Municipal Council met Aug., 22 for updates on the Willow Square Continuing Care Centre Project and the progress of recovery in the region.
They also heard reports on the second quarter financial performance and capital budget fiscal update, a new donation policy and updated the chief administrative officer position.
Willow Square
Alberta Infrastructure gave an update on the Willow Square Continuing Care Centre Project.
The site plan for the project designates 70 per cent of the available land to be for a continuing care facility and will serve both infants and seniors who require, on-site continuous, medical care.
There will be 108 beds with room for 36 more if needed.
The remaining 30 per cent of land land will designated for aging-in-place housing which is a completely separate project with no set dates for construction or completion.
Construction will start in the spring of 2018 and last for two years with a tentative opening set for the spring of 2020.
Recovery update
As we continue to recovery from the 2016 wildfire, the Recovery Task Force (RTF) told council we are currently in our peak construction phase.
Recovery Task Force Team Leader, Dana Woodworth reviewed current operations regarding the rebuild, school zone considerations, FireSmart, bike park damage, municipal infrastructure damage, firebreak rehabilitation and trial restoration, erosion control and more.
There will also be an outlining of future operations including winter construction, egress route construction, vacant lots impact assessment, as well as ongoing mitigation efforts and plans for year two of recovery.
Financial updates, donation policy and CAO
The second quarter financial performance report was accepted as information.
The report outlines that based on the second quarter results the full-year will result in a surplus of $7.9 million, to be allocated to cover the emerging issues and reserve deficiency brought about by the 2016 deficit.
The second quarter capital budget fiscal update outlines a net decrease of over $11 million to the capital budget. The savings from the 14 capital projects amended in the second quarter will be used to fund other fully tendered projects.
Council will implement a donation management policy. This policy will help manage the monetary and gifts-in-kind donations the municipality receives and provide a framework of how the municipality will issue receipts for income tax purposes.
The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) position within council will also be updated. This bylaw has not been updated since 2001 and will now outline the duties of the CAO.
The next council meeting will be Sept., 13.
