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Ponoka town council discusses snow removal for Coop subdivision

Town council briefs from Feb. 11 meeting
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Snow removal for Coop subdivision

After council approved Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Albert Flootman’s report during its regular meeting Feb. 11, Coun. Teri Underhill asked what was happening with snow removal for the Coop subdivision.

“I feel like I ask this question every year but … having walked through that area when it’s melted, I understand their concern,” said Underhill.

According to information provided by town communications manager Sandra Smith, the subdivision has no catch basins or storm water pipes, however, there is storm water drainage that occurs overland.

Because snow and ice can prevent melt water from draining freely which can lead to potential flooding, the town has scheduled the Coop subdivision for snow clearing in the near future prior to the spring melt, says Smith.

The Coop subdivision receives snow clearing annually.

Tim Schmidt answered the area was plowed twice last year, and suggested having a discussion to clarify the needs for the subdivision before next winter.

Council briefs

A number of other brief items were dealt with during the meeting.

PCPS membership

Council approved second and third reading of a bylaw that renewed their membership with Parkland Community Planning Services (PCPS) under a new master agreement between the town and other municipalities.

The membership provides planning services such as studies, land use bylaw creation and amendments and other administration services.

Increase to 2020 operating budget

Council approved the transfer of $20,000 from the general benefit reserve to the 2020 operating budget in order to cover planned education and training.

Conference attendance

Council approved attendance for Coun. Carla Prediger ans S. Life-Yeomans to the 2020 Economic Developers Alberta (EDA) conference and Coun. Ted Dillon and a member of the Ponoka Police Advisory Committee to the 2020 Alberta Community Crime Prevention Association (ACCP) conference.

The estimated costs for the EDA and ACCPA Conferences are $3,000 per conference to be funded from council’s Conference Budget and Travel and Subsistence Budget (which has a $40,000 combined total.

To date, council approvals and commitments amount to about $20,000, not including this request.

AUPE negotiations

Several councillors noted their attendance at AUPE negotiations on Feb. 4 and 5.

Smith says that as negotiations have just begun, the town has nothing to report at this time.

IBEW collective agreement

In an in-camera session, town council ratified a two-year collective agreement with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 254.

According to a press release, the the town and IBEW Local 254 agreed to the two-year contract with a zero per cent wage increase for 2020 and a one per cent wage increase for 2021, “in recognition of the current economic climate.”

“The negotiations were very amicable and positive,” said Bonnett in the release, adding the agreement reflects Alberta’s economic reality.



Emily Jaycox

About the Author: Emily Jaycox

I’m Emily Jaycox, the editor of Ponoka News and the Bashaw Star. I’ve lived in Ponoka since 2015 and have over seven years of experience working as a journalist in central Alberta communities.
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