Council holds information session regarding 2009 budget

On Thurs. Jan. 8, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Jasper Municipal Council held a general information session in the Upper Curling Lounge of the Activity Centre, for residents to come and apprise themselves of initiatives contained in the 2009 municipal budget. 

The informal session provided an opportunity for concerned residents to approach councillors as well as Mayor Richard Ireland, municipal manager George Krefting, director of Finance and Administration Alice Lettner, director of Environmental Services Ken Quackenbush and director of Culture and Recreation Yvonne McNabb.  

Some councillors were better equipped than others in answering attendees’ questions, with Krefting and Lettner picking up the slack. Resident Paul Height passed out a lengthy rebuttal to the proposed budget and presented a bucket of tar and feathers for the mayor.  

Quackenbush was there to answer questions on the proposed Hazel Street underpass. The information booth pertaining to the underpass contained an artist’s rendering of the proposal playing on four themes, which the project might ultimately embody. These were a ‘historic rail trestle’ theme, a ‘modified trestle theme’, a ‘historic rail tunnel’ theme and a ‘parks/geological’ theme.  

The proposal looked quite aesthetically attractive, but the cost of long-term maintenance is unclear. Additionally, this project is being propelled, at least in part, by a three-year-old study/community survey, said Counc. Brenda Zinck.   

Activity Centre upgrade plans were also on display, with McNabb taking questions on the project.  The plans are split into four phases, with half of the first phase already completed, which included the installation of the insulated wall between the curling sheets and the multipurpose room, currently in use for the gymnastics program.  

The second half of the first phase pertains to utilizing excess heat from the arena for in-floor heating.  The second phase will be the construction of a new fitness centre attached to the pool on the green space in front of the main entrance.  The third phase will expand the daycare and renovate the foyer and upper curling rink lounge.  The final phase of the project will upgrade and expand the kitchen and walk-in fridge, and provide additional working space.

With three-and-a-half phases to go, McNabb said that she hopes that the rest of the proposed project will be “in the works” within two years “if all the stars are aligned.”

Some residents have quietly expressed dissatisfaction with the format of the informal session. The concern is that an informal face-to-face format allows council to deal with people separately, in effect creating a situation in which concern and outrage are diffused and dispersed, so that discussions/disagreements/grievances are not publicly aired and therefore not publicly embarrassing for the municipality. 

Council will vote on the proposed budget at its regular meeting on Jan. 20 at 1:30 p.m. in the Emergency Services Building.