By Caron Ellis
FOR PONOKA NEWS
Ponoka County council’s March 14 meeting hosted two delegations and reviewed the Missing Link Fibre Optic line proposal from the previous meeting.
The subject of the proposed solar power project north of Ponoka was added to the agenda.
Ponoka Youth Centre
Council hosted another delegation of eight youths, parents, and Ponoka Youth Centre executive director Beth Reitz.
Reitz explained that the centre’s funding was cut from $40,000 to $1,600 in 2023 due to uncertainty in FCSS’s bid to continue their homecare contract.
Reitz requested the county consider increasing their funding contributions from $40,000 to $50,000 to help cover the shortfall they will be experiencing.
It was also explained that the centre will be discontinuing their Big Brothers and Big Sisters agency program, however neither the grants nor the programs offered will end.
The end of the Big Brothers and Big Sisters agency program will eliminate membership fees and extra administrative costs. The “Out of School Mentorship” program would end due to insurance issues.
Presentations were then made by mentors in the program and youths who frequent the centre on a regular basis. Council said they would discuss the request during budget deliberations.
Fibre optic line proposal
Council then reviewed the Fibre Optic Line proposal from the Feb. 28, meeting. The proposed line by Missing Link would run from Morning Meadows to Red Deer Lake.
The total cost of the project would be $3.6 million. The county has been asked to enter into a business agreement with Missing Link with them paying 25 per cent of the project, to be paid back over a 15-year term.
The county held a general discussion, including the project’s feasibility compared to investing in other technology options. Administration was directed to investigate other options to be used as comparison.
Chief administrative officer (CAO) Charlie Cutforth noted that the remaining 75 per cent of the project would tentatively be paid for by the federal government, however their application is on a timeline.
Reeve Paul McLauchlin did commend Missing Link for the quality of previous projects in the county.
Coun. Liddle motioned that the proposal be deferred to allow alternative business options to be examined. The motion passed.
The development report was then reviewed by council and was accepted as information.
Councillors presented their meeting reports.
While attending the Calumet Synergy Group meeting, Coun. Bryce Liddle spoke with ratepayers on both sides of the proposed Missing Link Project. He also heard from ratepayers on both sides of the proposed Solar Project. Coun.
Coun. Nancy Hartford was also at the Calumet meeting and was approached by a representative of Baytex. The representative spoke highly of Ponoka County administration and the Public Works department in regards to a recent contract negotiation.
She was also pleased to announce that the Rimbey Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) has signed a six-month extension on their homecare contract.
Deputy-Reeve Mark Matejka attended the Ponoka FCSS meeting where they discussed plans for funding of a wheelchair van. They hope to achieve a long-term funding arrangement.
It was also noted that the FCSS provincial funding was decreased and this meant the organization has reduced their donation to the Boys and Girls Club program.
McLaughlin then spoke on the importance of keeping agriculture and soil health as their main focus. He said it was important when discussing things like the proposed solar farm growth, and other subjects like carbon capture and riparian restoration.
Solar farm
The solar farm item was presented by both CAO Cutforth and assistant-CAO Peter Hall. The proposed project north of the community will not require rezoning since agricultural land can host a solar project.
The land use will also be assessed to help set an appropriate tax rate for market value. Upon completion, the megawatts of the project will be reviewed and the mill rate would be significantly different than farm land.
McLauchlin stated his support that administration contacts the Alberta Utilities Commission and monitor closely for permit applications. He noted it was important to monitor any solar farm applications to help assess locations and density.
With the county’s soil conservation goal of maintaining highly arable land, it was important to keep an eye of future potential.
Audited financial statement
A delegation from Rowland Parker and Associates presented the 2022 Audited Financial Statement. Also in attendance was county financial controller Kelly Sperber.
The delegation presented a summary of the audit to council which included:
-$20 million of gross revenue (up approximately $500,000 from the year before).
-Public Works was $2 million under budget, which was attributed directly to delays in delivery from manufacturers.
-In 2022, the county experienced an operating cash surplus of $573,000.
Coun. Doug Weir motioned to accept the financial statement as information and the motion was carried.