Whitecourt Town Council briefs
April 25 meeting
Whitecourt Town Council passed the Tax Rate Bylaw 1539 at the April 23 Regular Meeting of Council. Property owners can expect to receive combined assessment and taxation notices in mid-May, well ahead of the Friday, June 29 deadline. The 2018 Budget required a 2.34 per cent increase to the municipal tax rate. For the average single family home, property owners can expect an annual increase of $44.47 for municipal taxes, and seniors and school requisitions. The 2018 Budget Report will be published next week, and will provide details on the budget, how property taxes are calculated, and how tax dollars have been allocated for 2018. If you have questions about your tax notice, or the 2018 Budget, please contact the Town Office.
Whitecourt Town Council approved the 2017 Financial Statement for the year end of December 31, 2017. A presentation was made by the Town’s auditor, Curtis Friesen from Metrix Group, who reported that the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Town of Whitecourt as of December 31, 2017.
Whitecourt awarded over $28,000 in funding to local community groups as part of the 2018 Enhancement Grant Program. The grant offers community arts, culture, and recreation organizations assistance to start up or develop new community events or enhance existing facilities and programs. The following groups will receive support for their local projects:
• Whitecourt Mountain Bike Association – Sprockids Bike Program: $7,160.
• Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 44 – Dart Program Updates: $4,851.
• Whitecourt Club Volleyball – Revz Club Development: $5,000.
• Whitecourt Minor Ball Association – Bull Pens, Safety Caps on Fences: $11,200.
Council has awarded Community Clean Up Program funds to seven local non-profit groups, sports and community organizations for cleaning up roadsides, playgrounds, and sports fields. The program provides each group with $1,000 for 100 hours of clean up undertaken. The following groups have been approved for funding: Whitecourt Taekwondo Saint Patrick’s Anglican Church 2716 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps Whitecourt Early Learning and Child Care Centre Skyline Community Club Whitecourt Scuba Club – Rotary Park Pond Clean Up Empowering Citizens for Health & Opportunity Society Does your nonprofit group want to earn some cash for your cause or an upcoming event? There are still eight spots available for groups looking to raise funds while performing a valuable service! Smaller groups are encouraged to partner to complete the 100 volunteer hours and split the $1,000 payment. Please visit www. whitecourt.ca for information on how to apply. A review of fees at the Allan & Jean Millar Centre was recently completed, and rates at the facility will be changing as of September 10, 2018. The Community Services Advisory Board conducts a review of fees every two years, and based on comparables a 4 per cent increase was recommended to ensure facility fees remain equitable to other multiplexes throughout the province, and to support the facility’s vision. Letters will be provided to all facility members that pay for memberships through electronic funds transfer (EFT), and advertisements will be posted at the facility, online, and in the Community Spectrum leading up to September.
Whitecourt and Woodlands County will be conducting joint community tours in the coming weeks to provide members of both Councils the opportunity to visit areas and facilities of joint interest. The municipalities will also be scheduling a joint planning session in the summer to review issues of mutual benefit. Councillor Matt Connell has been appointed to represent Whitecourt in a meeting with Alberta Health Services to discuss the recruitment of health care professionals.
Councillor Tom Pickard has been appointed Deputy Mayor from May 1 to August 31, 2018.