Financial report updates fiscal half-way point
SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — Deputy Mayor Norma McColeman presented the City of Summerside's monthly financial report on Tuesday. The report focused on the city's finances at the half-way point of the fiscal year.
Currently, the city is showing a shortfall in the August operating results - this can be partially explained by the timing of the municipality's revenues and expenditures throughout the year. In this case, neither the revenues or expenses line up with the last day of each month.
On an upside, the city's electric utility is experiencing better than expected commercial and industrial electric sales while seeing lower than expected purchase costs.
Capital spending overall is below target - but this is not necessarily attributable to a specific project. As of the end of August, $3.3 million was spent on capital expenditures. The budget is $3.5 million.
Audit service tender awarded
The City of Summerside has reappointed Grant Thorton LLP as the city's auditors for 2019-2020. They will continue the service provided that performance and fees continue to be satisfactory, until replaced by council. Four companies applied for the service: BDO Canada, Deloitte, Grant Thorton, and MRSB Charted Accountants. Deloitte's bid was not evaluated as it was submitted past deadline.
The audit fee quoted by Grant Thorton was $30,000 plus applicable taxes (325 hours) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2020. Past contracts have ranged from $30,000 to $32,000.
Culture Summerside fundraiser looming
Wyatt Heritage Properties has set the date for its signature fundraiser. The Draw of Art will be held on Nov. 21, with approximately 35 participants given the opportunity to purchase a ticket to secure an original artwork donated by a local artist. The contest runs on luck of the draw and who gets to pick their favourite piece first. There will be food and music. Tickets are $100.
For more information contact Lori Ellis at Culture Summerside.
City of Summerside recognized for innovation
The City of Summerside was recently recognized as one of the Global Cities furthering Innovation through building ecosystems. The municipality was awarded an Ecosystem Bet Practice Award as part of the global innovation challenge sponsored by the United Nations International Telecommunications Union for its work through the Living Labs program. The Global Challenge sought best practices that enable innovators to develop ICT-centric solutions (Innovative Communication Technology Centred Solutions) that can be recognized globally and scaled. Other countries that have been recognized include Brazil, Moldova, South Africa, Ghana, Mexico, Switzerland, Rumania, United Arab Emirates, Pakistan and Chile.
Summerside Police Services September occurrences
The Summerside Police Service had 530 calls for service in September. Here's how it breaks down:
- 530 – Calls for service
- 14 – Traffic accidents
- 27 – Reported crimes of assaults and threats
- 50 – Theft reports
- 4 – Impaired driving offences
- 75 – Highway traffic offences
- 102 – Parking tickets issued
- 14 – Parking warnings issued
- 5 – Break and enter reports (business and residential)
Summerside Fire Department September occurrences
The city's fire department received 75 calls for assistance during September, here's how it breaks down:
- 7 – Medical First Responder calls
- 2 – Structure fires
- 15 – Alarm panel calls
- 33 – Electrical fires
- 10 – Miscellaneous calls
- 3 – Smoke complaints
- 3 – Mulch fires
- 1 – Cancelled call
- 1 – False alarm
Highlights from the municipal services department
September was busy for the City of Summerside's Municipal Services Department. For starters, the department acquired a used street sweeper machine that has been operating for four weeks.
Public works crews are currently performing annual fire hydrant maintenance and flushing. There are approximately 634 fire hydrants in the city to maintain.
Asphalt and roadway maintenance is nearly complete for the year and snow clearing equipment for the coming winter is being readied.
The wastewater treatment plant biosolids warehouse has been emptied for the fall application to the farmers for fertilizer and the sewage treatment lagoon is being measured for sludge depth this month to gauge any maintenance requirements before dredging.
Part of the department's monthly report also featured general operation statistics from the water and sewers utilities, here's how it breaks down:
- 24 – water samples were taken with clear of bacteria
- 18 – chlorination sample were taken, all within parameters
- 9 – water turn on and offs for customers
- 3 – water main breaks on Ottawa Street, Convent/Granville intersection and Notre Dame Street
- 2 – Water service laterals were repaired
- 2 – Sewer lateral videos occurred this month
- 5 – Sewer calls this month
- 314,127 – cubic metres of sewer effluent was treated, all within regulated parameters
- 202, 513 gallons of septage received to the plant from outlying areas (servicing the county)
Highlights from the Electric Services Department
Repairs to various components of the city's electric utility follow hurricane Dorian are ongoing or completed. A number of repairs on the city's power plant roof have been completed.
Repairs at Summerside's solar farm have been completed after a panel blew off the structure due to Dorian. Also, the wind farm turbines are scheduled for repair due to a cracked blade and blown transformer for October. Two turbines will be inoperable until then. Part of the department's monthly report also featured general operation statistics from the electric utility, here's how it breaks down:
- 28.5 per cent – of the city's electricity came from wind power in September (this is while two turbines were out of operation due to Dorian)
- 8 – Hours of generator run hours
- 3 – New electric customers energized this month
- 1 – Electrical service upgrade
- 417 – Heat for Less units throughout the city
