By Kevin J. Sabo
For the Bashaw Star
Without some repairs, the Bashaw Arena won’t be operational in the fall, council heard from Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Theresa Fuller during the June 17 meeting.
The ice plant in the arena has developed some leaks requiring work to be done, at an estimated cost of around $10,500, plus an additional $1500 for freon, for a total cost of around $12,000.
“This work is recommended, or the ice plant will not function properly,” wrote Fuller in her request for a council decision.
The freon gas in the unit has already been drained, and now the system needs to be repaired, and have a “bunch of seals” replaced, before replacing the cooling gas.
Currently, the Town of Bashaw has $7,300 available in its recreation budget.
“The repair needs to be completed, or the ice plant will not be operational for the fall,” wrote Fuller.
Pearson moved to transfer $5,000 from the Capital Recreation Reserve to the Operating Recreation Reserve, and Deputy Mayor Rosella Peterman motioned for the work to be completed. Both motions were carried.
Municipal Accountability Review
The Town of Bashaw has received the results back from the Municipal Accountability Review which the municipality underwent earlier in the year.
In total, 15 areas were found in town/council administration of the municipality which did not comply with the Municipal Government Act. Most of the items flagged in the report are housekeeping items, requiring better documentation going forward.
Examples flagged in the report include inconsistently recording in the minutes the reason for council moving into a closed session, not following the proper process of repealing a bylaw, and not adopting three-year operating budgets or five-year capital plans, per legislative requirements.
With the report into the town, administration is working on a plan to correct flagged items. The majority of the items will be corrected by amending or rewriting bylaws, as well as changing the documentation process in the minutes.
Municipalities in the province undergo a Municipal Accountability Review every three years by Alberta Municipal Affairs to ensure they remain compliant. Any deficiencies found in the report need to be corrected within a year.
“It didn’t look like there was anything major (in the report),” said Coun. Rob McDonald.
As Fuller corrects items on the list, she will either bring them to council to be passed if required — such as with bylaws — or just include the corrections in her usual meeting report.
In a motion presented by Coun. Darren Pearson, council accepted the report as information.
Trees
Council has approved the planting of 25 spruce trees behind Robinson Crecent.
The trees are being donated by Lezley Lischynski, and the town will partner with the Bashaw School Grade 6 class to plant them.
Council approved the request, and the donation, contingent on the Battle River School Division also approving the project.