Bashaw could soon find itself with two replacement pieces of equipment, if they can figure out the funding.
Council discussed various options to replacing the aging ice resurfacing machine and purchasing a new flush truck at its meeting on Mar. 21.
So far, the town has received funding commitments for the arena’s ice resurfacer of $4,000 from the Bashaw Area Recreation Board and $50,000 from Camrose County. Meanwhile, a capital request application to Lacombe County will be considered by their council next month.
However, with the estimated price for a new unit at $125,000, council had also been hoping that funds from other neighbouring counties — Stettler and Ponoka — would have already been secured.
CAO Theresa Fuller told council those two counties have been sent funding request letters with a suggested funding level of around $2-3,000.
“Unfortunately, it hasn’t been a very fast process,” she stated.
“It seems like everyone is waiting for the others to respond before putting forward what they are willing to do.”
Fuller added that due to not knowing exactly what funds will be available, she has requested some updated pricing on the new and used units from the two manufacturers that should be available next month.
That will also provide more time to find out what the three counties have decided.
On the flush truck, a meeting is to be scheduled between all of the partners in the agreement — Bashaw, Bawlf, Rosalind — to discuss what to do after finding out a replacement will cost more than originally anticipated.
Late last year, all three councils — who jointly own the current unit while Bashaw administers and operates the truck — approved spending $100,000 to replace the current truck with one that would include a boiler, so it could be used during the winter.
However, Fuller explained that the cheapest replacement that’s been found is around $135,000.
“And since most of these used units are snapped up quickly, it wasn’t feasible to get back to the council’s for approval and I wasn’t comfortable going ahead without that,” she said.
“I think it’s time to reopen the conversation with our partners and discuss the cost.”
She added it may also be time to look at adjusting the pro-rated amounts each partner pays for capital and look at asking if another community that has requested the unit to see if they would like to join.
“Clive has accessed the service in the past and it might help to see if they would like to become a participant in the agreement,” Fuller stated.
“That could help lower the cost per partner of the replacement unit and the overall cost of operating.”
Council approved approaching Clive and setting up the meeting, as it would be easier to discuss the issues versus administration doing it through email.
Water tower
The community’s iconic landmark on the north end of town will remain being insured at a level that will give council options should something need to be done.
Bashaw’s insurer had requested council review what insurance would be sufficient after the assessed value of the historic tower was slashed by more than 50 per cent — falling to $610,000 from $1.24 million. Two years ago, council dropped the insurable amount to $200,000 that would allow for either repairs to be made or removal if the damage was not repairable.
Fuller noted the review was requested, in part, because it was felt the tower — which is no longer being used — was over insured.
Coun. Rob McDonald wondered if there was a need to insure the water tower at all given the fact. “it is simply cosmetic.”
However, Coun. Lynn Schultz pointed out that it does sit on a big hill and should something ever happen where it collapses and damages another property or hits the highway, the insurance needs to be there.
“If something like the hill falling away ever happens, I think we will have bigger fish to fry than how much insurance we have on the water tower,” McDonald said with bit of a chuckle.
Council also debated whether there would be a need to rebuild it if something were to happen, but Coun. Rosella Peterman stated the residents would likely help fundraise to replace it considering it is such an important part of the community’s history and that effort could be supplemented by the insurance.
Further talk on the issue was made moot when Fuller explained the premium on the $200,000 was just under $13. At that point, council felt it best to leave it where the insurable amount alone.
