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By Don Patterson
Staff Reporter
Okotoks town council approved another $6.3 million for projects in the third phase of its 2008 capital budget and it could see another list of projects in coming weeks, with the biggest item being upgrades to 32nd Street.
Council approved a $380,000 fleet capital budget in January and a $1.16 million second phase of the budget in March. Allen Jenkins, Okotoks Financial Services manager, said there could be a fourth phase of the capital budget that could include upgrades to the water plant (that were included in the third phase and put on hold) and a possible land purchase for a new RCMP station.
“If there are four or five other capital projects, then we’ll roll it up together,” he said.
The recent budget had 10 items, including:
•$149,000 for an off-leash dog park.
•$85,000 for landscaping at the water treatment plant.
• $25,000 to demolish the former council chamber building and $77,000 to construct a parking lot in its place.
• $5.6 million for the second phase of upgrades to 32nd Street.
• $60,000 for landscaping in the median on Northridge Drive.
• $215,700 for landscaping at the Okotoks Recreation Centre.
Council postponed a decision on an $860,000 water treatment filter upgrade. However, Jenkins said it will come back before council for consideration at a later meeting, either on its own or as part of a fourth phase of the budget.
“It’s a matter of priorities. We’re trying to get the ones we deem to be more urgent in front of council sooner,” he said.
In most years, the Town approves its capital budget in two phases, said Jenkins. However, he continued, it’s hoped the budget process will be completed in a single phase in the future.
“This year has really gone against that grain. Instead of having two capital budgets, we’re up to three and there’s probably going to be a fourth,” he said. “It’s going the wrong direction.”
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