Council agrees to rezone land for shared fire facility

In August, Morinville council approved the request to enter into a partnership with St. Albert’s fire department for the joint use, maintenance and repair of a fire training facility.

This Monday, council unanimously agreed to rezone land for the shared facility, as the current zoning does not allow for the facility to go up.

The joint facility will be used to train local fire departments in the area, instead of sending them away. Deputy mayor David Pattison said it could prepare local firefighters for situations such as the church burning this past Saturday, and educate student members who could not attend training in other areas.

“Just having it there would make it possible for them to participate,” he said.

The facility will be designed as a temporary site that can be relocated, if need be. It will be constructed on the old water reservoir site, on East Boundary Road.

Council renews Recreational Cost Sharing Agreement with Sturgeon

Morinville council agreed to receive $45,000 in contribution by Sturgeon County for the use of its facilities.

In the past, Sturgeon annually provided the contribution to guarantee equal access for Sturgeon residents to use Morinville’s recreational and cultural facilities, programs, and services.

Sturgeon County now requested a renewal of the Cost Sharing Agreement, which will reflect the same financial contribution and terms as in the previous years.

Deputy mayor David Pattison said council was concerned that the annual contribution does not accurately reflect the percentage used of Morinville’s recreational and cultural facilities.

To address the concern, the six members of the Sturgeon Regional Partnership agreed to work together on a Regional Master Plan. The plan is designed to aid in the long-term planning and to examine the delivery of recreational programs and services across the region over the next 25 years.

Councillor Lisa Holmes said she attended the meeting with Sturgeon councillors and mayors and felt positive about their joint effort to make the agreement fair and clear.

She did, however, admit to feeling some reluctance signing another agreement for this year considering the amount of services Sturgeon County residents were using.

“I hope that this will be the last year that we agree to do this but I am happy to put the motion forward,” she said.

The renewed agreement is expected to give the six communities time to complete the Regional Master Plan Initiative, which should include a “clear, fair and defensible funding formula.”

Council attends AUMA

Morinville council members will attend the annual Alberta Urban Municipalities Association (AUMA) convention, which runs from Sept. 26 to 28. The convention offers opportunities to network and lobby with other communities, as well as to learn about new initiatives and grant funding opportunities undertaken in the province.

AUMA represents Alberta’s 277 municipalities and aids in advocating the interests of the municipalities to provincial and federal governments as well as other provincial and federal organizations. This year’s meeting will take place in Edmonton.

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