By Treena Mielke / Ponoka News
At its regular meeting Dec. 14, town council agreed to enter into a lease agreement with the Ponoka Gymnastics and Trampoline Club to construct a gym adjoining the former water treatment plant.
The town has been approved for a federal grant to renovate the Water Treatment Plant to a Community Activity Centre, but to capitalize on the grant funds, the town will continue ownership of the facility and enter a long-term lease agreement with the Ponoka Gymnastics and Trampoline Club to operate and maintain the facility.
Almost $12,000 in accounts written off
Council complied with a request by Betty Quinlan, director of corporate services that $11,757.28 be written off for the year ended Dec. 31, 2010. These collectible accounts will be sent to a collection agency even though they have been written off for year end purposes. In the event that a collection is successful, the funds are recorded as revenue in the subsequent year.
In her report to council, Quinlan said the utility write-offs for individual customers is consistent with prior years.
Project completion deadline extended by feds
In his report to council CAO Brad Watson said notification has been received from Alberta Transportation that the town was unsuccessful in its application to the Alberta Municipal Water/Wastewater Partnership to obtain grant funding for the main lift station to the lagoon project. However, other grants such as the Alberta Municipal Infrastructure Program, Municipal Sustainability Initiative and Federal Gas Tax Fund may be available for the project.
The federal government has announced that it has extended the deadline to Oct. 31 for the completion of stimulus projects funded by the Knowledge Infrastructure Program, the Building Canada Fund, the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund and the Recreational Infrastructure Canada Program.
This extension will allow for one additional construction season to ensure that projects funded under these programs are completed.
New Year’s Eve Skate planned
In the community services report, council heard that the New Year’s Eve Skate will be sponsored and organized by the Word of Life Church. The skate will be open to the community for public skate and shinny hockey from 7 to 9 p.m. with cookies and hot chocolate provided.