Town passes updated fees amending bylaw

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Town of Strathmore Council passed all three readings for Bylaw 23-35, being the Fees Amending Bylaw during the Nov. 15 regular meeting of council.

Town council briefly discussed the bylaw, and it was recommended in the agenda by administration that all three readings be given.

“When council approved our 2024 fees bylaws, we had two items that were excluded from the fees bylaw. One was our safety codes and one (was) our cemetery fees,” said Leana Aschbacher, senior manager of financial services for the Town of Strathmore. “This bylaw presented here tonight is due to adding our safety code fees back into our 2024 fees bylaw as we were out for an RFP in November 2023 so we have now closed this and we have awarded the contract.”

The Town of Strathmore’s Development Services department currently uses a contractor for safety codes services. The contract was awarded to Park Enterprises Ltd., as described, after requesting proposals for services from the private sector. 

According to town administration, the last time the fees were increased for safety codes services, including the rates for plumbing, electrical, and gas permits, was in 2019. 

Strathmore’s Development Services department received updated fees this month from Park Enterprises, and it was noted that the town’s current fees are low compared to other municipalities within the surrounding region. 

Development Services, in the town’s meeting agenda, noted their intention to increase fees gradually so as to bring the town to a more comparable rate to the rest of the region within a few years. 

The purpose of the rate bylaw is to provide clear and transparent rates to allow the town to operate and ensure local revenue is stable. 

Following Aschbacher’s presentation to council, there were no further questions, nor discussion prior to Coun. Richard Wegener motioning for council to have first reading to Bylaw 23-35, being the fees amending bylaw. The motion was passed unanimously without discussion.

Coun. Denise Peterson motioned to give second reading to Bylaw 23-35, which was similarly passed unanimously without further discussion. 

Wegener motioned for council to give unanimous consent to have third and final reading of Bylaw 23-35 in the same meeting as its previous readings, in accordance with the updated procedural bylaw. This motion was carried. 

Coun. Debbie Mitzner motioned for council to give third and final reading to Bylaw 23-35. Finally, this motion was carried without further discussion by council.