The capital budget is in the amount of about $2.92 million. That figure includes ongoing projects like the library and cultural centre, sidewalk paving for the Caribou Creek Co-ops and new streetlights on Connaught, among other projects.
The report presented to council notes that although some of the projects have costs associated with them, administration can’t be sure that they are accurate. This is the case for the sidewalks and paving at the library, as well as repairs to the hose tower at the Emergency Services Building.
Recommendations from the structural and services review were not included in the 2013 budget.
That review was released this week, after press time. It was provided to council at its committee of the whole meeting on Tuesday.
Unanimous support for fire hall repair
The Old Fire Hall will get its new roof.
Council unanimously voted to move forward with the project, with the $85,000 provided by Parks Canada and the $50,000 matching grant from the Alberta Historical Resources Foundation.
Following the repair, the building will be returned to Parks Canada.
The repair is being completed before the transfer so the municipality can utilize the $50,000 grant, which would otherwise be returned to the commission.
If the project has a cost overrun, that will be the responsibility of Parks, Doug Rodwell, acting director of environmental services, told council during the May 7 meeting.
Coun. Rico Damota, the only councillor to express concern over the project at the April 16 meeting, said he feels better knowing the municipality isn’t the backstop for the project.
It is anticipated that the roof could be completed before peak tourist season, depending on the availability of a contractor.
Subsidized rent for 2013 rodeo
The Jasper Heritage Rodeo will receive a $6,822 gift-in-kind from the municipality to offset the increased cost of renting the Activity Centre.
The municipality raised the rent after the structural and services review—which has been ongoing for a year—revealed the rodeo has been benefiting from substantial gifts-in-kind, including subsidized rent and donations of municipal equipment, for some time now.
The rodeo responded to the increase by requesting a reduced contract, which still includes a $3,600 increase.
Council voted to give the rodeo a gift-in-kind this year, and to review the process following the 2013 event.
In favour of the one year gift were Couns. Mike Day, Brenda Zinck, Rico Damota and Mayor Richard Ireland.
Couns. Brian Skehill and Dwain Wacko were opposed. They instead supported a recommendation that would see the organization receive a gift-in-kind for up to three years, with the annual gift decreasing each year.
Music fest funding request
Council will decide on May 21 whether to award the Jasper Folk and Blues Society $5,000 from the Economic Development Fund.
The funding request is for fencing and portable toilets to be used at the Jasper Folk Music Festival from Sept. 13-15.
While discussing the funding request, Mayor Richard Ireland noted the society didn’t include lines in the budget for either portables or fencing.
“Maybe that’s why it’s not in there, if we don’t give it to them, there won’t be any fencing or toilets,” joked Coun. Mike Day.
Currently the municipality has $6,250 in the Economic Development Fund. Money is given out twice a year from the fund, with application deadlines in March and September.
