ST. PAUL - The Town of St. Paul has approved its interim capital budget.
An interim capital budget is required by all municipalities in Alberta before year end.
When presenting the budget to council at the Dec. 14 regular council meeting, CAO Kim Heyman stated, "There's some decisions that have to be made."
Heyman brought up the 57th Street project, which she would like to see tendered out in January, and therefore must be included in the interim budget.
When speaking after the meeting, Heyman explained that the town did get approved for two grants for the 57th Street project, one being Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI) funding, and the other being provincial stimulus funding. The project will include rebuilding the base of the road, and paving.
"Nothing is 100 per cent until we see the numbers," stated Heyman, which is why the town would like to tender our the project as early in the new year as possible,
She further explained that the road in question, located on the west side of town, was never built for the type of heavy traffic it sees. This means significant base work will have to be done on the road.
The CAO added that she is "thrilled" to be able to move forward with the project.
"In order to get the best price possible (the Public Works) director would like to tender out the 57th Street project in January," explained Heyman. "An interim budget needs to be in place in order to do this."
As for the operating budget, a final budget will be required by about April of 2021.
"By then we will know the exact grant amounts we will be receiving from the province, as well as if there is any surplus from the 2020 operating year that can be applied to the 2021 Capital Budget," said the CAO.
She presented a list of priorities as town staff see them, but noted it was included for discussion purposes only.
The 2021 interim budget shows just over $3.8 million in spending, and $3.3 million in revenue. Heyman noted that the $3.3 million included in the interim budget for grants are the only funds the town can "bank on" at this point. The interim budget includes over $2 million in MSI funding, just over half a million from the Federal Gas Tax Fund, and over $700,000 from other grants.
Included in the interim budget is the purchase of a new hydro-vac truck. Coun. Nathan Taylor questioned if the work being done is something that could be contracted out instead to local businesses.
Director of Public Works Steven Jeffery said one of the main uses of the hydro-vac has to do with the town's sewers. The work requires specific training, since a certain pressure needs to be maintained when doing the work, "or you fill someone's basement."
Taylor thanked Jeffery for the explanation, stating he wasn't aware of the sewer work that was being done.
The paving around Reunion Station has also been included in the budget, but Heyman acknowledged it's hard to say right now if that work will go ahead. The project will have to be looked at in the spring to see if work done in 2020 has been effective at correcting drainage issues.
Heyman noted that most of the town's projects can wait or be changed since it is just an interim budget, but she did require the budget to include the 57th Street project and garbage roll-out bins. The garbage bins are a carry-over from 2020.
Coun. Ron Boisvert made a motion to approve the interim capital budget as presented. The motion was carried.
Some of the priorities highlighted by municipal staff in the interim budget include:
- Roll-out garbage cans
- A new hydro-vac truck
- 57th Street work
- Curb and gutter work
- Paving at Reunion Station
- Streetlights on 54rd Avenue
- Paving at Centennial Seniors Centre
- Storm Water Management Plan
- Sewer work
- Purchase of a leaf sweeper
- HVAC replacement at the Aquatic Centre
