Town of Coaldale update to chamber

Town of Coaldale update

Town of Coaldale Coun. Jack Van Rijn offered Coaldale and District Chamber of Commerce members a few tidbits of information of what the town has been up to, during the chamber’s monthly meeting held Dec. 10.

One item of importance the town has been involved in is the flood Disaster Recovery Program.

“The disaster recovery program is going on right now, as far as funding for that,” said Van Rijn, during his report.

Coaldale residents affected by June flooding have until Jan. 26, 2015 to submit a claim. Paper work is available at the town office and more information is available on the town’s website at http://www.coaldale.ca.

Van Rijn noted the town received exciting news regarding the town joining up with the Gem of the West Museum.

“We moved our Community Services department over to the museum and we have an arts and culture co-ordinator there,” said Van Rijn, adding the co-ordinator will be looking after the day-to-day activities at the museum.

Van Rijn said the town wants to promote the Gem of the West Museum as a venue that continues to host business meetings, weddings and other social events.

“That’s exciting for the town and that also helps the museum society. With any volunteer group, everybody gets tired at some point. They’re having trouble keeping that going.”

According to Van Rijn, the yearly Family Day/Canada Day celebration held in Coaldale’s organizational committee will be working with the town’s community services department in 2015.

“They’re going to slowly phase out with the Town of Coaldale with community services taking over the Canada Day celebrations full-time,” said Van Rijn.

Van Rijn noted the interim budget was approved recently at a regular council meeting for 2015-2017.

“The capital portion of that budget will come to council in February some time for radification. As far as projects in the community — 19 Avenue is done now, except for some landscaping touch-ups and a few contractor deficiency repairs,” said Van Rijn.

Van Rijn added, on 24 Street going into Land-O-Lakes, the first layer of pavement has been completed with the rest of the project to be completed in the spring.

Free Shaw Go Wifi, Van Rijn said, is now available in community facilities throughout Coaldale including the curling rink, the arena, the Tot Lot, the community centre, the Hub, the seniors centre, the library, the Gem of the West Museum and the swimming pool.

“If you’re an existing Shaw customer you log into it for the first time and then anytime you’re in one of those facilities it will automatically switch onto the Wifi,” said Van Rijn.

For non-Shaw customers, Wifi is still available for free, after setting up a user account and logging in each time to utilize the service in Coaldale and in Lethbridge at Shaw Go Wifi locations.

Not including December, Van Rijn wrapped up his report by stating, the development summary for building construction in Coaldale is sitting at $25.1 million in total value. “With 151 permits being taken out to date.”

As for the town’s e-billing initiative, Van Rijn said the town has 2,400 accounts in Coaldale with only 447 signed up for the e-billing service. “It only takes five minutes to sign up. Right now, we’re spending over $1,600 a month in postage. It would be nice if we could get everybody on board for e-billing.”

The next Coaldale and District Chamber of Commerce meeting is scheduled to be held Jan. 14, 2015.

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