Town looking for new waste disposal options
Shannon LeClair
Times Reporter
On Dec. 1 Jesse Parker, Town of Strathmore Director of Engineering and Operations spoke to council regarding additional operating costs regarding the Sanitary Sewer, Storm Sewer, and Garbage programs. Parker came before council looking for a third and final reading to Bylaw #10-30 and the revision of the utility rates. The Sanitary Sewer program additional costs are a result of regulatory requirements associated with the new wastewater plant, and due to an increase in capacity.
Storm sewer costs are a result of additional information pertaining to the allocation of cost for the storm sewer program from the EPCOR contract. Garbage costs are a result of an increase in volume of garbage, transportation of the garbage, and tippage fees.
In order to balance the budget for each of the Sanitary Sewer, Storm Sewer, and Garbage programs for 2011, the revised utility rates are being presented to Council. The revised rates would become effective January 1, 2011.
The new wastewater plant has a component to it that deals with bio solids. The plant separates the bio solids earlier and they basically create a cake, which goes into a roll-off bin, and then the bin is transported to a landfill. There is only one landfill in Alberta which will accept bio solids, and it is approximately a 270 km haul. The hauler is provided by the landfill, and it is up to the town to cover the charges and fees associated with the hauler. They are not able to provide their own hauling option or tender for a better rate.
“We’re investigating other alternatives, we’re currently working with other potential providers. The time in which they may be able to provide a solution is unknown,” said Parker.
The Town produces approximately 60 tons of bio solids per week, resulting in three 20-ton trips per week to the landfill. Each trip is approximately $1,900, and at three trips a week it costs the town approximately $350k annually in hauling costs alone.
Council unanimously approved third and final reading, accepting the revision to the bylaw.
Town to a city
Council had asked Town administration to look into the process to become a city. While there can be a lot of benefits to changing over, such as bringing in some new businesses that may overlook Strathmore because of its town status from a legislative perspective, a change in status requires a motion by council, requesting the Minister of Municipal Affairs to change the status from a town to a city.
Depending on the time of year, it can take two to three months to have the status change approved by cabinet. There would need to be a public consultation process, because the minister would want to know the residents have been informed and no one is significantly opposed. The probable effects, said Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Linda Nelson, would be public perception to living in a city instead of a town; economic development, because Strathmore would be marketed as a city; costs incurred by the town and businesses would be to change signage, business cards and letterheads, among other things.
Cities are responsible for any highways in the municipal boundaries, including construction, improvements and maintenance. Highway 1 would likely stay under the Alberta Transportation – jurisdiction, council would have to negotiate with Alberta Transportation with regard to maintenance and capital costs
Jurisdiction and control of the 817 may be given to the town, but would remain as a penetrator highway, which means that Alberta Transportation would want an agreement in place to ensure that it continues to operate as a highway. They (the city) would likely be eligible for funding for both capital and operation costs as a penetrator highway.
Administration was looking for direction from council to go ahead with the public consultation, and then bring back the results and get further direction at that point. Councillor Earl Best was concerned about the costs for the 817 and made a motion for it be tabled until they can verify the study costs of all the work that has to be done on the 817.
Council voted unanimously to table the motion for the time being.