Redcliff applies for ACP grant with Medicine Hat, Cypress County

By Jeremy Appel

Commentator/Courier

Redcliff town council voted at its Jan. 8 meeting to proceed with an Alberta Community Partnership grant in conjunction with the City of Medicine Hat and Cypress County.
The grant provides up to $200,000 for an Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework project, which encourages participating communities to work together on essential municipal services, such as transportation, water, wastewater, solid waste emergency services and recreation.
Any costs beyond the grant provided by the province will be split evenly between the participating municipalities.
Under the Municipal Affairs Act, all ICFs must be in place by April 2020.
Municipal manager Arlos Crofts said the ACP grant is a “joint submission,” meaning that each municipality’s council must pass its own motion in support.
“However, as part of the grant application process, one municipality must be designated as the managing partner to receive the money,” he added.
In this case, the application was already submitted by Medicine Hat, but Municipal Affairs allows the other partnering municipalities to approve the grant after the fact.
The motion put forward by Coun. Shawna Cockle in support of the grant was passed unanimously.
Regional recreation committee bylaw passes all readings
Council also passed all three readings of Bylaw 1853, which establishes a Redcliff and District Recreation Committee.
The committee will have representation from Redcliff council, Cypress County council and Redcliff town administration, as well as citizens of both municipalities, with the goal of promoting culture and recreation in the region.
The need to establish a regional committee is a result of Redcliff receiving the lowest amount of money per capita for recreation and culture from the Alberta Lottery Fund.
According to information provided by administration, Redcliff received $340.98 per capita from the fund, compared to $3,342.85 per person for High Prairie, the highest recipient listed.
“The quicker we get this passed, the quicker we can apply for grants. There’s no sense in holding it,” Coun. Larry Leipert said in support of moving forward with the second reading, put forward in a motion by Coun. Eric Solberg.
The bylaw’s third reading, which requires unanimity, was passed in a motion by Cockle.
Computer budget
Council voted to add $4,200 to the 2018 budget to purchase replacement laptops for councillors if necessary.
Crofts emphasized that this doesn’t mean that all councillors are buying themselves brand new computers.
“Council made it clear that some of them are fine with what they have, but we need a little bit of flexibility to replace and repair as needed,” he said.
This funding was originally included in the budget, but was taken out at the request of Coun. Chris Czember at the Nov. 4, 2017 special meeting.
Since then, Coun. Cathy Crozier’s computer was damaged beyond repair.
The motion to put the funds back in the budget put forward by Coun. Jim Steinke was passed unanimously.