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December 13 Eckville Town Council Highlights

Council held their December meeting on 12. Council also accepted the 2017 budget at this meeting.

New Library Board Member

Council was presented with a new nomination for the Eckville Municipal Library Board Council.

Sarah Tremblay volunteered for the position for a period starting on January 1, 2017 and ending December 31, 2010. Any nominations to the Library board requires Council approval. Councillor Scott Kinley made the motion to appoint Tremblay to the Library Board saying he knows her personally and that “she would be great” for the position.

Council accepted the motion unanimously.

Library Financial Statements

The Eckville Municipal Library presented their 2016 financial statements to the Town Council of Eckville for approval.

The Library currently has a total of $39,267 of assets stemming from their chequing account, global payment account and liabilities.

The approval of the financial statements required a motion which easily passed through Council.

CAO Vacation Hours Extension

Town CAO Jack Ramsden was unable to use 10 days of vacation for the 2016 year.

Administration requested that these hours be extended into the 2017 year which requires approval from Council. The motion was made by Councillor Stuart Carde and passed unanimously.

High Speed Internet Access

Town CAO Jack Ramsden recently met with the owner of Harewaves and Beacon Broadband Inc. to discuss the installation of high-speed Internet access throughout the Town of Eckville.

Harewaves is looking for permission from the Town to install fibre optic cable through the streets, right of ways, municipal reserves, utility reserves and other Town properties throughout the municipality. Harewaves would be responsibility for any repairs or damages that are needed following the installation.

The Town would receive connectivity to high speed internet for all of their properties including the Emergency Services building, the arena, the curling rink, the Community Centre, the Friendship Centre, the Town Shop, the Town Office, the Water Treatment Plant and the Sewer Lift Stations.

This connectivity could be the difference between a lot in Eckville “selling and not selling” according to Councillor Kinley and Councillor Kevin See added “you need high speed reliable Internet to keep working.

A motion was made to allow Administration to enter negotiations with Harewaves to install high-speed Internet.

Community Centre Parking Lot/Lighting Overrun Costs

The Town of Eckville made a request to Lacombe County to help cover the overrun costs of the new parking lot and Lighting in front of the Community Centre.

Lacombe Council deliberated the request on November 24, 2016 and granted the Town’s request for the additional funding amount of $24,984.79. Lacombe delivered the cheque to the Town Office of Eckville.

Gas Tax Fund

Mayor Posti recently received a letter from the Minister of Municipal Affairs Danielle Larivee informing her that the Town’s submitted proposal for the Gas Tax Fund (GTF) was accepted for the funding amount of $36,000.

The letter stated that “the provincial government appreciates opportunities to celebrate GTF funded projects with you.”

The funding amount was to help fund the 2016 parking lot overlay/sidewalk program.

reporter@eckvillecho.com