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$600,000 in provincial funding to help upgrade Town of Cochrane technology

"Without it, work continues to be challenging in some cases people are not able to work remotely," Van Keimpema said. "We could have done this gradually over time, we needed to anyway, [but] COVID has put an urgency to it because people are working remotely."
Town of Cochrane
Town of Cochrane. File Photo

COCHRANE— Council approved the use of a provincial grant to upgrade the technical equipment for the Town of Cochrane to ensure staff are able to continue successfully working remotely.

The Town has earmarked $600,000 from the Municipal Operating Support Transfer Grant [MOST] for the purchase and installation of needed technology to create a more permanent, reliable and secure remote working solution. The funds include the costs of securing a contractor for the installation of equipment.

"We do have the urgent need for a project to help support remote work— There is room within the MOST grant to fund that," said Katherine Van Keimpema, senior manager of corporate services. "Staff have been working remotely per the Alberta Health Services recommendations and are finding solutions to make that possible ... The need to work remotely is expected to continue for some time and we, therefore, can't keep McGyvering solutions."

During the pandemic, many Town staff members have been working from home. This has created a strain on the Town’s existing information technology systems, Van Keimpema said. The need for new equipment has become critical given the expectation that remote working is expected to continue for the foreseeable future.

Van Keimpema said temporary solutions have been found to provide the equipment and systems needed for remote work, but they have proven to be incomplete, often unreliable and have placed a significant strain on existing IT systems.

She noted the current IT system is already two to three times older than its reliable operating life, many are no longer supported by vendors, current virtual desktops cannot fully support remote work and the telephone system is antiquated and at risk of failure.

The new equipment will be able to be used remotely and in-person once it is installed.

The upgrades to equipment would have happened regardless, Van Keimpema said, and the Municipal Operating Support Transfer Grant means the project can take place with no deficit for the Town.

"Without it, work continues to be challenging in some cases people are not able to work remotely," Van Keimpema said. "We could have done this gradually over time, we needed to anyway. COVID has put an urgency to it because people are working remotely."

Originally council approved the use of $1.5 million from reserves to offset revenue and expense impacts of COVID-19. An additional $18,000 was drawn from election and orientation operating reserves to upgrade Council chambers and support live-streaming technology.

The Municipal Operating Support Transfer Grant will allow these funds to be left in the reserves.

A $2,969,559 provincial grant was provided to the Town of Cochrane via the Municipal Operating Support Transfer Grant. The grant is designed to help municipalities mitigate COVID-19 related expenses, increased staffing and labour costs, lost revenue and funds distributed to others.

Funds from the Municipal Operating Support Transfer Grant must be spent by March 31. The grant has been active since April 1. 

To date the Town has estimated that $2,072,000 in revenue shortfalls and expenses have occurred due to the pandemic— These include $307,000 in COVID-19 related expenses, $975,000 in lost revenue, $40,000 in increased staffing and labour costs and $750,000 in funds distributed to others.

Mayor Jeff Genung said the "modernization of an antiquated system" was inevitable for the Town, and he appreciated the grant could be utilized to do so.

"This is not adding burden to our finances," Genung said.

Councillor Tara McFadden praised the project for upgrading the Towns' technological system using provincial grant funding.

"It's a good way to take advantage of the grant and fill some gaps in our organization," McFadden said.

 
 
 
 
 
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