Stettler students try out new video system

W.E.Hay Com Tech students put together a unique video thank you to Stettler town council for their support in purchasing the new Tricaster multi-camera production system for the high school.

Clearview School District Superintendent Peter Barron dropped in to the Apr. 5 council meeting to present the video. The system utilizes several features including virtual sets, live streaming, projection and graphics.

The town donated approximately $8000 toward the system from the Cultural Reserve Fund.

Dovetailing into W.E.Hay’s new tech feature was a recent visit to the high school from representatives of Central Alberta Film Festival Society (CAFF).

CAFF is a newly formed group looking to promote local filmmakers and projects.

Councillors Sean Nolls and Malcolm Fischer with Mayor Dick Richards attended a March meeting with CAFF in Red Deer to learn more about the festival slated for October.

According to Fisher, the group was impressed and surprised with Stettler’s range of local historic sites, cultural activities and the tech system at the high school.

Dirt digging set

After reviewing 14 tenders for the 57 Street storm sewer improvements, council awarded the tender to Wally’s Backhoe Services for $200,177. Tagish Engineering will complete the engineering for up to $97,700. Total cost for the project is $292,877, the majority of which will be funded from the Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI) grant.

The lowest three tenders, Wally’s, Urban Dirtworks and Carbon Earthworks, were chosen and then rated against several factors such as experience with this type of construction and past work performance, then given a score out of 100. Wally’s scored 81/100 against Urban’s 84 and Carbon’s 64.

Plans move ahead for SRC

The next phase of the Stettler Recreation Centre’s arena upgrades will go ahead after council received confirmation Stettler was awarded a $60,000 Intermunicipal Collaboration grant. The grant will cover costs for the 2016 pre-engineering and design part of the project as well as public consultation.

Provincial government strategy

As part of its Climate Leadership Plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the Alberta government is looking for public input on a provincial transit strategy for urban and rural public transportation.

Rural transit is unlike urban transit stated Mayor Richards and there is no ‘cookie-cutter’ solution that fits all communities.

Richards emphasized the need for municipalities to stress to both federal and provincial levels of government the need to leave transit decisions with municipalities and fund those decisions effectively.

A survey and downloadable workbook are available to the public on the Alberta Transportation website until April 29.

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