Town of Bow Island takes a final look at doctor’s house, old backhoe

Posted on July 20, 2023 by Ryan Dahlman

By Anna Smith
Commentator/Courier

July 10 marked one of the Town of Bow Island Council’s summer meetings.

Council noted that there has been a buildup of MSI funding during this month’s Bank Reconciliation, which “they don’t get until they spend it,” explained CAO Dave Matz. 

The Town agreed to a small increase in the amount of funding they provide to FCSS. The amount was noted to be “Not really any difference,” said Mayor Gordon Reynolds, a difference of perhaps five per cent, but the agreement will go before both the Village of Foremost and the County of Forty Mile soon, as they also need to agree.

“It’s a small amount for FCSS – not nearly enough. Doesn’t come close to what they need,” said Matz, who noted their revenue has gone down in recent years.

The time has also come to dispose of one of the Town of Bow Island’s backhoe units. The unit will be sold for $50,000 including GST, which was noted to be a good price for it considering the age and condition of the backhoe.

While the piece was originally considered for auction, the Town received an offer after putting the sale up on Kajiji to see what interest there might be.

While some updates have yet to be made as of July 10, council did receive a report from the Rural Development Network on their ongoing Housing Needs Assessment.

It was noted that the report does not look at housing affordability, which Matz considered one of the key components to truly understanding the needs of the community.

The report touches on many factors surrounding the future of housing within the community, and the demographics that exist, and those that will be looking for housing in the near future.

Work continues to bring the Splash Park into working order, said Matz, as issues with the pH of the water continue. It is hoped that this work will be complete soon.

A motion was made to add a forced air unit and a fresh coat of paint to the previously purchased doctor’s rental home, which suffered from a mould issue previously due to temperature and humidity. Council aims to address the issue with these additions.

The possibility of a pump track, not unlike the one recently added in Medicine Hat near the campground, as an attraction, was briefly discussed.