INNISFAIL – A new Policing Support Grant Funding Agreement between the province and Innisfail for the 2023-24 fiscal year has been signed off by the town.
On Dec. 11 at Innisfail town council’s regular meeting a motion was unanimously passed to give Town of Innisfail Mayor Jean Barclay the authorization to sign the Policing Support Grant Funding Agreement, which is effective April 1, 2023 and expires March 31, 2024.
Council was told the agreement must be signed by the town’s chief elected official and returned by Dec. 12, 2023.
Erica Vickers, director of corporate services for the Town of Innisfail, told council on Dec. 11 that Alberta Public Safety and Emergency Services is continuing its support for police services throughout the province, and has approved grant funding for the 2023-24 fiscal year.
Council was told the Town of Innisfail is eligible for a grant in the amount of $362,776, which has not changed since last year.
Vickers said the $362,776 was accounted for in the town’s 2023 annual budget.
She told council that in 2022 the Municipal Policing Assistance Grant and the Police Officer Grant were amalgamated into one form of police grant that is now called the Policing Support Grant (PSG).
“This was completed in order to simplify the administrative and financial processes attached to policing grants for both the ministry and the Town of Innisfail,” said Vickers through her report to council.
She said the approved purpose of PSG funds is to offset the costs of officers, as well as to ensure the delivery of policing, policing oversight, the implementation of policing initiatives and priorities, and the ability to support enhanced policing services in the Town.
Town repeals obsolete policies
There was a house cleaning of outdated and obsolete Innisfail council policies last month.
“As part of the ongoing bylaw and policy review the attached council policies have been identified as outdated or obsolete. A formal resolution of council is required to repeal the policies,” said Erica Vickers, director of corporate services for the Town of Innisfail, during town council’s regular meeting on Dec. 11.
Council unanimously approved the motion to repeal the outdated policies, which include:
* 1991-004 Instructions to Contractors Policy;
* 1993-001 Evacuation of the Arena & Curling Rink in Safety Policy;
* 1999-003 Excavation Permit Policy;
* 2005-002 Policy Regarding the Provision of Municipal Services Outside the
Corporate Limits of the Town of Innisfail Policy;
* 2009-002 Special Events Retail Sales Arena Policy;
* 2010-005 Use of Cellular Phones Policy;
* 2011-004 Budget Adjustments Policy;
* 2015-001 Municipal Alcohol Policy.
