Penhold council briefs: Done dealing with cannabis

Earlier this fall, Penhold town council voted on 100 metre setbacks for cannabis stores from schools, playgrounds and healthcare facilities. They also approved the public consumption of cannabis.

Thus far, one company has been issued a business licence by the Town of Penhold for a retail cannabis store, but the AGLC recently announced it was halting the issuance of any more permits due to the soaring demand for product.

— Budget

Council also recently approved their 2019 budget.

Though it started with a proposed zero per cent tax increase, council opted for a one per cent hike.

“We did a recreation survey over the summer and trails were the most supported recreation activity; we also had a large number of residents who stated they were willing to support up to a one per cent tax increase to support the construction of trails,” Yargeau explains. “So we decided it was important we include those trails in the budget to show that we were listening.”

Yargeau says the one per cent jump will result in an extra $46,960 for the Town to spend on revamping existing trails and creating new ones.

The increase also means an approximately $40 increase on the average household’s property tax bill.

Also budget-related, it was noted that the majority of residents are now paying less for municipal taxes than they did in 2013 and 2011. This can partially be attributed to assessment values declining year over year.

— Utility rates

A new utility bylaw was also approved by council which comes into effect Jan. 1.

The average user will see an increase of $4.55 per month.

“The idea is that people should be equally paying for the utilities they use, and that would include not just the cost of the water itself, but the cost of the infrastructure that brings the water to you,” Yargeau states. “The long-term costs of repairing and replacing those water lines is all built-in to your costs.”

Yargeau says currently the Town loses money on utilities every year, but there is a long-term plan to get it to cost recovery status.

— PACE

Finally, council declined a proposal for what is called the PACE program, or Property Assessed Clean Energy.

The program would assist property owners in obtaining funding that could be used for energy efficiencies within their homes or businesses.

The Town would lend the money, then the cost would be built into the property’s tax assessment.

This past April, the Government of Alberta announced the PACE program would become available to municipalities.

by Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Penhold council briefs: Done dealing with cannabis

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