The County of Wetaskiwin will help a condo community with streetlight costs, a decision made by council during their Public Works council meeting Oct. 22.
Director of Public Works Neil Powell brought the request from Village Lane Condos to council.
“Mr. Brent Gray, President of the Village Lane Condos (VLC) has submitted a letter of request for financial assistance with respect to electricity costs to operate streetlights within his condominium community.
“This financial assistance is not unprecedented as the County has contributory agreements with the Sunset Harbour condominium and the Village at Pigeon Lake.
“The compensation for each of these are set at $16 per streetlight per month. In the case of Sunset Harbour, they are compensated for 20 streetlights for an annual total of $3,840. The Sunset Harbour agreement is a five-year term and it is set to expire at the end of 2019.
“Included in his letter, Mr. Gray has provided historical operating (electricity) costs for years 2017 to 2019. In 2019, the total electricity bill was $2,883.54 for eleven streetlights.”
Powell noted in his memo to council the county has given this sort of help before. “As indicated, there is a precedence in which the County has provided financial assistance to offset streetlight electricity costs in these communities,” stated Powell.
“The request from Village Lane Condos is consistent with that of Sunset Harbour and the Village at Pigeon Lake (VPL), therefore it could be considered and treated similarly.”
Powell recommended councilors look “To assist in offsetting electricity costs, Administration recommends that Council direct Public Works to prepare a streetlight Contribution Agreement for Village Lane Condos at a rate of $18 per streetlight per month, for a five-year term 2020 to 2024. It is also recommended to prepare a new streetlight Contribution Agreement for Sunset Harbour at a similar rate and term. The agreement is specific to offset electricity costs only. The ongoing ownership, maintenance and future replacement of the streetlights resides with the condominiums.”
Councilors unanimously approved the recommendation.