The Town of Ponoka will continue its membership with the Central Alberta Regional Trail Society (CARTS), for now.
A request came to council Jan. 10 during its regular meeting on whether to stay with CARTS, seeing as much of the trail work within the town is complete, explained Wes Amendt, director of community services. Certain trails in town are meant to eventually connect with the regional system.
Established in 1999, CARTS was created to bring together trails within central Alberta to create a larger regional system but some municipalities have hit a few snags completing the connections; namely landowners reluctant to allow access or sell portions of their land to make the connections. This has put the project on a bit of a stand still, however, the town’s work is done.
“There’s not a lot going forward,” said Amendt.
Membership cost is not an issue as it sits at $100 per municipality and an individual membership is $10. Coun. Carla Prediger asked council if it is worth staying on and Amendt offered that those who do attend are usually councillors giving them some knowledge of how the plans are moving forward.
Council decided to stick with the membership for now with Coun. Tim Falkiner voting against it.
One question came up about grant money the town is sitting on related to the development of these regional trails. Coun. Loanna Gulka asked how the town could proceed with that money. “Could we look into it in terms of using it for the trail system within town because I know that we haven’t completed what we wanted to do.”
“The plan was to make the loop and come around to the high school,” she added.
Sandra Lund, director of corporate services, responded she will find out if it’s possible to use the funding for in-town trail development.
Amendt credited former town councillor John Jacobs for being instrumental in overseeing completion of the trail projects related to CARTS.
Town supports Legion ad request
Council showed its support for the Ponoka Legion by approving an ad to go into a service recognition book.
The request came from the Alberta/NWT command to support the Military Service Recognition book, marking the eighth year of the publication. The book recognizes veterans from Alberta and the Northwest Territories.
The request was for a business card sized ad at $275 but Coun. Marc Yaworski put in a motion to support the book with a quarter page ad suggesting it is a promotion that benefits the town. A quarter page ad is $545 for colour and $445 for black and white.
The Military Service Recognition Book recognizes the veterans who served Canada and 10,000 copies are printed. Publication is scheduled for March 31.
Coun. Falkiner supported the motion stating that with the 100-year anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge coming up, 2017 is an important year. “This is a milestone we won’t ever see in our lives again,” said Falkiner.
Notices of motion
One councillor wants to bring the discussion of landscaping at the Calnash Ag Event Centre.
Coun. Yaworski made a notice of motion to come to the next meeting to discuss the town doing landscaping at the Calnash Ag Event Centre. The motion will come to council’s next meeting Jan. 24.
Another notice of motion was brought forward as a request by the recreation and advisory committee. The group seeks to set up an ice-skating trail and Christmas lighting in Centennial Park.
This request will also go to council’s next meeting.
Grants in place of taxes received
The town has received its annual grants in place of taxes from the province.
A total of $29,266 has been received by the town for social housing units owned by the province.