board of trustees. Anyone interested is asked to call Trudy Whitfield at 403-935-4906.
• Deputy Mayor Andrew Carr reported that First Street improvements are going well. Six new serviced lots have been added to the campground. Patching is being completed on Sixth Street for the water main breaks that occurred over the past few years.
• A motion was approved by Public Works, recommending to council that a swale be installed in the back alley of Third Street. It was in the motion that the Town needs to work with the area residents who have come forward asking the swale to be put on their land to alleviate the severe flooding in that alley. Although there was some discussion regarding the other alleys in town, Public Works identified Third Street as its top priority.
• Deputy Mayor Andrew Carr returned $1,159.32 to the Town he had collected as remuneration for travel and attendance at Rocky View Foundation meetings. Carr, who joined the committee last October, was not aware he could be reimbursed for these meetings directly from Rocky View Foundation.
• Council has almost depleted its 2011 budget for remuneration for the year and instructed Melton to look into how much Irricana councillors are paid compared to those in other similar-sized town.
Melton was also asked to look into the merits of a flat rate system, as opposed to each councillor submitting bills for each committee.
The next meeting of Irricana Council will be Aug. 2 at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers. The public is welcome.
