This year is the first year that the library board will be allowed to apply for grant money to move into the Community Links Building. It is estimated that the cost for the move will be around $80,000 because of the highly technical needs of moving the library’s Internet service. Council is hopeful that the move will be completed by summer.
Arena lighting continues to be a concern to both users and Village council.
Cortech Lighting, which replaced the lights in the arena last year, was invited to send a representative to the council meeting, Jan. 24, to discuss solutions to the dark areas and shadows that have plagued the arena since the work was done. However, no representative attended.
The Village will now look at its options. Council learned that netting will soon be installed to keep loose pucks from flying into the spectator area.
The highly-anticipated arrival of the old train station from Bassano is still expected before the end of March.
Under an agreement with Big Country Tourism, from which the close to $500,000 grant for the purchase and move was made possible, the money has to be spent within a specified time limit.
To date, a two-month extention has been granted.
Beiseker residents recycled more than 31,000 kg of paper last year, as well as more than 58,000 kg of cardboard.
If dumped in a landfill, the cost of dispose of the product would have been $20,109, Councillor Fred Walters reported.
The Ag Society has asked Beiseker’s department of public works to take the propane bottles used for ice resurfacer fuel to Acme and the machine’s blades to Calgary for sharpening when necessary.
Public Works staff members, however, do not have any reason to regularly travel back and forth to Acme, therefore Council could not agree to the propane bottle request.
Council also heard that the arena board is looking at natural gas as an alternative fuel for the Zamboni.
The Village regularly sends water samples to Calgary, but council wanted more information about the blade delivery before committing to the request. Administration will find out where in Calgary they need to go, how often, and who will pay for the sharpening.
Snow removal from the parking lot at the arena is done as quickly as possible, but this is not a priority - street clearing takes precedence.
Beiseker continues to be in very good financial shape, with several debentures now being paid off.
Uncollected taxes continue to be a problem, at $300,000. Property taxes are eventually recovered through sale and a substantial interest penalty generally applies to unpaid taxes, which offsets any costs.
A frozen water meter at a private residence has resulted in a $600 bill for the homeowner.
While the town has paid the bill, they will now bill the cost to the homeowner. Council wishes to remind all homeowners that they are responsible for their water meters.
Beiseker is still attempting to get a replacement main water meter, as there is a huge discrepancy in how much water the Village is using and how much it is being charged for.
The latest offer from Kneehill Water Commission staff would see a $5,000 charge to Beiseker for changing this meter. As the water commission board itself has not addressed the issue, council unanimously agreed to ask them to do so.
For environmental reasons, and because raspberry bushes have been planted, the majority of the members of the community garden committee are opposed to the use of herbicides to remove the quack grass from the area.
Therefore, other options for weed and grass removal will be explored. A couple of plots have already been leased.
Councillor Brenda Hnybida said the Parks and Trails committee is working on donation letters to begin to raise $100,000 to create a permanent outdoor rink.
At this time, the Village will not fund the rink.
The next meeting of Beiseker council is Feb. 7 in council chambers.
