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Council approves land exchange with Strathmore Estates
During last week’s regularly scheduled town council meeting, Sundre councillors approved a land exchange agreement that will see the town trade a closed portion of a roadway for a second portion of land along the Bearberry Creek in southwest Sundre.
Strathmore Lake Estates Ltd. wants the closed portion of roadway for use in future development.
“The closed portion of road is proposed to be consolidated with other abutting lands owned by Strathmore Lakes to create a single large parcel for future development,” acting CAO Dave Dubauskas said in a note to council. “It is undeveloped and does not contain town utilities and infrastructure.
“Bearberry Creek runs through the northeast corner of one of the properties that is owned by Strathmore Lakes. The town’s open space and trails plan identifies the desire to obtain more land along the creek where and when possible. This land will be used to preserve the natural features of the creek and provide space for a future trail corridor.”
Both portions of land are 535.2 metres square or 0.l3 acres.
Under the exchange, no money will change hands, and the cost to create the parcels for the exchange and to register the parcels at Land Titles will be borne by Strathmore Lakes, council heard.
“As the exchange is on a land area for land area basis with each area being exchanged having a similar value there is no funding outlay for the town,” he said.
Council OK’s fire department equipment purchase
In other council news, councillors approved the spending of $5,136 for new turnout gear (jackets, coverall pants) for the Sundre fire department.
“Six new sets of turnout gear were ordered at the end of 2011 and due to manufacturing delay were not received until February 2012,” said Dubauskas.
“It was believed that the gear would have arrived in 2011 and would have been paid for in 2011. The 2012 operating budget did not include this expenditure. Had it included the expenditure, the resulting offset would have been a reserve transfer.”
The funds will come from the town’s fire reserves.
Council OK’s support letter for proposed complex
As expected, councillors agreed to have a letter of support given to the Sundre and District Agricultural Society for its proposed Youth and Agriculture Complex.
The facility will include a riding arena and meeting areas, society president Sheldon Campbell told councillors at the recent governance committee meeting.
Following Campbell’s presentation, councillors passed a motion bringing the matter before council last week.
“As the society moves forward, they plan to apply for grants as a funding stream for the complex,” said Dubauskas. “One of the requirements of the grant application is a letter of support from the municipality.
“A letter of support from the municipality for the society’s proposal allows the society to move forward in their planning process with a financial projection.”
A location and cost estimate for the new facility has not been released.
Council approves triathlon exemptions
Councillors OK’d a number of exemptions to town rules for the August 12 Sundre and District Aquatic Society triathlon.
The exemptions include the use of road barriers in town, the use of road signs, permission to use temporary spray paint and signs to mark the route, access to Snake Hill and the use of an ATV on the hill, and advertising in the town’s weekly newspaper advertisement.
Meanwhile, administration has OK’d the use of the day use area at the Greenwood Campground as part of the Aquatic Society’s Street Bike Poker Rally on Aug. 19, council heard.
Infrastructure funding resolution approved
Councillors passed a motion in support of a campaign by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities aimed at ensuring long-term federal infrastructure funding to towns and cities.
The town motion reads: “That council endorses the FCM campaign and urges the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities to work with FCM to ensure the new long-term infrastructure plan meets the core infrastructure needs of cities and communities.
“Sundre town council urges the Minister to ensure that the long-term plan is fully in place when existing programs expire in 2014.”
The resolution also said that Sundre “has continuing infrastructure needs, such as the improvement of wastewater treatment, the infrastructure to supply water and wastewater to residents, and the improvements to transportation infrastructure that can only be met through the kind of long-term planning and investment made possible by a national partnership plan.”
Town will make grant applications
Councillors have instructed administration to proceed with applications under a new federal grant program.
The Community Infrastructure Improvement Fund is a two-year program that will see $150 million spent on improving community infrastructure. About $46 million will be spent in Western Canada.
Projects eligible for grants under the program include community and cultural centres, parks, libraries, and recreation facilities. Projects for the grants must be completed by 2014, council heard.
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