Athabasca County council decided at its Feb. 25 meeting that it would not increase its cost of living allowance for councillors in 2016.
In 2011, councillors voted that they would receive a $244 per diem for days with committees of council, in addition to $57 for food. They also receive money for mileage and a communication allowance of $400 per month.
The supervision and community liaison allowance provides $500 per month, while the reeve receives a monthly allowance of $350 and the deputy reeve a $150 monthly allowance.
At that time, they voted that the payments would rise with the rates of inflation.
County manager Ryan Maier said that after some discussion at the budget and finance meetings, it was decided to not increase that allowance this year.
ìWe discussed that quite a bit and we agreed,î Coun. Denis Willcott said.
Council passed a unanimous motion for the freeze.
VIC closing
The Athabasca Chamber of Commerce has decided to close the Visitor Information Centre this summer.
Coun. Warren Griffin told council that the chamber didnít have the resources to pay rent or take over the centre.
He went on to say that the chamber was trying to reduce the number of projects and would be focusing on three this year: Moonlight Madness, the gala and the trade show.
However, this yearís trade show, planned for March, was also cancelled due to a lack of participation ñ some of it due to scheduling conflicts with another event.
Pool design open house
A pool design open house is scheduled for Mar. 10 at the Athabasca Regional Multiplex.
The open house will not have a sit-down presentation, so guests are welcome to stroll the room, speak with the architects and the pool design committee members, and take a look at the proposed designs.
The architects are asking for the publicís feedback on the two pool designs, one of which features a six-lane pool and the other an eight-lane pool.
The open house will run from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Campground parks foreman
Athabasca County will be hiring a parks foreman and campground managers for Forfar and Hope Lake for the 2016 season.
The positions are responsible for maintaining campsites but the parks foreman would be placed under the infrastructure services department and would report to the assistant director of infrastructure.
The position involves overseeing seasonal staff and performing all duties normally done by the current contract campground staff.
The county recreation board suggested there should be a parks foreman position after reviewing campground operations and looking at ways to improve or maintain services without additional costs.
The campground managerís salary will have room to hire contractors.
Requests for proposals are currently being accepted for those positions.
Rochester fire chief
The county has also appointed a new fire chief for the Rochester Fire department.
Darren Siemans will be taking over as fire chief after former chief Lloyd Parker passed away in mid-December.
Siemans has been an officer with the Rochester fire department for six years and has experience with road rescue operations and fire suppression.
Drivers wanted
The county is also searching for two new drivers for the community handi-van. Drivers must have a Class 1 license.
