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A Free Weekly Publication Serving All of Beaver County Wednesday, May 4, 16 2022, Volume 15, 15 Issue 18 7 Wednesday February 2022 Volume Issue
County pursuing program to take advantage of energy efficiency Patricia Harcourt Beaver County will continue to pursue the implementation of the Clean Energy Improvement Program (CEIP) after discussions April 20. A motion was passed that council direct administration regarding continued participation in CEIP including the formation of a county bylaw on this matter. Once this takes place, the county would ask for funding from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities to help with administrative costs. Ethan Forrest, finance intern, informed council that currently there are two municipalities running a CEIP program. “Beaver County is slated to start (CEIP) in the late summer or early fall,” he added. Deputy Reeve Hrabec (Division 3), who spearheaded the project in the county, noted that few small communities under 10,000 population are participating. “It would be quite innovative to be on the program,” he said, adding that he believed there would be “a real benefit at the base level for a program like this.” Hrabec said that, “the writing is on the wall” regarding federal govern-
ment expectations, who felt it would “be a benefit to local contractors.” “Does it have to be contracted out or can someone do (the work) themselves,” asked Division 4 Councillor Barry Bruce. Forrest replied that a person must apply through the program and the application approved, but he would have to check into Bruce’s question. When Division 2 Councillor Lionel Williams asked what kind of improvements qualify for the program, Forrest said: “Anything renewable energy,” referring to solar panels, high efficiency appliances, insulation, calling it “a pretty broad criteria.” However, one criteria a project must meet is that it improves the energy efficiency of the house. If someone wishes to buy a property which has been part of the program, the buyer also inherits the payments as they continue to reap the benefits of the improvements. Residents would pay the money borrowed from the program through an increase on the tax levy of the amount owed. And criteria is established regarding who is eligible to participate in the program, a move designed to
keep the number of people who can’t pay their debt to a minimum. Bruce wanted to the maximum allowed to borrow through the program, and Forrest answered that the county “can set a maximum on how high it wants it to be,” noting that “repayment can be over the life span of the improvement,” citing a new furnace as an example. These issues can be set out in the bylaw, he said, and the repayment period can be reduced if the county wishes to do that. Division 5 Councillor Dale Pederson wanted to know which municipalities are already on the program and how it was working out for them. The answer was Rocky Mountain House and Devon and “are doing well” as the first two communities doing this, said Forrest. Reeve Kevin Smook (Division 1) wanted to know if rental properties could participate, but Forrest said that only residential, non-residential and farmland properties are currently eligible. The program “hopes to open it up in the next couple of years,” he said. Bruce noted that the price of gas has tripled in the last year. “I see a real big incentive for people
starting to save money,” he said, on energy efficiency. “It could become popular very quickly.” In his report to council, Forrest stated: “The Municipal Government Act authorizes municipalities to establish a Clean Energy Improvement Program (CFEP) and borrow funds on behalf of participating landowners so that these taxpayers can initiate projects on their property that will increase energy efficiency or the use of renewable energy. “The project costs are tied to the property rather than the individual and these costs are collected through property taxes over an extended period of time.” The Alberta Municipal Services Corporation (AMSC), a subsidiary of Alberta Municipalities, is the program administrator and decides the types of improvements eligible for funding, plus a list of qualified contractors to do the work. Beaver County would have to enter into an agreement with AMSC to administer the program. The county’s primary responsibility is to obtain money to fund the program. The council has asked that the county go to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities as a source for this funding.
County Council accepts year-end audited statements Patricia Harcourt Beaver County Council met with MNP LLP auditors to peruse the 2021 financial statements together at the county’s April 27 regular meeting. Attending the meeting were Benji WaserTahner Bower, who made a power point presentation during the presentation. Questions and discussion came up about whether or not to include amortization, which Reeve Kevin Smook (Division 1) said “comes up every year…If you take (amortiza-
tion) out it changes the bottom line,” making that $2.7 million under budget. “Why not include it so it comes out balanced?” asked Deputy Reeve Gene Hrabec (Division 3). “Some municipalities do,” came the response, suggesting that administration could look to see if it could be included “so it lines up better” budget-wise. But Director of Finance Ed Bujownicz said the county does its calculations “In accordance with generally accepted municipal practices,”
which comes from the guidance of Municipal Affairs. And Legislative officer Margaret Jones (Assistant CAO), cited to council the section of the Municipal Government Act “which says amortization is not included,” she said. Council heard that salaries, wages and benefits make up 28 per cent of the budget, and that uncollectable taxes amounts have improved - from 3.3% of taxes in 2019, to 3.2% in 2020, and then down to 2.7% in 2021. There has also been a “significant increase in deferred revenue,” or
$988,000. This is mostly attributable to Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI) funding being carried over as capital funding to help out in future years when that source of revenue is dropped by the province. Council also heard that net financial assets were up over 2019, and the county had an accumulated surplus of $82 million as of December 31, 2021. Council agreed to accept the audited statements as presented on a motion by Division 5 Councillor Dale Pederson.