Irricana council approved $50,000 for an Accommodation Masterplan to look at the Town’s assets, during a budget meeting, Nov. 28.
The move was made to help set council’s planning direction by looking at future needs and the current state of the Town’s assets.
“Let’s do it, and do it right,” said Councillor Larry Martin, who made a motion to approve the expenditure. “This is a long-term plan that should be done properly.”
The money for the study will come from the capital portion of Irricana’s provincial Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI) funds.
Dillon Consulting’s Jagdev Shahi gave a presentation at the budget meeting advising council of the benefits of the study.
Despite the outcome Deputy Mayor Andrew Carr and Councillor Frank Dusome raised concern about the expenditure and ultimately voted against spending money on the study.
“I have a real hard time justifying spending $50,000 for a paper telling us what we need,” said Carr. “Why not just have public consultation with residents and our own user groups?”
Carr also questioned awarding the contract without seeking tenders.
“If we are going to do it, should we not tender it out?” he asked.
Dusome said he believed the allocation of 2011 MSI funds should be tabled.
Mayor Lisa Constantini said “no other consulting firms would be interested as Dillon is the town’s subdivision advisor.”
Constantini, Martin and Councillor Josh Taylor voted in favour of spending the money on the study.
The decision about a proposed $70,000 expenditure from MSI capital funds for a public works building was delayed as council requested more information, including alternatives to house the Town’s winter equipment, be brought to a future meeting. The proposal was made to help keep winter equipment warm and ready to go on cold mornings.
