By Kevin J. Sabo
For the Advance
County of Paintearth Council has approved a funding increase to Parkland Regional Library Systems.
Parkland Regional Library Systems, which four local libraries operate under, had submitted its proposed 2020 budget to the County prior to council’s Oct. 1st meeting.
The proposed budget presented would see all partners in Parkland Regional Library increase their per capita requisition from $8.25 to $8.55.
This increase reflects the total $3.4 million in spending for Parkland’s 2020 budget.
For the County of Paintearth, the $0.30/per capita increase will translate to an additional cost of $630.60, for a total requisition going to Parkland Library of around $18,000.
“I’m looking for a motion to increase as presented,” said County of Paintearth CAO Michael Simpson.
“It’s not out of the ordinary to see these requests.”
The Parkland Regional Library System has a nearly 50 libraries under its jurisdiction and receives funding to operate through a variety of means, including library fees, provincial and federal government grants, and partner requisitions.
Four local libraries operate under the Parkland Regional Library System - Castor, Alliance, Coronation, and Brownfield.
Castor is open Monday 2 p.m. to 5 p.m, Wednesday 10 a.m. to noon, and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m, and Friday 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. The Alliance library is open Tuesdays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Coronation Public Library is open five days week in the afternoons, with some morning or evening availability as well.
The Brownfield Public Library is open Tuesdays from noon until 6 p.m. and Thursdays from noon until 4 p.m. All schedules are available at Parkland Regional Library’s web site.
Other highlights of the Oct. 1st meeting of council;
• Administration continues to merge and update outdated policies.
• County Administration is releasing a request for proposal in order to hire an investment attraction specialist to gain investment in the county. No budget is included in the RFP.
• Depending on how the province approaches policing funding, the County of Paintearth could be required to pay between $120,000 and $566,000 to continue RCMP services in the region. This money would be paid directly to the province, and the region would likely receive no additional service.
• Public Works have sold older pickup trucks at auction, and two older graders will be going for auction in Edmonton by the end of October.
• Bulwark Bridge construction has commenced.
• Alberta Fisheries has stocked Huber Dam with 1,200 tiger trout and 1,500 rainbow trout. The County is purchasing an aerator to help oxygenate the water at the dam.
• The County of Paintearth Council has received a request from the Town of Castor that PEPS (Paintearth Economic Partnership Society) fund all grant ineligible expenses for the Battle River Innovation Centres. The request was tabled until feedback is received from all partners involved in the Battle River Innovation Centres.
• Battle River Economic Opportunities Committee (BREOC) was submitted for the Partnership Category of the 2019 Minister’s Awards for Municipal Excellence. Kaycee Madu, minister of Municipal Affairs, sent a letter to council thanking them for the submission, but BREOC had not been chosen to receive an award.