by Calli Stromner
New Website Unveiled
Council got a sneak peek at the Town’s new website, which will be launched to the public sometime this spring.
“We’ve focused a lot of the back end of the website. We can have a database behind the scenes…literally thousands of documents that can be picked up on the website,” said CAO Debbie Oyarzun. She added that the new website will allow up scaling for future technical requirements, and the site will include an online directory and event listing.
The new website was built by a third-party contractor using a Joomla platform.
Traffic Advisory Committee Appointee
As promised during the Apr. 23 Council meeting, a Council member has now been appointed to the Traffic Advisory Committee to provide a communication link between Council and the community that identifies traffic safety priorities in the community.
Councillor Nicole Boutestein was appointed to the committee until the next Organizational Meeting to be held in October.
In addition to political representation, the committee also includes the Director of Corporate Operations, Community Peace Officer(s), Public Works Staff Member (1-2), RCMP Member(s), Planning and Development Staff (1-2), the Administrative Assistant, Protective Services and two Members at Large appointed by Council for a two-year term. The Director of Corporate Services is the chair of this committee and continues to act as the Council liaison for the committee.
Photo Enforcement Review Schedule Approved
Council received a report for information regarding a timeline for a thorough review of the Town’s current photo enforcement program. The scheduled activities under the review include educational traffic enforcement workshops with Council, an overview of the Traffic Advisory Committee priorities and the development of a new Request For Proposal for potential independent contractors. Corporate Operations Director David Schaefer said that options for future program administration will be considered first by the Traffic Advisory Committee, then by Council.
Administration estimates that Council will be making a decision on the awarding of a new contract for photo enforcement services in September. Councillor did receive a presentation on the current photo enforcement program from the private contractor, Independent Traffic Services during the afternoon’s Council Conversation portion of the meeting.
“This timeline is dependent upon the proposals we receive,” said Schaefer, noting that the timeline may be optimistic given that the Alberta Solicitor General will be auditing the new program as soon as it is operational. It is estimated a new enforcement program could take from two to four months to become fully operational once a service contract is awarded.
Special Event Sponsorships
Council approved $1,250 in sponsorships for two local events occurring this summer. $1,000 will be given to Sturgeon County as a sponsorship for the Sturgeon County Mayor’s Golf Tournament, running on June 26. The annual golf tournament attracts more than 150 golfers from the Sturgeon region and helps raise money for the Sturgeon Foundation and the West Country Hearth, both of which offer assisted living housing options for seniors.
Council also supported a $250 sponsorship to go to the 2014 Purina Walk for Guide Dogs, occurring on May 31 in Morinville. Hosted by the Morinville Lions Club, the local fundraising provides dollars that go directly toward training Dog Guides for Canadians with disabilities.
The County sponsorship passed with a 3-2 vote, Councillors Dafoe and Boutestein opposed. The Lions’ event passed with a 4-1 vote, Councillor Dafoe being the only opposition. Councillor Rob Ladouceur and Deputy Mayor Gordon Putnam were not in attendance at the May 13 meeting.
The$1,250 in combined funding will come from Council’s 2014 Public Relations budget.
