Council makes few changes to proposed 2007 budget
by Michelle Minnoch

Council was introduced to the 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 budget Wednesday night, primarily focusing on the $10.8 million budget for 2007.

"We are pleased to be in front of you in a relatively early timeframe this year," remarked Town CAO Larry Allison. "In front of council is a significantly smaller budget then the previous three years." He informed council that next year, senior staff will try and provide council with a five year budget plan.

Treasurer Ian Goodfellow stated the intent of providing council with future information is to give them idea of what the priorities are.

Of the $10.8 million budget, 29.27% is funded by ARS, 5.51% tax levy operating, 4.22% Gas tax revenue, 17.75% from Development Charges, 20.85% reserves, 2.65% from grants, 11.88% Long Term Debt, 7.88% from other sources."The tax levy operating budget is nominal, $600,000," said Goodfellow. "It may not sound like very much, it isn't. In 2004 though, it was zero." He said money is put into the reserves to primarily fund capital budget projects, which come mainly from water and wastewater. He added wherever possible, the Town will apply for grants.

He explained the reason why the 2006 budget was so high was due to the water plant expansion project. "There were a lot of big projects budgeted for in 2004, 2005 and 2006."

He said council will see high numbers again in 2010, with the planned expansion of the Alcona Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Councilor Pring noted that the ARS represented 29.2%, and asked without that, where would the tax rate be. Goodfellow replied without the ARS, there would be a 28% tax increase.

Planning and Development

The town will be spending $338,000 in 2007 on the Innisfil Heights Industrial/ Commercial Land Study, Lefroy Secondary Plan and Urban Design Guidelines Study, a new building truck, the second Omnibus Zoning by-law and an Enterprise GIS, which will help the planning department, as well as Innisfil Hydro.

The GIS will increase efficiency of our information," said Ross Cotton, Manager of Planning.

In regards to the Lefroy Secondary Plan, Director of Planning and development, Rob McAuley stated the plan should come to fruition this year.

"We have to get ahead of the game and get the guidelines done," he said.

In regards to purchasing a new truck, McAuley informed council that the fleet is aging, and the entire fleet is to be replaced by 2009/2010.

Fire and Rescue

There has been $436,216 set aside for fire and rescue services. Bunker gear, a breathing apparatus are needed, as well as Jaws of Life units for Alcona and Cookstown.

Cookstown and Lefroy will be getting replacement refurbishing tanks. Director of Community Services Geprge Shaparew said the current tanks are made of steel, and the new ones are made of composite material.

There is also $200,000 set aside for

Station two replacement in Lefroy.

Fire Chief Scott Griffith said he had spoken to Bradford two years ago about sharing their smokehouse, but it was donated and there was a stipulation it stay in Bradford.

"A smoke house is a great training program for kids and adults," remarked Deputy Mayor Gord Wauchope. "We're growing, so we shouldn't share one. It's time we had our own."

Water

Goodfellow said the most significant in the $1.2 million 2007 water budget is the water main extension to Golf Haven, and the designated plan for the water reservoir in the Lefroy area.

Deputy Mayor Wauchope said he was glad to see something is being done in the Golf Haven area, as he is getting calls from residents.

Mayor Jackson inquired about Chestnut Street, which is not on the books from 2007 -2010.

"We're attempting to deal with the current well based situation," said McAuley. "We did attempt a COMRIF application for the project, but were denied."

He said there should be a long term plan for the area, in terms of servicing.

Mayor Jackson said the project should be thought about, and put on the radar.

"There are a lot of contaminated wells on Chestnut Street."

Wastewater

The $11.2 million wastewater budget allows for the Alcona Sanitary Servicing Update, Lefroy Sanitary Servicing EA Study, 7th Line Sanitary Sewer extension, and $100,000 for the cleanout of the Lagoon in Cookstown. Goodfellow said they are entering the first year in a three year project of sealing manhole covers.

Other projects include the Septic Data Acquisition and Inlet Works Screening Unit in Alcona.

Parks and Rec

"Parks and Rec is a significant potion on the overall town budget," Goodfellow said. "For 2007, about $300,000 is raised through taxes - already we have raised $200,000, now $100,000 has to be raised."

Between 2007 and 2010, about $2.1 million will be spent on Innisfil Beach Road. "We have to apply polish to the jewel we have," he said.

About $557,000 will be spent for the walking path, bridge replacements, washrooms, and ball field fencing at the park.

Parks and Rec Manager Bob Browne said there are two pedestrian bridges and one vehicle bridge which needed to be replaced at the park.

