CREMONA – The Village of Cremona council has accepted reports from various committees, boards and commissions outlining activities over the past month. The move came during the recent regularly scheduled council meeting.
The Cremona Community Engagement Site (CCES) advisory report outlined the results of a recent community survey.
“I sent out a community survey at the beginning of September,” said president Michael Kerfoot. “I was very pleased with how many responses we received (39) and I will use this method of getting feedback again in the future.”
One survey questioned asked: "what areas of interest would you like to see at the engagement site?" Responses included arts and culture (74 per cent), health and wellness (53 per cent), seniors' programming (37 per cent), technology (37 per cent), and programming for kids (eight per cent).
Another question asked: "Do you have any suggestions or ideas for programming you wish to see at the engagement site?" Responses included sign language, Iphone Q&A, sewing, cooking class including ethnic cooking, money management, kids' holiday craft classes, how to compost, Facebook promotion, beginner watercolour, and how to wear and tie scarves.
“I am working on planning all the above requested classes with the exception of woodworking (due to safety),” he said.
The Mountain View Seniors' Housing (MVSH) report focused on the October board meeting and included the following:
• The board was updated on recent Alberta Health Services (AHS) health care funding concerns at all sites. These matters are still under review to ensure adequate care delivery hours and funding for residents at all sites.
• The board discussed inviting the MLAs serving Mountain View County and municipalities to the next meeting and start sharing key messages from board meetings.
• As a follow up to the strategic business plan, the board will review its current bylaws and committee structure to ensure the strategic business plan priorities are aligned.
• They discussed the increasing costs of operations, the downloading of costs from the province to municipalities and the efforts by MVSH in streamlining, becoming efficient and productive in the allocation and use of budget resources in 2019 and continuing in 2020.
• The board approved an increase in resident rent and service fees for up to five per cent effective Jan. 1, 2020, as part of assumptions for the 2020 budget.
• The board reviewed occupancy reports and recent accommodation licensing renewals. MVSH continues to receive top marks in all provincial audits.
Other reports included from Mountain View Regional Waste Management Commission, Municipal Area Partnership Committee, and Didsbury and District CPAC.
Council accepted the reports as information. They are available for viewing on the village’s website.
FRANCHISE FEE MAINTAINED
Meanwhile, council has opted to keep the 2020 Fortis Alberta franchise fee at the same level as in 2019.
The move also came by way of motion at the Oct. 15 council meeting.
The 2019 current franchise fee is 10 per cent and administration had recommended an increase to 12 per cent.
Fortis is the electrical distribution provider in the village.
“Cremona has not updated its franchise fees since 2016,” administration said in a briefing note to council. “Impact of the 12 per cent fee to the average homeowner would be approximately $1.35 per month, which translates to revenue for the village of $6,600 per year.”
The maximum fee permitted by law is 20 per cent.
Franchise fee revenue in 2019 was $31,639 and will be the same in 2020
Elsewhere, council has approved an increase in the per capital requisition for Parkland Regional Library from $8.25 to $8.55.
The impact to Cremona’s budget of the increase will be an increased cost of $135 in 2020, rising from $3,700 in 2019 to $3,835 in 2020.
