The Municipality will charge $4,185 per memorial bench for a 15-year term after council approved a new formalized program on Tuesday (March 17).

Applicants can renew for another 15 years after paying a $450 maintenance fee. Those who choose not to purchase a new bench will be able to put a plaque on a reused one for $1,185.

“Overall, the goal of the program is to continue providing residents with a meaningful way to commemorate loved ones while ensuring the program is financially sustainable and operationally manageable for the Municipality,” said Courtney Donaldson, the Municipality of Jasper’s director of operations and utilities, during last week’s meeting.

For years, the municipality operated an informal memorial bench program where people could purchase a bench and plaque to place throughout town. This program did not include clear policies around eligibility, installation or long-term maintenance responsibilities.

Donaldson said administration paused the program since it was becoming more difficult to manage and estimated there were 80 existing memorial benches. Replacing or significantly refurbishing one could cost $2,000 per bench every five to 10 years, which she said had left the Municipality with a “growing financial obligation.”

The new formalized program outlines application procedures, installation standards, ownership and maintenance responsibilities. It also transitions to a FireSmart bench design.

“A key component is going to be transitioning the program to more of a cost-recovery model so that commemorative installations are not as subsidized as heavily by the Municipality,” Donaldson said.

While administration initially suggested also offering terms of five and 10 years, councillors noted people with shorter terms would still pay the same amount for a bench, with only slightly lower maintenance fees. Someone could then reuse the bench after only five years by paying just $350 for a new plaque plus a maintenance fee.

“I just wondered if it would be perceived as unfair to the public,” said Coun. Kathleen Waxer during this week’s meeting.

Coun. Laurie Rodger agreed that five years was too short.

“If we made the requirement that all benches were 15 years, at the end of 15 years, whoever paid for it in the first place has got their money’s worth,” Rodger said.

Council ultimately simplified the fee schedule by removing the term options and combining the cost of a bench, plaque and maintenance.

Under the eligibility requirements, the individual being commemorated must have lived within Jasper National Park for a combined total of at least 10 years or made a significant contribution to the community.

Benches will remain municipal property and cannot be relocated or altered once installed. If someone decides not to renew after 15 years, the plaque will be removed. Administration is also exploring how to transition the existing 80 legacy benches into the program. 

The program also allows for the memorial trees, which Jasper currently does not have. These trees must be selected from an approved species list provided by Parks Canada. The municipality will guarantee the tree for at least five years and will replace it, if needed.

Utliity repairs, parking bylaw, JMHC appointment

Council awarded Ovivo Water a contract for replacing the primary clarifier’s rake arm at the wastewater treatment plant. The amount is not to exceed $717,000.

The repairs could take up to six months and will be funded through reserves.

The primary clarifier, which failed last November, is responsible for solids separation prior to secondary treatment. Operating without it puts more strain on downstream processes and increases the risk during higher flow periods, administration warned.

Council also gave two readings to a revised parking authority bylaw, which allows developers to give money to the Municipality in lieu of providing on-site parking spaces.

Changes include removing the 140-stall cap, adjusting the pricing to $9,820 per stall and expanding the permitted use of revenues to support broader transportation infrastructure.

In addition, council appointed Jasperite Irish Caunceran to the board of directors for the Jasper Municipal Housing Corporation. Her term will last one year until March 2027.

Peter Shokeir, Local Journalism Initiative // info@thejasperlocal.com