Joanne Layh | Special to the 51暗网
On Wednesday, November 27 Jasper Municipal Council heard the second of two public budget presentations scheduled last week.
The second round of budget requests included presentations from the protective services and operations departments.
The proposed 2020 budget includes an estimated 5.3 per cent tax increase, which would equate to a $7 increase per $100,000 assessed value for residential properties and $35 per $100,000 for commercial properties.
However, finance and administration director Natasha Malenchak said new assessment growth could result in an estimated net municipal tax increase of 5.09 per cent.
Protective Services
Deputy fire chief Don Smith presented a budget with a tax increase of 1.37 per cent for the protective services department.
In his presentation to council, Smith identified the following priorities for the protective services department in the upcoming year:
鈥� Fire prevention inspection;
鈥� Auxiliary firefighter program;
鈥� Annual emergency exercise and training; and
鈥� Fire prevention.
Smith also presented council with the following 2020 capital requests, totalling $447,000:
鈥� Rescue replacement (phase two) - $375,000;
鈥� Turnout gear - $22,000;
鈥� Replace front sidewalk/parking plugs - $20,000; and
鈥� Training room kitchen renovation - $30,000;
Coun. Helen Kelleher-Empey asked what would happen with the old rescue truck.
鈥淲e haven鈥檛 decided what our intention is with that,鈥� Smith said, adding they will return to council with some ideas in the future.
Operations
Director of operations John Greathead presented a budget with a tax increase of 1.23 per cent for the department.
Greathead identified the following major initiatives the department would like to undertake in 2020:
鈥� Environmental services review;
鈥� Utility rate review;
鈥� Road permitting system;
鈥� Road repairs;
鈥� Dark Sky;
鈥� Operation facility and land review; and
鈥� Wastewater treatment plant.
Greathead鈥檚 requested operations service review would explore solid waste and recycling, compost, road maintenance and winter maintenance, recommendations of best practices and ways of addressing service creep.
Greathead also proposed the addition of two new positions: a health and safety advisor and an office manager.
The operations director also presented council with the following 2020 capital requests:
鈥� Operations service review - $120,000;
鈥� Level 3 EV charger station - $100,000;
鈥� Missing sidewalk linkage with the town site TBD - $50,000;
鈥� Aerway aerator - $13,000;
鈥� AMA building demolition and rehabilitation - $50,000;
鈥� Memorial board replacements - $15,000;
鈥� Overseeder - $8,200;
鈥� Irrigation vault replacement program - $20,000;
鈥� Small equipment - $10,000;
鈥� Streetscape study - $80,000;
鈥� Jasper stage heaters, retractable walls and park electrical - $75,000;
鈥� Bulk water station - $125,000;
鈥� Pickup truck - $60,000;
鈥� Valve replacement program - $50,000;
鈥� Hydrant rebuilds - $55,000;
鈥� Reservoir cleaning - $10,000;
鈥� Valve actuator upgrades - $25,000;
鈥� WWTC operational update and preparation of plant for next operating contract bid process - $300,000;
鈥� Abandoned trailer park manholes - $30,000;
鈥� Davit arm upgrades - $10,000;
鈥� Garbage bin refurbishment - $60,000; and
鈥� Camera system for solid waste vehicles - $7,500.
鈥淲hen I look at what you have proposed for the next two years it is substantial,鈥� Mayor Richard Ireland said.
鈥淚 would really like to know from you what is most important.鈥�
Greathead responded that he believes what they鈥檝e asked for they can achieve departmentally.
