Athabasca Countyís operating and capital budgets were unanimously passed at the Jan. 8 council meeting, highlighted by a report from county administrator Gary Buchanan.
Approximately 15 km of county roads are set to be either constructed or rebuilt, with a budget allocation of $1.17 million.
Buchananís report says the county is continuing its commitment to public works, proposing a ìgravel sealî application of special matting material in what it calls the ìhard surfacing program,î applicable to up to 32 km of county roads that require oil sealing. For the matting process, $1.9 million has been allocated and for the oiling, an additional $878,000 has been set aside. For the remainder of paving spanning for approximately 7 km along the east of K road, $400,000 has been set aside in the budget.
The county remains committed to a four-year cycle for graveling its roads (556 km cited for 2013), and increasing the amount of gravel laid to 135 km of roads that are most traveled. Gravelling altogether will cost $2.18 million.
Two bridges are set to be replaced, for which $1.5 million has been set aside, and $313,000 has been allocated for the roadside grass cutting program.
The county is investing in ways to help local producers protect their crops.
An allocation of $158,500 is being utilized for various techniques and programs of weed control, tansy control and weed inspection, as well as a sustained effort to monitor grain and oilseed, concerns surrounding insect pests and diseases, as well as a number of environmental ìconservation projects.î
As a proactive measure in the event of flooding, $145,000 has been allocated in the budget for maintaining agricultural food and sources of ìproblem wildlife.î $132,000 has been reserved for roadside vegetation management, and $24,000 will support farmers with weed control measures.
The countyís emergency services response contract for Highway 63 will continue this year on a $502,000 budget, and the pumper truck at Baptiste Lake will be replaced as part of a $255,000 budgetary allocation.
Further maintenance to vehicles will be needed throughout the county and its nine fire departments, as well as further investment in building maintenance, training, operations and small equipment. For these needs the county budget has set aside $307,000.
At a cost of $86,800, the regional fire coordinator will become a full-time position. The Town of Athabasca and the Village of Boyle are expected to support this transition.
The new formation of a municipal tax rebate program under the tourism and economic development program will be accommodating a one-time 50-per-cent tax rebate for any assessment equal to or greater than $100,000. A budget allocation of $438,000 has been set aside to satisfy this need.
Family and Community Support Services will be moving to a new building, for which the planning is still underway, at a total budget of $1.5 million.
As part of an $85,000 budgetary allocation, the Hamlet of Colinton will be receiving an ìarea structure plan;î the Village of Boyle will also be receiving a development plan.
County campgrounds will be upgraded at a cost of $99,500, and with a budget of $654,000, the county will continue its support for the Athabasca and Boyle recreational facilities.
The county is partnering with the Town of Athabasca and the Multiplex Society in the planning and execution of a new swimming pool at the Athabasca Regional Multiplex. For this project, an additional $250,000 has been set aside in the Countyís 2013 budget.
