The business licence fee will remain at $10 for 2023 following a unanimous motion at the regular Delburne council meeting on Oct. 11, 2022. It was felt the economic conditions for businesses hadn’t improved that much.
When queried, Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Karen Fegan said that the reduced fee brings in about $1,500 versus $4,500 with the higher fee. She also said that it makes more of a difference to a small business’s budget than to their municipal budget.
Plea for another RCMP officer
In an attempt to get an RCMP enhanced position for the Three Hills detachment, the Police Advisory Committee, under the chairmanship of Jeff Bourne, are asking the representative jurisdictions, Red Deer County, Delburne, Elnora, Trochu, Three Hills and Kneehill County, to sign letters to the Rural Municipality Association and Alberta Municipalities, formerly the Alberta Urban Municipalities, seeking their support to have this position paid for through the Police Funding model.
This extra RCMP member could be the rural crime officer or could be another staff person to help out wherever they’re needed.
A unanimous motion was passed to lend the Village of Delburne’s signature to these two letters.
Changes at the Chamber of Commerce
Tim Wilson’s resignation as president was accepted at the Oct. 24 Chamber of Commerce meeting, and three people were appointed as interim officers until the Annual General Meeting on Nov. 15, 2022.
In other Chamber business, it was confirmed they would provide candy bags, posters, hot dogs and hot chocolate for Snowflake Saturday. They will also sponsor the sleigh ride and make the museum available to prepare the hot dogs and hot chocolate should the weather be too cold and windy.
They requested council to purchase and install plastic sheeting at the Mainstreet Park pavilion to block the wind and help retain heat. Council agreed.
The Chamber also asked that the Christmas lights for the tree at the museum be put up at the same time as other village lights. Assistant Public Works Foreman Steve Buckland will see that this is done.
The village will sponsor the Gingerbread House contest.
Administration report
A motion was unanimously passed to donate $250 to the Delburne Outlaws which will be hosting 120-150 players at their U13 tournament from Jan. 13 to 15, 2023.
The village will try an experiment this year and have people use the same pet tags they received in 2022 for 2023. The year had been removed in hopes that re-using tags would become standard and unnecessary waste, and costs could be eliminated. Annual fees for pets still apply.
CAO Fegan and Mayor Tim Wilson met with Jennifer Hartigh, regional economic development specialist from the Government of Alberta. Once the Delburne Economic Development Committee is up and running she will come to meet with them. Hartigh has lots of contacts and could be a valuable resource for Delburne.
Dr Muti Kauchali will be asked to attend an upcoming council meeting to provide a progress update on the $75,000 grant.
Coun. Andy Folk sought clarification on cemetery maintenance. CAO Fegan confirmed part way through 2022, a private company was hired to maintain the cemetery. They mow and weed whack once a week and were paid $4,500 this season. A full season will be approximately $7,000.
Starting on Nov. 8, council meetings will continue on the second and fourth Tuesdays but will start at 5 p.m. rather than 6 p.m. as in prior years.
Brenda Schimke
ECA Review
