The Town of Hanna council wants to gauge local interest in a surplus van that was essentially donated to the municipality in the past. The discussion was held at council’s information meeting Jan. 29.
Readers should note such information meetings, sometimes called “committee of the whole (COW)” meetings, aren’t regular council meetings and don’t feature resolutions or binding decisions.
Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Matthew Norburn asked councillors their opinion on a surplus van which is no longer needed but which the municipality essentially received for free.
“The Town has recently purchased a new wheelchair-accessible handivan, and we seek direction regarding the disposition of the 2006 model, a Pontiac Uplander,” stated Norburn’s report to council. “The van was originally acquired in 2006 at a cost of approximately $52,000, funded by a $40,000 bequest from Ruby Catherine Schmitz in honour of Fred and Hattie Schmitz and an additional donation from the Clifford Wall Foundation to cover the modification costs. “The handivan has served the community well under the community services van policy and remains functional. Its current value and market potential require assessment.”
Norburn stated staff felt council should have some input into the van’s fate, especially as it was donated.
Norburn asked councillors if Hanna should donate the van to an agency or smaller community that perhaps can’t afford to buy its own.
Coun. Angie Warwick asked about Hanna’s “The Local Loop” transportation service and whether it could use the surplus van.
Coun. Fred Crowle responded that The Local Loop only operates one day a week and may not be able to afford a vehicle like the van. Crowle stated he felt Hanna could benefit from something like a taxi service but such services face huge expenses.
Coun. Kyle Olsen observed that a taxi service was looked at a few years ago and the insurance alone at that time was about $6,000 per year; during discussion councillors heard that insurance in 2025 could be almost $8,000 per year for a taxi.
Town staff chipped in and noted Hanna’s handibus has annual insurance costs of over $5,000.
Mayor Danny Povaschuk added a taxi can only be driven by someone who holds a class 4 license.
Olsen noted that there’s been talk of starting a taxi in Hanna before, but there doesn’t seem to be that much interest in a business and he suspects he knows why. “It’s just so expensive and as much as it’s needed, it’s not a high quantity of need,” said Olsen.
As councillors discussed what a business owner would need to charge per taxi trip in or around Hanna, one figure of $250 was mentioned to make it a viable business venture.
Councillors then discussed other ride-sharing or transport services in the community, but then the issue of the surplus van’s mobility and safety equipment came up. It was noted such equipment needs to be certified or inspected, which could cause an expense for anyone who takes on the surplus van.
Povaschuk noted he felt the Town of Hanna should “pay it forward” and since Hanna got the van gratis, Hanna should donate it to an organization that wants it.
The mayor added that the Town of Hanna can’t afford to keep a surplus vehicle that it doesn’t use or need.
Coun. Warwick asked if the van could be first offered to local agencies or groups before the Town of Hanna considers sending it out of the community.
Staff acknowledged this request, and it was noted the Town of Hanna will look locally for a group that wants the surplus van and report back to council in a few weeks with the results.
Stu Salkeld
Local Journalism Initiative reporter
ECA Review