They do not have the finalized quote for the replacements, but the money is put aside to get the work done.

Deputy Mayor Wauchope remarked that the pedestrian bridges were washed away about four or five years ago. "We need a structure in there that's going to hold. We can't keep putting it off, it's a park."

Councilors discussed the $100,000 for Innisfil Beach Park walking trails. Councilor Davidson asked if it was needed. "How long have we gone without it? Why do we need it this year? There's a beach, grass people can walk on."

Councilor Pring said the master plan for the park was created years ago.

The Stroud Area will have tiling updated in the dressing rooms and ceiling upgrades. The $20,000 set aside for the north driveway design has been reallocated for upgrades inside the facility.

"We have a number of things we can do inside," said Browne.

Susan Downs, Director of Corporate Services and Chief Librarian stated that the angle on the driveway slopes into the building, and the water runs into the library. The problem will be looked into.

The Lefroy Arena will see a replacement ice resurfacer, beam replacement, parking lot design, and fuel marker installation. Both arenas will have their dehumidifier design replaced.

Deputy Mayor Wauchope said he was pleased to see work being done on both arenas. "The work needs to be done."

There has been $70,000 earmarked to replace two playgrounds. "Once these two are done, we will be finished and meet the current safety standards," said Browne.

Other items in the $1.2 million parks and rec budget include HVAC for Churchill, hard surface for Centennial Park, large grass cutter, zero turn grass cutter, park water truck, and a replacement of the '97 pickup.

Roads Services

Public works will be getting $836,000 in the 2007 budget. There is $217,000 set aside for a new water truck, as the current one is 30 years old. The replacement includes the trade in price.

A new street sweeper will cost $225,000. Manager of Operation Services, Wayne Young, said to sweep the streets before Summerfest, costs $110 per hour with a four hour minimum.

It would also aid in the clean up of spills. Staff can operate the machine, and the town will also keep an existing contract.

"If we own our unit, we can start sweeping earlier and go down to two contracts instead of three," said Allison.

Young pointed out that Innisfil is one of few municipalities that don't have their own sweeper. He said they would last, with proper maintenance, 13 to 15 years.

Councilor Dollin questioned the $11,000 earmarked for garbage cans along Innisfil Beach Road. "This has not yet been brought to council. There are different philosophies as to how they look, where are they going to be placed?" She added in terms of the Urban Design Guidelines for IBR, it is putting the cart before the horse.

Deputy Mayor Wauchope said the cans have been a need for a long time, adding they may not need to spend $11,000 but they need something.

Larry Allison said the issue can be discussed after council reviews the UDG on February 28th.

Deputy Mayor Wauchope inquired who will empty the garbage.

"We shall empty them," remarked Shaparew.

Library

Lillian Owen, Chair of the Innisfil Public Library Board outlined what5 the library needed in the 2007 budget, including a self checkout, Stroud accessibility renovations, Lakeshore sign and replacement carpet, replacement computers and server, and Cookstown Property servicing.

The sign, costing $54,000 and one that would display library and town events, was discussed at the meeting.

"That's a lot of money for a sign," remarked Councilor Kmet. Downs explained to council that the sign would be large, digital, and programmable from inside.

Councilor Davidson said to spend that much on a sign was "quite excessable".

Mayor Jackson said it would have to be written in a policy that the library and the town get to use the sign. Davidson pointed out that there will be money spent on the sign at the NAB. Goodfellow said to buy the two signs together would have better financial results.

Information Technology (3.39%)

Goodfellow said many of the items in this budget category were NAB and MURF related.

The $368,296 will be spent on system data, GIS, computers and software/programs, records management, Point of Sale, I.T. expansion, VOIP, and kiosks.

G e n e r a l Administration/Police Board

R e g a r d i n g administration, $407,000 has been earmarked for the NAB boulevard sign, indoor message sign, NAB mobile shelving/archive shelving and audio/video equipment, customer service study, and new tables and chairs for the NAB.

"We need to make the new town hall fully functionally," said Downs.

There has been $221,471 set aside for the Police Services Board.

"One item relates to communication equipment," Police Chief Bruce Davis said. "Between the amalgamation agreement, the cost sharing is a 60/40 split between Innisfil and Bradford."

He remarked both buildings are the responsibility of their respective municipalities; the communications department will be located in the new Bradford building, where they are a close proximity of the courthouse.

The equipment they are using now is 20 to 25 years old, Chief Davis said.