Public works facility contract awarded to Red Deer company
A contract to build a new public works facility for the Town of Innisfail has been awarded to Red Deer’s Shunda Consulting and Construction Management Ltd.
Shunda’s bid of $1,547,000 for the construction of a 17,680 sq. ft. facility beat out the other finalist, Carbon Constructors Inc. of Calgary. The town had initially budgeted $1,000,000 for the project, so the additional $547,000 will come from the town’s reserve account. It will be re-established over the next few years.
Innisfail Mayor Jim Romane said both groups came highly recommended.
“We’ve got an opportunity to take advantage of some good pricing right now,” he said.
New library lease for learning group approved
Town council has agreed to enter into a one-year lease with the Henday Association for Lifelong Learning (HALL) for the exclusive use of a small meeting room in the new library.
The town had previously signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with HALL, Chinooks Edge School Division, Olds College and Red Deer College to operate a community engagement site through a larger 800 sq. ft. meeting room at the library. Under the MOU, HALL will be able to use the space as a community engagement site from 8 a.m. – 10 p.m. from Tuesdays to Thursdays, as well as on the first Friday and Saturday of every second month. HALL would be billed for any additional hours at the established hourly rate for community bookings.
Under the agreement, which was approved on May 24, HALL will pay a $700 monthly lease for exclusive use of a small 300 sq. ft. space, which will be used to house the group’s administration.
Council passes Land Use Bylaw amendment
Town council approved a plan at the May 24 council meeting to reinstall the town’s billboard sign at its original location on the eastern portion of Dial Street. Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation had temporarily removed the sign due to construction along Highway 2. To make the change required the re-designation of the property from Hwy-C (Highway Commercial District) to DCD (Direct Control District). Council unanimously approved second and third reading of the amendment after first opening the floor for a public hearing on the matter.
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Town to re-examine communication policies
The lack of communication over the town’s fire ban over the May long weekend didn’t sit well with some residents, council was told May 24.
Coun. Tracy Walker and development officer Elwin Wiens both raised concerns with the way the fire ban was communicated to the public. Walker said she initially wasn’t even aware the ban was on.
Mayor Jim Romane said Innisfail Fire Chief John Syroid had taken steps to ensure the ban was communicated to the public, making arrangements to have a message relayed via a radio station in Olds. But when the list of towns with fire bans in place was read out Innisfail wasn’t mentioned.
“We were supposed to be in those announcements, but we weren’t,” Romane explained.
The ban, which was put in place on May 18, was lifted on May 24.
Wiens said campers weren’t impressed that the ban was in place and said the town should be a more cautious when instituting a fire ban in the future.
“There really wasn’t a lot of danger,” he said, noting that the lack of communication “leaves us in a lurch trying to enforce it.”
Romane said while it was wet out, fire fighting resources were taxed across the province.
“It was to just totally alleviate the possibility of anything happening,” he said.
CAO Helen Dietz said the town will compile a list of media contacts and ensure information is communicated on the town’s website and electronic sign, as well as on local radio, though there is currently no communication policy.
Romane said the matter would be brought back to council at a later date.
