Serving the Heart of Central Alberta for 105 years
VOLUME ONE HUNDRED SIX
PM40011853 R08546
NUMBER FORTY-EIGHT
STETTLER, ALBERTA
November 28, 2012
PRICE – $1.09 Plus GST
More police to patrol Stettler R ICHARD FROESE Independent reporter
RICHARD FROESE/Independent reporter
DECK THE STREETS — Stettler’s traditional downtown Christmas tree was transplanted on Main Street at the intersection of 49 Avenue on Tuesday, in time for Moonlight Madness this Friday. The tree will be lit up at 6 p.m. Friday. It was relocated from St. George’s Anglican Church on a chilly Tuesday morning.
Town proposes increase in utility rates and taxes RICHARD FROESE Independent reporter With more funding proposed for Heartland Youth Centre, physician recruitment and rental rates for recreation, Town of Stettler residents can expect to pay a bit more for taxes and utilities. At its regular meeting last week, town council approved a staff recommendation to increase water, sewer and residential garbage and recycling pick-up rates, as it adopted its 2013 interim operating budget, with $14,330,735 in expenditures. While the town has forecast a three-per cent property tax hike for the next three years, staff and council also plan to increase fees for water in-town consumption to $2.52 per cubic metre, up 23 cents, a flat sewer rate increase to $18 per month, up by $1, identical to residential garbage pick-up and $6 per month
recycling, up by $1. “It’s a very responsible budget and will allow the town to provide a high level of services and facilities,” said Mayor Dick Richards, who echoed the words of Greg Switenky, the assistant chief administrative officer responsible for finances. “The 2103-2015 interim operating budget enables council to sustain the current high level of public services, facilities and utilities for all Stettler residents, as well as continue to renew aging capital infrastructure and equipment on an affordability basis,” Switenky said. Mayor Richards noted that water consumption is cost-recovery, expansion of the landfill is needed and he believes that increasing recycling services to businesses is a priority. Those increases in taxes and fees are minimal and responsible, Switenky said. “For a typical residential property assessed at $260,000, the annual
increase is about $174, and subtract the levy for schools and seniors housing, which the town has no control over, that reduces municipal taxes and fees to about $130, just over $10 a month.” “Town council and administration consider the property tax and utility rate increase estimates included in the interim budget necessary, given the present and future obligations required in our community,” Switenky said. “The three-year forecast reflects council’s intent to be fiscally responsible and accountable to its residents.” During its budget planning meeting Nov. 13, council set tentative priorities to allocate $40,000 annually to the Heartland Youth Centre and $25,000 to physician recruitment. The town also plans to continue to provide a 50 per cent subsidy to minor sports associations and youth clubs.
Rumsey correspondent dies LES STULBERG Independent reporter
JACQUI GODDARD
Stettler Independent columnist Jacqui Goddard, a Rumsey correspondent for the past 50 years, died Saturday at the age of 75. For half a century, Goddard penned the Rumsey and district community news for the Independent and the Drumheller Mail. Goddard was active in the Rumsey community as a supporter of the UCW,
4-H, Sunday school, the Royal Purple and the STARS air-ambulance organization. She and husband Ernie Goddard were mainstays in the running of the Rumsey STARS ride for more than 20 years. Jacqui kept a record of each local STARS ride in a large binder — filled with statistics, photos and newspaper clippings. In an August interview with the Independent, she said she was proud of the
Rumsey community for the residents’ hours of volunteer work and their sponsorship of the annual ride. Besides her husband of 57 years, Godard is survived by three children: Charlene (Rod) Woolsey, Ken (Sharon) Goddard and Linda (and fiancé Earl Leduc); seven grandchildren and one sister. Goddard’s funeral is scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday at the Rumsey Community Hall.
Committed to enhancing Stettler RCMP patrol, Town of Stettler council welcomed news last week that more police officers will be added locally in the next five years. Although Mayor Dick Richards is content with the current Stettler RCMP roster of one commander and seven general duty officers under the town’s contract, he has long requested more officers for the County of Stettler ranks, which currently have three. “I would like to see two more for the county,” Richards said. The mayor and council heard last week that more personnel is also a priority for the RCMP K Division. “Stettler is in line to get more resources — Stettler is in the five-year plan,” said Glenn de Goeij, K Division inspector for client services, who discussed the issue at the town’s council meeting last week. That meeting was set up after town officials expressed concerns and priorities to the provincial government ministry and police officials during the fall convention of the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association in late September. Recently, Stettler and other Alberta municipalities signed a 20-year agreement for RCMP service, which expires in 2032. While towns with populations of more than 5,000 subsidize policing,
the Stettler mayor pleaded that all municipalities pay a fair share. “Shouldn’t we look at everyone paying for policing?” Richards said. “Urban taxpayers will continue to subsidize rural policing.” Funding from rural municipalities continues to be considered by the provincial government, said Gloria Ohrt, the executive-director for the Alberta Solicitor General’s office. “The government chose not to move forward on this at this time, but continues to study it more and plans to consult more with municipalities.” Responding to a question from Coun. Al Campbell, Ohrt said that if rural municipalities pay for policing, costs to urban municipalities would not be reduced. The town and police continue to maintain a strong relationship, which is expected to be further enhanced under the contract. “We have a good relationship with the RCMP,” Richards said. Under the new contract, Stettler and other RCMP detachments will add links to the community, including a policing committee, a police advisory committee of residents, an annual performance pay by the commander, a community board that will be part of the process to select a sergeant, and added ways for citizens to report complaints and ideas to help the police service be more proficient, efficient and effective.
Fire destroys shop, contents at Ross Lake RICHARD FROESE Independent reporter A fire last Thursday morning destroyed a large storage shop on Ross Lake Road, along with a vehicle, farm equipment and several tools. Firefighters from Stettler Regional Fire Department halls in Stettler and Big Valley responded to the call southwest of Stettler at about 9:30 a.m. “A shop about 1,200 square feet was fully engulfed with flames when fire crews arrived on the scene and the heat from the fire was beginning to damage the siding on the house due to the size of the fire and the wind direction at the time,” Fire Chief Mark Dennis said in a news release. “Fire crews battled the frigid temperatures for several hours, but although the house suffered only external damage, the shop could not be saved.” A skid-steer tractor, a car and several tools were ruined in the blaze, the fire department reported. No injuries were reported and fire officials continue to investigate to try to determine the cause of fire. Dennis didn’t immediately return phone calls daytime Tuesday before this week’s edition of the Stettler Independent went to press.
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