By Abigail Popple, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, RMG
The Village of Valemount held a special council meeting on July 23rd to discuss funding for airport repairs and paving roads before moving to an in-camera session.
Mayor Owen Torgerson called the meeting to order at 2:02 p.m.
Airport Repairs
The Valemount airport has a cardlock system – that is, an unmanned fueling station – which has sustained significant damage over the years as its battery backup has not been able to make up for the length and frequency of Valemount’s power outages. As such, Valemount has had to issue a NOTAM, which is a notice of potential hazards filed with aviation authorities, alerting pilots that the Valemount Airport may not have fuel available. According to the staff report, this has caused a decline in fuel sales and may damage the reputation of the airport.
The cost of repairing the cardlock system is estimated to be $22,750, on top of which staff has added a 10 per cent contingency in case the repairs cost more.
Staff requested drawing $25,000 plus tax from the 2024 Community Works Fund Agreement – a yearly grant covering the cost of construction or renewal of infrastructure – to pay for these repairs. The Village received about $100K from the 2024 Agreement.
Council unanimously approved the staff request.
Paving budget
In the 2024 budget, Village staff budgeted $75K from the 2023 Community Works Fund Agreement for crack sealing. However, $150K was available for both crack sealing and road paving. As such, funds from the 2023 Community Works Fund are left over and available to use for paving.
Staff requested to use the remaining $75K for paving local roads. Council unanimously approved the request.
In-camera
In line with Sections 90 (1) (a), (e), and (k) of the Community Charter, Council moved to an in-camera session to discuss subjects related to:
(a) personal information about an identifiable individual who holds or is being considered for a position as an officer, employee or agent of the municipality or another position appointed by the municipality;
(e) the acquisition, disposition or expropriation of land or improvements, if the council considers that disclosure could reasonably be expected to harm the interests of the municipality; and
(k) negotiations and related discussions respecting the proposed provision of a municipal service that are at their preliminary stages and that, in the view of the council, could reasonably be expected to harm the interests of the municipality if they were held in public.
Torgerson adjourned the open meeting and moved to the in-camera session at 2:06 p.m.
