Town council approves 2024 capital budget

By Rob Vogt
Claresholm town council has approved a capital budget that will include about $4.3 million in spending on equipment and infrastructure for the next year.
At its Dec. 11 meeting, Abe Tinney, the town’s chief administrative officer, and Jace McLean, the town’s director of infrastructure, presented the capital budget for approval.
A summary of projects and funding sources is:
• Bobcat replacement program, $70,000, with $65,000 coming from a trade-in, and $5,000 tax funded.
• The replacement of two pick-up trucks, $110,000, to come from Local Government Fiscal Framework provincial funding.
• A 60-horsepower tractor with 15-feet mower, $110,000, to come from Local Government Fiscal Framework provincial funding.
• Second Street East road upgrading from Tamarack to 55th Avenue, $623,000, with $200,000 to come from Local Government Fiscal Framework provincial funding; $200,000 from the federal Canada Community Building Fund; $155,000 from the water/sewer utility capital reserve; and $68,000 from the land and development capital reserve.
• 55th Avenue East/Pine Place development, $931,000, with $247,500 to come from the water/sewer utility capital reserve; and $683,500 from the land and development capital reserve.
• Highway pump station backup generator replacement, $204,300, to come from the water/sewer utility capital reserve.
• Water treatment plant numatics upgrade, $131,700, with $64,317 to come from Alberta Municipal Water/Wastewater Program provincial funding; and $67,383 from the water/sewer utility capital reserve.
• Replace and upsize water mains leaving the water treatment plant, with engineering only to apply for a grant, $15,000, to come from the water/sewer utility capital reserve.
• Water utility SCADA, or Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition, computer replacement and radios upgrade, $102,600 to come from the water/sewer utility capital reserve.
• Amundsen Park pathways and lighting, a 2023 project carryforward, $104,965, with $40,000 to come from the federal Canada Community Building Fund; $60,000 from an Active Transportation Fund grant; and $4,965 from the parks and pathway capital reserve.
• Centennial Park playground replacement, $172,000, with $25,500 to come from the federal Canada Community Building Fund; $100,926 from a provincial Community Facility Enhancement Program grant; and $45,574 from other external funding.
• New skatepark, $300,000, with $100,000 to come from Local Government Fiscal Framework provincial funding; $150,000 from a provincial Community Facility Enhancement Program grant; and $50,000 from other external funding.
• Community centre accessibility renovation, $734,000, with $123,852 to come from a provincial Community Facility Enhancement Program grant; $538,700 from a Green and Inclusive Community Buildings Program grant; and $71,448 from the general capital reserve.
• Fire pumper truck, $677,640, with $477,640 from Local Government Fiscal Framework provincial funding; and $200,000 from the fire capital reserve.
• Fire hall roof replacement, $90,000, to come from the fire capital reserve.
The total capital budget is $4,376,205.