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Westlock County passes second interim operating budget

Westlock County council unanimously passed a second interim operating budget Jan. 10 based on the 2016 operating budget so that its transportation services department can continue providing adequate service.

Westlock County council unanimously passed a second interim operating budget Jan. 10 based on the 2016 operating budget so that its transportation services department can continue providing adequate service.

Council passed its first interim budget Dec. 22, which was based on 50 per cent of last year’s numbers, but director of infrastructure Al Scott told council Tuesday that his department would not be able to operate without knowing the full budget.

“With only operating with a 50 per cent interim budget, it would be irresponsible of myself to go out and look for work and get prices on things as if we’re going to do the entire budget,” Scott said.

“If I only had 50 per cent of the money to operate on, it wouldn’t be truthful of me to ask for 100 per cent of the services from the contractors and multiple businesses knowing full well that I don’t have that mandate from council.”

Corporate services director Diane Urkow noted that the interim budget would allow the county to operate for period of time, but potential changes could put a hold on significant projects.

Scott added that without knowing the full budget, public works would have to cut back on a number of services, including grading, gravel hauling, brushing, utilities and snow clearing.

“We need a mandate in order to secure gravel hauling and spreading contracts for 2017.

“There is a significant amount of work required to prepare for both requests and we need to look at the soft costs and reputation of the county. If we put out requests for proposals and never act on those requests for proposals, we start to get the reputation of ‘tire kickers,’ people who are just looking for numbers without ever acting on those numbers.”

If no operating budget was passed by the spring, he said it would also delay summer services like dust control, drainage and patching.

2017 operating budget

Although council approved an interim budget, the county has yet to pass an official operating and capital budget for 2017.

Coun. Ron Zadunayski said there were issues he would like cleared up with the current draft budget, while Coun. Bud Massey was more vocal.

“There are significant issues in the operating budget that I wish to speak to when our CAO is here,” he said. CAO Leo Ludwig did not attend the Jan. 10 council meeting, although he is expected to be present at the next budget meeting this week.

“We’re talking about a significant increase to our taxpayers,” Massey continued.

“One of almost 10 per cent of the people in our county has job loss. We have people who have significant reduction in salaries. There are several things within that budget that are causing or will cause a significant tax increase into the people in Westlock County, which would be unacceptable at this time.”

He made a motion to table the operating budget to Jan. 24, which passed 4-3, with Massey, Zadunayski, and Coun. Albert St. Louis and Coun. Mel Kroetsch in favour.

Coun. Dennis Primeau took issue with the vagueness of their statements.

“I really think those councillors vehemently opposed should share that information with the rest of council,” he said after the motion passed.

Zadunayski replied that he would give specifics at the next meeting, when he brings his budget documents.

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