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Reeve’s Message
January 2013

The new Vulcan County website is now up and running.  We are proud of this endeavor and are confident that it serves the needs of those that visit.  Please visit often for updates of information that may be of interest.
The backbone of this County is Agriculture.  By all accounts the crops this year were above average for those that missed the hail.  2012 is the first year since the ‘30’s in which farmers have been able to sell their Wheat and Barley as if they actually own the commodity that they have labored to produce.  It has been a long time coming and I’m sure that this event will be a defining moment in the lives of those of us that make a living feeding the world.  Prices ain’t too bad either.
I have been allowed this portion of the new website in order to update the folks that pay the freight in this County.  That being said, the most important policy document that County Council approves in any given year is the budget.  I’m proud to say that Council has approved the 2013 budget as of December 19th.  Our Chief Administrative Officer has laid out a document that is easy to follow and understand.  Therefore, Council was able to agree to budget issues within two meetings.  That’s kind of unheard of.
At any rate…highlights of the 2013 budget include:

Road Rehabilitation

County Council has once again agreed to 40 miles of rehab to those roads that have been punched out and flattened.  Reshaping and adding a crown again saves these roads until a rebuild can be completed.  The cost for road rehab is $750,000.00.

Road Reconstruction

The road construction crew will be attempting 10 miles again this year.  Weather is usually the only thing that keeps the crew from achieving the 10 mile goal.  Reconstruction of roads takes about $100,000.00 per mile – therefore about $1,000,000.00 for this annual project.

Equipment Replacement

The County owns two motor scrapers used for road construction.  They are both over 20 years old.  Council has agreed to replace the oldest machine this year at a cost of $800,000.00.
We will be replacing two divisional graders this year at a cost of $640,000.00.
There are 2 Tri-Axle belly dump gravel trailers requested, and one Tri-Axle 35’ end dump trailer.  Also, a 55 Ton 16 wheeler drop deck lowbed trailer.  Cost for these items is $300,000.00.

Protective Services

This Department has also received a good “shot in the arm”.  Vulcan County Council is taking services that fall under this umbrella very seriously.  The training facility for firefighters is pretty much finished.  That facility was funded in 2012.  Now, some paving and fencing and landscaping are required around the building for a cost of $200,000.00. 
Replacement of turnout gear for the firefighters is another $100,000.00. 
Training our fire personnel and outfitting them so that all equipment is interchangeable is high on the priority list for the County.

New Bay at the Shop

As Vulcan County will now be the fire department within our borders, we will also be taking on the responsibility of maintaining those vehicles on a regular basis.  With that in mind, Council has agreed to an addition to the County Shop that will become a fire/rescue bay.  This will accommodate additional work on emergency vehicles. Stocking parts for these vehicles will be an important next step.  The intent of Council is to have a fire truck in surplus that will be sent to the area that is having their equipment serviced or worked on, so that there is never a moment when full protective service is not available.  The cost for the addition is $300,000.00.      

Communications Tower

The County has a communications tower situated in the Buffalo Hills that is in need of replacement.  The cost is $90,000.00.

Agriculture Services Equipment Replacement

Agriculture Services are also replacing a couple of their units.  A 2 Ton spray truck, a spray unit for that truck and a pickup that is 20 years old.  The cost for those items is $115,000.00.

In Summary

The numbers above represent the bigger expenditures.  Total expenses for the 2013 budget are $21,908,873.00.  There has not been an increase in the general County mill rate in order to achieve this budget.  Operating funds, reserves and grants have been used for financing, as well as increases in Fire and Recreation levies in some areas, (some areas will see a slight decrease).  Staying financially viable and remaining financially conservative are priorities of this Council.

Other Points That May Be Of Interest

Recreation

In 2011, Vulcan County became aware that the recreation agreements that have been in place since 1984 are antiquated and out-dated.  The County accepts full responsibility for this oversight. 
A review of the agreements has taken place and a new version has been vetted through our legal counsel.  Currently, those recreation agreements are being signed by the Town and Villages of the six different recreation areas, and will be complete by January 31 of 2013.  Also, because Cultural events cannot be funded through a Recreation Levy, it became necessary for the Recreation Boards to complete a different set of forms in order for Council consideration of funding both Recreation and Culture in the communities.  Cultural funding comes out of general revenue which all County taxpayers foot the bill for. 
Council is pleased with the outcome of the new process for requesting funding.  I’m sure that the first year of this process was a little overwhelming for the Boards, but it has certainly streamlined the budget process for Recreation and Culture Countywide.  I take this opportunity to thank those volunteers that made the method of approving funding a simpler task.

Regional Fire Services

For over a year the County has been considering becoming the fire department within our borders.  That concept has indeed become a reality.  The Fire Associations, the Town and the Villages have been part of the long discussion process which took place in order to make a change such as this. Council is happy with the results.  Similar equipment, similar training and up to the minute maintenance will ensure the protection of people and property within the entire County.

Integrated Community Sustainability Plan

County Council has already approved a Strategic Plan.  In late 2012, Council approved its Integrated Community Sustainability Plan (ICSP).   The ICSP is more inwardly focused on the sustainability of Vulcan County as an individual entity, unlike a strategic plan, which deals with internal, external and inter-municipal issues.  The County’s expected grant from the Federal Excise Gas Tax is about $1,000.000.00 which is to be used for transportation improvement throughout the area. Every municipality in the province has the exact same opportunity to obtain and develop their own ICSP and to receive their own federal gas tax funding and Council is proud of the document that has been produced.

Meetings with the Ministers

County Council talked with several Ministers within government while in Edmonton at the Fall Convention. 
- We talked with the Agriculture Minister about a program that has been in effect for 60 years, that the Federal Government is about to walk away from, that being the Shelter Belt program.  Our Council is concerned that the planting of trees for shelter will become obsolete…when this practice is what saved a lot of the prairies after the dust bowls of the ‘30’s.  The Deputy Minister of Agriculture called me in mid-December and advised us that the Federal Government is extending the application process for a third party to take over the tree nursery that fed this program.  So, as it turns out, we may still have the program…but with a small cost for the seedlings. 
- The Council of the MD of Foothills and Vulcan County’s Council met with the Minister of Environment.  The two Municipalities share an extraordinary aquifer with tremendous quantity and quality that is located in the Blackie area.  Environment has already licenced use of this water on two occasions, that being the then Village of Blackie as well as a feedlot in Vulcan County.  Because we live in a closed water basin, access to new water for development is not available.  However, if a source of water from the ground was obtainable, it could create a unique opportunity to offer development in the area with fresh water available.  Environment agreed that they don’t know as much about ground water sources and refresh rates as they would like to and have committed to undertake the task of assisting in examining and understanding this water source. 
- The Deputy Reeve, our Administrator and myself met with the Minister of Health on the 17th of December in Edmonton.  Discussions revolved around Ambulance and Dispatch issues.  We also talked about the lack of assisted living beds in our County. 

This message is long, but hopefully contains information that taxpayers may find of interest.   I will be updating throughout the year when important issues and decisions are being discussed by Council.  For breaking news and up to the minute notices, just click the “What’s New” button on our homepage.