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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-11-21 Council (Regular) Minutes COUNTY OF NEWELL MINUTES OF REGULAR COUNCIL November 21, 2019 The regular Council Meeting of the County of Newell was held in the County Office on Thursday, November 21, 2019 commencing at 10:17 a.m. MEMBERS M. Douglass, Reeve PRESENT: COUNCILLORS: C. Amulung H. Kallen A.M. Philipsen W. Hammergren T. Fyfe K. Christman E. Unruh B. de Jong L. Juss STAFF: K. Stephenson, Chief Administrative Officer L. Johnson, Director of Corporate Services M. Jackson, Supervisor of Planning & Development T. Green, Director of Agricultural Services A. Nielsen, Executive Assistant OTHERS IN B. Parker, Brooks Bulletin ATTENDANCE: G. Farnden, STARS J. Morris, STARS 1. CALL TO ORDER Reeve M. Douglass called the meeting to order at 10:17 a.m. 2. EXCUSED FROM MEETING All members were in attendance at this meeting. 3. ADOPTION OF MINUTES 3.1 Minutes - Council (November 7, 2019) C-375/19 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR LIONEL JUSS that the Council Meeting minutes be adopted as presented. MOTION CARRIED 4. CALL FOR POST AGENDA ITEMS Reeve M. Douglass called for post agenda items. � � � U�, Regular Council November21,2019 5. ADOPTION OF AGENDA C-376/19 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR ELLEN UNRUH that the agenda be adopted as amended. MOTION CARRIED 6. QUESTION PERIOD/NOTICE OF MOTION A question period and notice of motion was held. No County Ratepayers were in attendance. 7. BYLAWS 7.1 Bylaw 1956-19 Road Closure & LEASE (NW 24-23-18-W4 &SW 24-23-18-W4) The Supervisor of Planning & Development provided background information on this item and responded to questions from Council. C-377/19 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR KELLY CHRISTMAN that Bylaw 1956-19, being a bylaw for the purpose of closing to public travel and LEASING that portion of road allowance adjacent to the west boundary of NW 24-23-18-W4 and adjacent to the west boundary of SW 24-23-18-W4 be given SECOND reading. MOTION CARRIED C-378/19 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR TRACY FYFE that Bylaw 1956-19 be given THIRD and FINAL reading. MOTION CARRIED 7.2 Bylaw 1957-19 Road Closure 8� LEASE (SW 17-16-16-W4 &SW 20-16-16-W4) The Supervisor of Planning & Development provided background information on this item and responded to questions from Council. C-379/19 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR LIONEL JUSS that Bylaw 1957-19, being a bylaw for the purpose of closing to public travel and LEASING that portion of road allowance adjacent to the west boundary of SW 20-16-16-W4 and adjacent to the west boundary of SW 17- 16-16-W4, be given SECOND reading. MOTION CARRIED C-380/19 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR ANNE MARIE PHILIPSEN that Bylaw 1958-19 be given THIRD and FINAL reading. MOTION CARRIED LEFT THE MEETING M. Jackson left the meeting at 10:22 a.m. � �� �. . Page 2 of 8 Regular Council November21,2019 9. AGRICULTURAL SERVICES BUSINESS 9.1 Agricultural Fieldman's Report(November 2019) The Director of Agricultural Services presented the Agricultural Fieldman's Report to Council. Council was given the opportunity to ask questions. 9.2 ASB Provincial Conference (January 21-24, 2020) The Director of Agricultural Services provided background information on this item, indicating that the early bird registration deadline is December 15, 2019. Council was given the opportunity to ask questions. It was noted that the ASB Provincial Conference conflicts with the January 23, 2020 MPC and Council meetings. C-381/19 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR KELLY CHRISTMAN that the Municipal Planning Commission and Council meetings scheduled for January 23, 2020 be CANCELLED. MOTION CARRIED C-382/19 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR WAYNE HAMMERGREN that Councillor T. Fyfe and Councillor B. de Jong be the voting members for the County of Newell Agricultural Service Board at the 2020 ASB Provincial Conference. MOTION CARRIED 9.1 Agricultural Fieldman's Report(November 2019)—continued The Director of Agricultural Services responded to further questions from Council. C-383/19 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR LIONEL JUSS that the Agricultural Fieldman's Report for November 2019 be