ATHABASCA — Town of Athabasca councillors will be back in their seats for the first of two regular December meetings before the Christmas holidays, and the agenda has a variety of topics for discussion.
First up, councillors will hear from two delegations — The Alice B. Donahue Library and Archives Board will present an annual update, as well as it’s budget for the upcoming year. The presentation will come with a request for the consideration of a $91,509 grant from the town, an increase of $2,758 from the funding received in 2023.
The second presentation of the evening will come from the Communities in Bloom committee. The committee will present council with a certificate from the 2023 competition and ask for continued support of the initiative. A 19-page report on the judging tour — which took place July 31 and found Athabasca deserving of 5 out of 5 blooms — is included in the agenda package, complete with a detailed summary of the judges’ evaluations in all six categories.
Councillors will also have the option of scheduling their next 2024 budget meeting. The request for decision included in the agenda package notes “additional numbers that were expected are starting to come in now,” and admin has included a recommended motion “that council set a date and time for the next budget meeting.”
Other items on the agenda include a request for 2024 funding from the Athabasca and District Chamber of Commerce, a letter of concern from a resident regarding staffing and bed shortages at the Athabasca Healthcare Centre, and second and third readings of the utility rate bylaw that would see water rates for residents increase by 5 per cent.
The meeting is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. at the Town of Athabasca council chambers and is open to members of the public. The agenda for the meeting can be viewed here.
