|
Cooling off after raising cash
Brittany Fitzgerald, 11, of Dr. Morris
Gibson School cools off after participating in the 20th annual Terry Fox Run on Friday.
Students from Okotoks' elementary schools met at Percy Pegler School to unveil a
cheque for $3,274.50 that was raised by the schools.
photo by John Barlow
Town council approves utility rate increase
By Cindy Ballance
Editor
Okotoks residents will now be paying four per cent more on their utility bills,
due to surging oil and gas prices.
The Town of Okotoks council approved the increase at its regular council meeting
on Sept. 11.
The increase, which will typically mean $2.50 more per month, is directly related
to the unanticipated increase in gas and oil prices which have stung every individual
in the country this summer.
According to the Town of Okotoks operating variance report presented to council at
its regular meeting on Aug. 21, the operating expenditures for the town are $50,000
over budget mainly due to the dramatically increasing energy costs.
The report, which is provided to council to make amendments to the budget based on
new projects and unanticipated costs, also states that equipment and fuel costs are
estimated to be $13,000 higher than originally budgeted.
Common practice for the town is to reflect directly related energy cost increases
in the utility rates, rather than increase property tax rates.
Therefore, the four-per-cent increase in the utility rates was necessary in order
to recoup some of those costs.
'The four-per-cent increase is directly related to the increases in energy charges
felt by the utility. It does not generate revenues that offset the increased energy
charges felt by the rest of the corporation,' said municipal manager Will Pearce.
It is expected that the increase will generate approximately $25,700 in additional
revenue in 2000 and $98,000 in 2001.
'That adjustment would give us sufficient funds to come in with a planned balanced
budget at year end,' said Pearce.
As utilities collectively account for approximately 38 per cent of corporate energy
use, the town potentially faces an outstanding 2001 budget related only to energy
costs.
'If oil remains at $30 to $35 per barrel and energy costs remain as high or higher,
then the overall effect on this corporation will be $200,000 to $250,000 per year,'
said Pearce.
The increase will be effective on the October utility bill.
For more detailed information check the front page article in the Aug. 30 edition
of the Western Wheel or call the town office. Past issues of the Western Wheel can
also be accessed on our website at www.westernwheel.com
|
|
Fuel costs force MD to shut down road crews
By John Barlow
Staff Reporter and Sports Editor
High fuel costs forced the MD of Foothills to cut back on its road program this
summer, but the municipality may still be $400,000 over budget.
As fuel and oil prices continued to skyrocket, the Foothills MD council battled to
reel in its road construction budget.
The 2000 road construction budget was $1.2 million, but as costs were in excess of
$1.1 million with several projects remaining.
As a result, council scrapped several projects including the construction of 15 miles
of new road which was spread throughout the municipality. In addition, council no
longer accepted requests for new dust control spot treatment.
'If we continued we would have been way over budget,' said municipal manager Harry
Riva Cambrin. 'We still had to divert $400,000 from other sources (to complete projects
which had already been started).'
Even by shutting down the road construction crew prematurely, Riva Cambrin estimated
the MD may be as much as $400,000 over budget.
However, the exact numbers will not be finalized until the year-end is completed.
The increase in fuel costs have been well documented, but Riva Cambrin said the cost
of oil products has also increased, some by as much as 60 per cent.
Although council eliminated the spot treatment program, councillor Ron Chase appealed
to Council on Thursday for increased dust control on 210th Avenue. The road was on
the dust control program and then taken off.
Council reluctantly agreed by a slim 4-3 vote, but not until after lengthy discussion
on the future of dust control and the out-of-control costs.
'Dust is an ugly problem which just keeps rearing its head,' said Councillor Ron
Laycraft.
Added Councillor Al Taylor, 'We may have to revisit the entire (dust control) program.
Several years ago the MD of Foothills began a dust control program whereas public
works would spot treat specific high traffic areas within the municipality.
It cost the MD approximately $1,500 for every 100 metres. The dust control budget
for 2000 is near $2 million.
Councillor Michele Veldhoen said it is a program that is in need of repair.
'It does not make sense,' said Veldhoen. 'It sounds like we need a new approach.'
Any changes to the dust control program may not be discussed until the 2001 budget
meetings this winter.
|