At the regular Bentley town council meeting of Sept. 23 a motion was passed unanimously to not enter into a solid waste agreement with the Central Waste Management Commission citing too many unknowns.
A motion to serve notice of the Town’s intent to withdraw membership in the Central Waste Management Commission also passed unanimously. Bentley has been a member since the start in May 2007.
Bentley Town council has had ongoing questions and concerns about the Plasco Energy Group gasification project that did not seem to get addressed. They would have liked alternatives to this one technology to have been investigated and considered, but the Commission’s only focus seemed to be the Plasco technology Bentley CAO Elizabeth Smart said.
A number of other municipalities within the Lacombe County, including Lacombe County itself, have also indicated they are withdrawing from the commission and not signing the agreement.
Construction of the $100 million plant, to be built at the Horn Hill Waste Transfer Site in Red Deer County, is scheduled to start next spring, with completion slated for early 2010.
* Authorization was given for some persons to get Emergency Public Warning System training.
* A motion was made to apply for a 2008 Municipal Sponsorship Program grant for $20,130.00 for the rehabilitation of wastewater distribution and the Town’s treatment system. The Town had received grants in 2005, 2006, and 2007.
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* The Parkland Regional Library 2009 budget was approved noting a hike of about 7.6 percent in the town’s requisition increasing it from $6,625 in 2009 to $7,126.00 for 2009.
* The Town received confirmation of their $29,545 New Deal for Cities and Communities (NDCC) grant that will go towards the new stand-by water pump already installed in the Town’s water plant.
* The Town is applying for Joint Emergency Preparedness Program (JEPP) funding for a back-up power generator for the Bentley Community Church. Due to the facility’s many existing amenities, it has been identified as the Town’s first choice as an emergency shelter/reception centre should the need arise.
Last year the Town received $6,560 in funding for the purchase and installation of a natural gas generator for the town office in case of an emergency.
* The David Thompson Tourist Council, of which Bentley was a member, will be closed as of November 30. They are liquidating all equipment and funds.
* The Town has received a proposal from a drilling company to drill on the land on which the Medicine Lodge Ski Hill is situated. The Town is named on the land title as the registered owner. The Town is going to hold discussions with the ski hill board before making any decisions.
The next regular Town council meeting will be Tuesday, October 14 at 6:45 p.m. in council chambers. The public is welcome to sit in.
Other Bentley council highlights
The regular Bentley Town council meeting of August 26 was shorter than anticipated because a delegation representing Talsma’s Welding scheduled for 7:00 p.m. to discuss the planned Highway 12 realignment didn’t attend.
* A request from the Bentley Generals senior hockey team for donated ice time in the Bentley Arena on Saturday, December 20 for a 10th anniversary alumni tournament was granted. Estimated value will be about $577.50 based on the local adult ice rental rates for the 2008/09 season. The tourney is to be followed with a dinner and dance in Red Deer.
* By-law No. 128/2008 establishing and addressing the operation of the volunteer fire department within the Town of Bentley received second and third reading and takes affect.
* A motion was made to host noon luncheons on July 7 and 8, 2009 for as many as 200 West County tour delegates each time for the Agricultural Service Board Tour being hosted by Lacombe County July 6 to9, 2009. An estimated budget of $1000 was mentioned with beef-on-a-bun offered buffet style.
* A Community Celebration hosted by the Town council and staff on Sunday, September 21 was considered a huge success with good attendance and great food.
* At the regular Bentley Town council meeting of September 9, Policy 28/2008 was passed approving automatic 5 percent increases in the yearly ice rental fees at the Bentley Arena for each of the next five seasons (2009/10 to 2013/14).
* The Special Constable Services Agreement between Lacombe County and the Town was approved. A 14 percent increase in the hourly rate charged was agreed to. It will go from $55.19 per hour for 2008 to $62.86 per hour for 2009. The Town contracts 40 hours per month. To date revenue received from tickets has covered the cost. In 2007 expenses were $26,112.00 and revenue was $35,175.00. It was noted that revenue from tickets issued by RCMP would no longer come back to the Town as in the past due to an Alberta Government policy change.