ELK POINT – Along with the Dec. 11’s lengthy public hearing and unfinished business that included the decision to purchase the Elk Point Airport in partnership with the County of St. Paul, Elk Point had a substantial lineup of new business on their agenda.
First of all was approval of a revised organizational chart and Recreational Communication Coordinator position description, for a new position that will start Jan. 1, 2024 and will report to the Director of Community and Corporate Services instead of to the Chief Administrative Officer. The new contracted position comes with a $20,000 annual salary, which is included in the 2024 interim budget.
Change of scope
Following rescinding of a motion made on Oct. 23, council directed administration to apply for a scope change to the Buffalo Trail North Intermunicipal Area Structure Plan (IASP) using $6,000 from the grant contingency funding from that plan and up to $12,000 from the Buffalo Trail South IASP managed by the County of St. Paul for a change that will move the current planned stormwater pond to land outside the IASP area. The Town will cover the $2,000 cost of the consultant to provide the required operation for the change.
The County of St. Paul has agreed to the change.
Library funding request
Decision on a request from Elk Point Municipal Library for a $4,000 contribution toward installation of a handicap access button to the existing doors was deferred until April, with CAO Ken Gwozdz requested to contact library manager Daphne Schnurer regarding grant opportunities that could help to cover the estimated $9,100 cost of the renovation.
The request was made because area residents with mobility issues are having difficulty accessing the library, “and not all are seniors,” Schnurer said in her request.
Tax penalty
A request by a property owner for forgiveness of the Sept. 1, 2023 tax penalties on two properties was denied.
Airport IASP extension
Council directed administration to apply for an extension to June 20, 2024 for the Alberta Community Partnership funding for the Intermunicipal Area Structure Plan for Elk Point Municipal Airport, with the fourth phase of the plan originally scheduled to be completed by Dec. 22, 2023. The County of St. Paul, which partners in the project, is to be advised of the extension application.
