Strathmore Town Council has approved sending money to create a capital reserve fund for the Wheatland Housing Management Body.
WHMB sent Strathmore a request for funding on June 28, claiming that municipalities under the body are legally obligated to pay expenses under the Alberta Housing Act. A proposed response to the letter was discussed at Wednesday's (Oct. 16) council meeting.
The letter approves the request for money and asks that some funds be set aside to pay to replace the roof of the existing Wheatland Lodge. The cost of the replacement would be around $580,000, with the town completing payment for the repairs earlier this year.
"We would like to propose options that balance the best interests of taxpayers while respecting the requirements in the provincial legislation," wrote the Town of Strathmore in the proposed letter.
The majority of council approved signing the letter, with councillor Brent Wiley being the only one to oppose it.
"I would prefer if it was up to us. We would be 100 per cent accountable to the money from taxpayers, and there's just no process for cancelling this reserve once it's established," said Wiley. "In my preference, we would still set up a reserve for the housing management to protect our interests and capital investments, but I would be in total control of it on council."
Councillor Denise Peterson responded to Wiley's comments, stating that the legal requirement to pay expenses is ordered by the provincial government.
"I think that the housing management body would always take into consideration concerns from the member's municipalities," said Peterson. "They have a long history of sitting around that table listening to concerns from member's municipalities."
Peterson added that WHMB has the right and legislative requirements to make the requisitions to carry out their work. Peterson and councillor Richard Wegener also serve as board members for WHMB.
Mayor Pat Fule and Councillor Debbie Mitzner were absent from the meeting, with Wiley serving as deputy mayor.