Red Deer Minute: Budget Challenges, Road Work, and a New Arena Chiller

Red Deer Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Red Deer politics

This Week In Red Deer:

• The Public Art Commission will meet on Wednesday at 5:00 pm to discuss an update on public art repairs.
  
  
• Council is grappling with a tough budget challenge, needing to find or cut about $20 million to balance the City's finances. The City is facing a deficit, leaving Council to review City services and consider raising property taxes and utility fees. Concerns are growing about the City's reserve funds, which are depleting faster than they can cover unexpected needs. A report on service priorities will be presented in September, and public input will continue this fall. The simplest way to resolve this challenge would be for the City to get back to focusing on the basics. If you agree, please sign our petition demanding City Hall accept that Red Deer Must Get Back To Basics.
  
  
• Starting today, crews will work on Barrett Drive to replace catch basins, repair sidewalks and curbs, and rehabilitate pavement between Bannerman Close and the Bower Mall east entrance. The work is due to finish on September 30th, depending on the weather, and will be completed in stages. Traffic will be intermittently disrupted, with detours and flag persons in place to manage flow.

Last Week In Red Deer:

• Red Deer Food Bank made significant improvements to enhance accessibility for clients. The facility now features new sidewalks, ramps, and accessible doors, and plans to introduce software and Android devices to aid clients with language, sight, hearing, and cognitive challenges. Grants from Food Bank Canada and the Red Deer & District Community Foundation funded the physical upgrades and new communication tools.
  
  
• Council quickly approved $350,000 for a new chiller at the Kinsmen Arenas. The existing chiller's replacement was an urgent matter - delaying the decision could have delayed the arena's opening this fall. Without it, Red Deer could start the season with only four other indoor rinks. In the event something goes sideways and the Kinsmen rinks can't open on time, City staff are working on rescheduling ice time and exploring temporary solutions like renting a chiller or arranging with Westerner Park and Red Deer Polytechnic for rink use.
  
  
• In July, Red Deer saw a significant increase in building permit values, with 115 permits issued totaling $17.4 million, compared to 92 permits worth $6 million in July 2023. Year-to-date, the 2024 permit values have reached $80 million, up from $45 million at the same time last year. Notable permits include a $10 million parkade expansion at Red Deer Regional Hospital, $1.4 million for crane foundations and mechanical upgrades at 110, 129 Queens Drive, and $1.15 million for building envelope upgrades at 3814, 55 Avenue.

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