accepted as presented. MOTION CARRIED LEFT THE MEETING T. Green left the meeting at 10:36 a.m. 10. ADMINISTRATIVE BUSINESS 10.1 Graphics Standards Policy The Executive Assistant provided background information on this item and responded to questions from Council. Discussion followed. C-384/19 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR BRIAN DE JONG that Policy 2019-PAD-061 (Graphics Standards) be adopted as presented. MOTION CARRIED 4 � `....... Page 3 of 8 Regular Council November 21,2019 10.2 Councillor Payment Sheets (October 2019) Councillor 8. de Jong requested that his entry for the Bassano Dam Spillway Grand Opening event be adjusted to match that of other Councillors. C-385/19 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR KELLY CHRISTMAN that the October 2019 Councillor Payment Sheets be accepted with the amendments recommended by the Councillor Compensation Review Committee. � MOTION CARRIED 10.3 Cheques for Payment C-386/19 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR TRACY FYFE that cheque 187586 in the amount of $2,328,622.37 be APPROVED. MOTION CARRIED 10.4 Payment Register C-387/19 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR TRACY FYFE that the Payment Register be accepted. MOTION CARRIED 11. COMMITTEE REPORTS 11.1 Joint Services Committee There was no Joint Services Committee held in November 2019. 11.2 Airport Commission The automated weather observation system equipment has been sold. Councillor L. Juss responded to questions from Council. 11.3 Safe Communities Committee The Safe Communities Coordinator position has been posted. The next meeting will be held in January. 11.4 Rural Crime Watch The next Rural Crime Watch convention will be held in Grand Prairie on February 21-22, 2020. The Annual General Meeting will be held in Brooks on January 25, 2020. Other items discussed were membership drives at hockey games and summer rodeos and fundraising through a casino night. The next Rural Crime Watch meeting will be held on December 9, 2019. A report on safe injection sites will be presented at a future meeting. �t� ` `���� Page 4 of 8 Regular Council November 21,2019 11.5 Grasslands Regional FCSS While FCSS funding remains the same, many partners are facing reduced funding, such as the SPEC Links program. Councillor C. Amulung provided further details. ARRIVED AT MEETING G. Farnden arrived at 10:46 a.m. 11.6 Newell Regional Services Corporation The budget was discussed and NRSC will be continuing with the standard 5 cent increase to cover inflation and allow for more competitive wages. ARRIVED AT MEETING J. Morris arrived at 10:48 a.m. Councillor C. Amu/ung provided an update on estimated reserves for the end of the year. 11.7 Palliser Economic Partnership Councillor W. Hammergren and Councillor B. de Jong attended a meeting where dark fibre was discussed. A regional representative of the Canadian Radio- television and Te/ecommunications Commission was in attendance and provided information, indicating that partnerships are key in proceeding with this project. Discussion followed. 11.8 Brooks Parks, Recreation & Culture Board There is still an open position for a member-at-large for the County. The board will be looking at doing another ten-year master plan for recreation starting in 2020 as many of the items identified in the 2010 plan have been comp/eted. Items to be considered include adding a BMX bike park to the skateboard park, twinning the Centennial Regional Arena, and adding more walking paths. Joint Use Agreements with the schoo/s will also be reviewed. 11.9 Shortgrass Library The annual election has been held. D. Kilpatrick has been elected Chair, K. Christman has been elected Vice Chair, and C. Widmer has been elected Treasurer. Councillor K. Christman distributed the plan of service and reported that the 2020 budget has been passed with a 2% decrease. nI �# �,I V Page 5 of 8 Regular Council November21,2019 8. DELEGATIONS 8.1 STARS G. Farnden thanked Council for their continued support. She provided an overview of revenues and expenditures for 2019, noting that the 10-year affiliation agreement with Alberta Health Services expires next year and STARS is currently in discussions with the provincial government to determine how to proceed. G. Farnden gave an overview of fundraising efforts, which include the annual lottery, calendar sa/es, and the