Rec Director Barry Brigley informed council at their regular meeting on Mon. Jan. 29 that the Arena Board was hoping to get a grant to convert ice surface lighting to LED in the arena, replace the linoleum in the lobby, kitchen, bathrooms and office and replace the hot water tank for a total of $55,245.32.
Council approved the expenditure of $10,622 and it will be worked into the 2018 budget when it is approved later this year.
CAO Kulyk said prior approval was necessary for potentially awarding contracts before final approval of the budget.
“Ten thousand out of $55 thousand is pretty reasonable,” said Coun. Keith Griffiths, participating in the meeting via Skype.
The Coronation Arena Board will contribute $17,000 and the remainder will be the Community Facility Enhancement Program (CFEP) grant.
Alberta Health and Safety recently checked both the arena and curling rink to ensure all safety standards are in place.
Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Sandra Kulyk explained that, unlike some of the arenas with ammonia for the ice plants, the plants here use the refrigerant, Freon, so not as dangerous. She added, however that leaking Freon uses up oxygen so suffocating would occur versus the silent killer, ammonia.
The town will spend approximately $6,000 in Freon alarm systems, emergency evacuation including megaphones for when there is no power.
‘Cheaper than digging’
Council will incur expenses amounting to $5985 for cost of surveying the easement and land titles right-of-way registration on a nine metre easement plan to correct a situation discovered resulting from the new water line extension last year falling on private property.
“Way cheaper than digging it up [water line and hydrant],” said CAO Kulyk. “An unfortunate oversight that passed all of us until it was already done,” said CAO Kulyk.
RCMP Quarterly Report
Sgt. Darcy McGunigal gave his quarterly report on the three policing priorities noting that traffic tickets between April and December 2017 issued were 293, a 40 per cent increase.
“I did challenge the guys at the start of this year, last April, to really pick it up and work hard at this and they’ve done a great job,” said McGunigal.
Property crime is slower than usual, down 39 per cent, half the number of break and enters, thefts compared to last year.
At a district level, there will be a roving crime reduction unit put into place in every district across the province, starting officially in Coronation area Feb. 1 with a sargeant in charge and front line constables, executing arrest warrants, interviews, bail hearings and laying charges.
“We won’t see them around here but we already have a very active local crime prevention strategy”.
McGunigal also informed council of a new initiative “asking people to reach out to us with drug information” by establishing an external email address, rcmp.kcoronationdetachment-kdetcoronation.grc@rcmp-grc.gc.ca, which is confidential, as is Crimestoppers, with the identity never being compromised.
The email will not be monitored on an hourly or daily basis so the public must continue to use phone numbers for immediate response.
McGunigal also noted that his personal expectation for a new detachment on the original lots in Coronation will see ground breaking in the next two to three years.
“We are second in the quene in the province.”
SMRWC
The Shirley McClellan Regional Water Services Commission (SMRWSC) budget was approved by council with the water rate of $2.50 per cubic meter remaining the same.
Town of Coronation’s Administration fee is $3241; Phase I Debenture payment $19,426.80 and Phase II/III Debenture payment of $6680.37.
Mayor Mark Stannard noted that next year will be changes to the budget due to the water line going to White Sands and the following year, to Brownfield.
There are two less municipalities in it now as compared to last year, he added.
Curling rink
Coun. Jackie Brigley noted the Curling Club in Coronation was a bit more active but something has to be done with that ice surface.
“We won’t host Junior events anymore, it’s too embarrassing,” said Coun. Brigley.Only one tournament this year, she added.
Brigley noted out-of-town teams won’t pay money to curl on the poor ice, speaking on the need to prevent the heaving of the ice surface due to perma frost under the cement slab.
Paying bills
CAO Kulyk informed councilllors that the town had secured Alberta Transportation funds of $5342.40 to pay Rindal Oilfield and League Pipeline for their work rescuing and opening highways during the Oct 1-2 snow event.
Payment for the town’s share for the employee at the RCMP satellite office in Castor was $10,301.61 for 2017.
J.Webster
ECA Review
