Over the span of six weeks, Lac La Biche County councillors met to go over, line-by-line, the spending, capital projects and other expenditures planned for the community in the coming year. Items ranged from smaller items like a commercial shredding machine for $20,000 to a $7.7 million infrastructure project for the Plamondon-Caslan connector road.
Here are some of the items that made it — and some that didn't — in those discussions.
A $900,00 expenditure for a road resurfacing plan within the hamlet of Lac La Biche was passed with unanimous consent.
A $1.46 million infrastructure project for Holowachuk Estates was passed unanimously.
A $100,000 capital project for Range Road 153 was not included in the budget with only Councillors L'Heureux and Mayor Moghrabi voting in favour.
A $1.7 million project to extend water services from 91 Avenue (south of Portage College) to 83 Avenue (alongside the Ramada Hotel property was approved with only councillor Johnson opposing.
A $1.65 million project to replace water, sewer and natural gas infrastructure in Lakeview Crescent was approved unanimously.
A $1.8 million project to provide water and sewer servicing to the Mission Subdivision was approved unanimously
The inclusion of two mowers at a price of $70,000 and a tractor at a cost of $52,000 was approved unanimously for the 2019 budget.
The purchase of a SUV at a cost of $33,000 was not approved, with only councillors Tkachuk, Cote and Johnson in favour.
The purchase of three pickup trucks at a cost of $120,000 was approved by council, with councillors Beniuk and L'Heureux opposing. The two councillors, along with councillor Johnson, were also opposed to spending $180,000 for two medium-sized plow trucks. That addition was approved.
A request to put $160,000 into the budget for the purchase of a backhoe loader was rejected, with only councillors Tkachuk, Borgun and Moore in favour.
A street sweeper at a cost of $270,000 and a grader at a cost of $500,000 were approved unanimously for the 2019 budget.
The expenditure of $13,000 for a paint line striper was also approved unanimously.
Funding of a $1.7 million plan for a new Protective Services Facility was approved with councillors Beniuk and L'Heureux opposing. The plan will come after a survey and concept information comes back to council for review.
The inclusion of an $85,000 one-tonne Fire Service coordinator command vehicle did not get the go ahead, but room was made in the budget for a $48,900 rescue boat.
Room was also made for a $78,000 expenditure for the Peace Officer Patrol Vehicle fund, with only Mayor Moghrabi opposing. Another $45,000 was approved for a municipal bylaw officers patrol vehicle capital expense, again with only Moghrabi opposing.
Unanimous support was given to the renovations and upgrades of the County Centre office space, the McArthur Place municipal offices and the Bold Center's Devon Room. Renovation funding at the County Centre was put at $200,000. McArthur Place was approved for $225,000 and lighting upgrades in the Devon Hall were approved for $60,000.
The land around the Bold Center saw unanimous approval for development, with $2.5 million approved for sports field development and a further $1 million set aside for a proposed 40-stall campsite. Approximately $1.5 million of that amount will come from a transfer of the balance from the Dumasfield Capital Reserves fund.
Approval was not given for a half million dollar skate and BMX park, but the matter is to be brought back after the ongoing Recreation Master Plan is completed. But a $250,000 expenditure for a concept plan and feasibility study toward a new aquatic centre did get unanimous support.
A $24,000 picnic shelter with a connecting pathway to the walking trail near the Old Big Dock Landing was approved, with councilors Beniuk, Borgun and L'Heureux opposed.
A $710,000 expense for the Lac La Biche Golf Club's water intake and irrigation system was approved with only Councillor L'Heureux opposing.
Boat launches at Plamondon White Sands, Owl River and Poplar Point will all get funding in the 2019 budget, with council unanimously approving $275,000 for White Sands, $10,000 for Owl River and $250,000 for Poplar Point.
A 1.5 per cent Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) was approved for Lac La Biche County staff, excluding council.
For a further summary of the 2019 budget, click the link in the digital version of this story at www.laclabichepost.com
For a further summary of the 2010 budget, click here.