site registration program. She displayed a map showing STARS municipal partners within A/berta. She a/so provided statistics for critical care missions flown in the past five years within the County and surrounding area. G. Farnden also gave an explanation of the f/eet and training program. J. Morris gave an overview of the equipment in the helicopter. Council was given the opportunity to ask questions. J. Morris and G. Farnden responded to guestions regarding financial reserves, indicating that funds collected are going towards the purchase of two helicopters. J. Morris responded to questions regarding the services provided by STARS and HALO, indicating that STARS has critical care expertise. G. Farnden responded to questions regarding the service area and operating costs. G. Farnden and J. Morris responded to further questions from Council. LEFT THE MEETING . G. Farnden and J. Morris left the meeting at 11:39 a.m. 11. COMMITTEE REPORTS —continued 11.10 Community Response Committee Councillor 8. de Jong reported that he attended on beha/f of Reeve M. Douglass. Committee members participated in a round table discussion to provide updates and outline challenges. It was noted that there has been an increase in issues relating to menta/ health and addictions. The Medicine Hat College is facing a reduction in funding. English as a second language services will focus on its application to a workplace setting. Reeve M. Douglass provided further information. 11.11 Reeve's Report The Annual Christmas Open House will be held at City Hall on December 18, 2019 from 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. and the annual Joint Municipalities Meeting with MP M. Shields and MLA M. G/asgo will be held in Bassano starting at 6:00 p.m. The CP Rail Holiday Train is a/so passing through the County on December 18, 2019. Fortis Alberta's annual Charity Christmas Breakfast is scheduled for December 5, 2019. .�� � ��J Page 6 of 8 Regular Council November 21,2019 10. ADMINISTRATIVE BUSINESS —continued 10.5 Requests for Functions of Council The Director of Corporate Services provided information regarding a meeting of the Southern Alberta Energy from Waste Association on November 22, 2019. Councillor L. Juss indicated that he would be attending. 12. POST AGENDA ITEMS 12.1 Letter from Ratepayer-"Alberta First" Resolution (Wheatland County) Discussion followed regarding a letter from a County ratepayer asking for the County's stance on the "Alberta First" resolution passed by Wheatland County Council. C-388/19 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR KELLY CHRISTMAN that Council acknowledges receipt of the letter received from Ronald Hazelwood regarding Wheatland County's "Alberta First" resolution, and he will be kept up to date on further discussions that Council may have on the issues raised in his correspondence. MOTION CARRIED 12.2 Request to Consider Submitting a Resolution to Rural Municipalities of Alberta Discussion followed regarding the request by a ratepayer to submit a resolution to the RMA that was discussed during the September 5, 2019 Council Meeting. The Chief Administrative Officer provided an update, indicating that the Minister of Municipal Affairs had been made aware of the request for more public input in the amalgamation process. Discussion followed. C-389/19 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR TRACY FYFE that a letter be sent to the Minister of Municipal Affairs confirming the points discussed during the November 13, 2019 meeting with the Minister regarding suggested amendments to the Municipal Government Act that would allow more public input into the dissolution/amalgamation process; further, that a copy of the letter be sent to D. Stabbler. MOTION CARRIED 13. INFORMATION ITEMS 13.1 Mini Bus Monthly Report(October 2019) This item was accepted as information. 13.2 Strategic Priorities Chart This item was accepted as information. ��.-�£ ''' v Page 7 of 8 Regular Council November 21,2019 13.3 Upcoming Community Events Council was provided a form to submit information for upcoming events in their community. 14. IN CAMERA There were no in camera items to discuss at this meeting. 15. ADJOURN Being that the agenda matters have been concluded, the meeting adjourned at 12:05 p.m. , Signed this�day of �`"�^-��vY-�� 2019 ��. 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