New Catholic school planned in Wildflower Ranch

Sharon McLeay
Times Contributor

 

Expanding numbers of school-aged children are spurring Strathmore town council to consider a new school location to allow an earlier build date for a Catholic school planned in Wildflower Ranch.
“The developer, Cancorp [Property Group], Christ the Redeemer Catholic Schools and town administration support constructing a school in Wildflower Ranch at this revised location,” said Mike Marco, senior development officer with the Town of Strathmore. “This amendment of the area structure plan will facilitate future land use bylaw amendment and subdivision applications, to enable the development of a school at a much earlier date.”
The school site was originally planned for just north of the current Wildflower Ranch boundary. The site has since been moved to a 10-acre plot on the west boundary along a primary roadway, which will accommodate the school and a sports field.
Anticipated growth for the Wildflower Ranch subdivision may reach a population of about 5,600 people.
Strathmore town council passed first reading. A public hearing for the area structure plan is set for Wednesday, Mar. 1, 2017.

 

Sustainable water wagon
Discussions on the use of the water wagon, donated by the Alberta 55 Plus games, led to a directive for Town of Strathmore administration to generate policy and procedures for use of the wagon by the town.
Council asked that the policy include addressing Alberta Health standards, and services for cleaning and maintenance. Strathmore town councillor Denise Peterson asked if the wagon could be used by other community organizations and this option be summarized in the report. Coun. Steve Grajczyk asked that a policy for any goods donated to the town also be included, along with the full budget and operating costs.

 

Seniors Advisory Committee
The Seniors Advisory Committee was set up by the Town of Strathmore to enhance access by the elderly to town services. The committee gathers information on gaps and barriers in those services and comes up with suggestions for resolution of problems. The eight-member committee and one town council member meet once a month, excluding August, to discuss issues. They serve on a volunteer basis.
“Council received communications of the volunteer applications for this committee. There are two vacancies at this time,” said Strathmore town clerk Jennifer Sawatzky.
Roberta and Laura Phillips received appointments to the Seniors Advisory Committee on Jan. 25 and will serve until October 2018. Members agree to participate for a two-year term.

 

Supplementary assessment bylaw
Annually, the Town of Strathmore passes a bylaw to allow assessors to make supplementary assessments on new construction. Council passed the first through final reading of the 2017 bylaw, at the Jan. 25 council meeting. This applies to any improvements made in 2017, but not previously assessed, or those that increase values since the last assessment was done.
In 2016, $50,249 was generated through supplementary assessment taxes, and 2015 had $95,436.
“I believe that it will be lower this year, closer to $20,000 to $40,000,” said Mel Tiede, director of corporate services.

 

Utility revenue and expense review
On Jan. 25, Strathmore town council reviewed a breakdown of expenditures and revenues for the 2014-2015 utility services. They summarized aggregate sales and the cost of running the utilities, excluding the debt repayment amounts on loans taken out for infrastructure, which include things like the Calgary water line, wastewater treatment plant and connections for the Wildflower Ranch subdivision. Compilation of the 2016 figures has delayed last year’s summary inclusion in the report, but will be submitted to town council, as figures are available.
Each year the services have run at an approximate $1.4 to $1.5 million deficit. Town administration asked council to consider that investment initiatives are prudent to offset depreciation costs of aging infrastructure.
Council took the report as information for consideration.

 

Public access complaint
The Strathmore Business Association (SBA) has directed correspondence to Strathmore town council complaining of administrations delays in publishing council meeting agendas and videos, not publishing times for special meetings and locking doors to public meetings. They requested an investigation and explanation on those delays.
“This is disrespectful to the public, as they don’t know when they will be admitted,” said an SBA spokesperson at the Jan. 25 town council meeting.
While there may be reasons such as technical difficulties or staff turnover that would explain delays, the reasons were not made public by administration.
Council directed administration to compile a report and present at the next council meeting on Feb. 1.

 

Supporting neighbours
Strathmore town councillor Denise Peterson asked her fellow council members to write a letter of support to the Alberta Municipal Affairs minister, in regards to Wheatland County’s request to opt out of the Regional Growth Management Partnership. Alberta Municipal Affairs has included areas west of Hwy. 21 in the partnership mandate.
“I have sympathy for them in trying to do this. I see no advantage for them to be in a partnership if they don’t want to be,” said Peterson.
Councillor Bob Sobol stated that until the partnership defines policies and procedures for growth management, it is difficult for him to know how to appropriately address content for the correspondence.
Peterson offered to work with administration to draft a letter and bring it forward for council review at a later meeting.