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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-05-19 Annual General Meeting (Annual General) MinutesCOUNTY OF NEWELL NO. 4 MINUTES OF ANNUAL MEETING MAY 19,201 1 The 2010 Annual Meeting of the County of Newell No. 4 was held at the Heritage Inn on Thursday, May 19, 2011 commencing at 7:09 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: M. Douglass, Reeve C. Amulung I. Schroeder A.M. Philipsen M. Nesbitt J. Bulger A. Eastman B. de Jong L. Juss OTHERS PRESENT: R. Havinga, Newell Regional Services Corp. P. Brouwer, MPE Engineering Ltd. R. Juska, NRSWMA E. Wilson, Eastern Irrigation District D. Shanks, Newell Recycling 20 Ratepayers STAFF PRESENT: K. Stephenson, Chief Administrative Officer M. Harbicht, Superintendent of Public Works T. Schroeder, Assistant Superintendent of Public Works T. Green, Agricultural Fieldman S. Christensen, Corporate Safety Services Supervisor R. Nesbitt, Corporate Safety Services Officer A. Wickert, Development Control Officer D. Horvath, County Planner - ORRSC D. Crapo, Information Technologist A. Nielsen, Executive Assistant R. Berkeley, Grader Operator (Div. 1) N. Berg, Grader Operator (Div. 9) MEDIA PRESENT: S. Stanway, Brooks Bulletin C. Lindsay, Brooks & County Chronicle M. Fitzgerald, The One J. Petrie, The One 24 ratepayers and media were in attendance for the 2010 Annual Meeting of the County of Newell No. 4. Reeve M. Douglass called the meeting to order at 7:09 p.m. Welcome & Introductions The Reeve welcomed everyone to the meeting and introduced the Councillors seated at each of the tables. 2. Approval of the Minutes of the 2009 Annual Meeting MOVED BY S. EVANS that the 2009 Annual Meeting minutes be adopted as presented. MOTION CARRIED 3. Presentation of 2010 Year End Audited Financial Statements The Chief Administrative Officer presented the 2010 Year End Audited Financial Statements and gave an overview of the major changes to assets, liabilities, and accumulated surplus. Tangible Capital Assets have increased by $27 million and the accumulated depreciation is $39 million. Reserves have decreased by $5 million due to these funds being allocated to capital projects. For detailed information on revenues and expenditures, he directed ratepayers to view the graphs provided in the Annual Report document. He displayed an overview of expenditures by object, indicating that general contract services and transfers to organizations are down. Annual General Meeting (May 19, 201 The Chief Administrative Officer displayed the County's assessment and mill rate compared against other Alberta municipalities, indicating that the County's mill rate is lower than average for farmland and higher than average for linear. He presented an overview of the 2011 Capital & Operating Budget, which was approved in December. The County of Newell will continue to focus on creating partnerships with neighboring municipalities and working together on projects of mutual benefit. He presented updates on current projects, including the paving plan, Regional Water, wastewater upgrades in Scandia, Rolling Hills, and Patricia, and the drainage partnership with the Eastern Irrigation District. He gave a brief progress report on the new County of Newell facilities, which is anticipated to be complete by March 2012. The County of Newell Water Project (CNWP), formerly known as the Rural Potable Water Distribution System, will begin in Division 8 in 2011. 4. Presentations a. Eastern Irrigation District E. Wilson provided background information on who is responsible for drainage in the County of Newell. Both parties have the jurisdiction to make improvements to natural drainage, but there is no obligation to provide drainage for every parcel. In most cases, the drainage systems alongside roads and in farmland are connected in some way. In the fall of 2010, County Council and the EID agreed to the creation of a three-year joint drainage plan. The process will begin with an evaluation of all drains, which will then be given a priority for rehabilitation. Each year, the list of drains to be completed will be reviewed by both County Council and the EID Board of Directors. He displayed a map showing the priority projects in Cassi/s, Scandia, Patricia, and Rolling Hills that they would like to complete in 2011. EID engineering staff will complete the survey and design work. Where required, the County will acquire right of way adjacent to the roads, and the EID will acquire right of way in farmland. The EID and hired equipment will complete the construction work. Both the County and the EID have committed $1 million per year for this project plus a contingency of $200, 000.00 for projects not identified. E. Wilson indicated that they anticipate being able to begin this project in early June and work on drains when they are not busy with canals. b. Newell Regional Services Corporation R. Havinga provided some history on the Newell Regional Services Corporation (NRSC), which has been in operation for 2.5 years and is comprised of members from the County of Newell, City of Brooks, Town of Bassano, and the Villages of Duchess, Rosemary, and Tilley. He reported that the Brooks Water Treatment Plant is nearly complete except for outside work. This plant has been operating since April 16, 2010 and produces water for Brooks and Tilley. The plant and transmission main system was designed by MPE Engineering Ltd. and is operating more efficiently than the previous plant. Currently, they are monitoring, tracking, and reporting raw water usage for each community through a SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system. There are two operators Annual General Meeting (May 19, 2011) running the plant for 8 hours each day. The other 16 hours are automated. Water samples are taken and lab work is performed daily. He reported that Tilley has been receiving treated water since October 2009, Lake Newell Resort was connected in January 2010, and Scandia, Rainier, and Rolling Hills were connected in April 2010. The water main to Patricia and Rosemary should be complete and connected by mid-July. He gave an overview of the operations of the NRSC water treatment plants and the duties of the operators, indicating that 7 water treatment plants will be decommissioned by the end of September. C. Newell Regional Solid Waste Management Authority R. Juska provided background information on the Newell Regional Solid Waste Management Authority (NRSWMA). He displayed a map showing transfer stations and recycling depots within the County. He then displayed an aerial view of the landfill site, noting the key areas including ponds and cells. Wind screens are in place to prevent garbage from blowing away and surveillance cameras are used to determine what trucks are hauling into the landfill. He displayed pictures of the new recycling building in Duchess and the transfer stations in Millicent, Rainier, and Tilley. R. Juska also noted that the NRSWMA will begin operating the landfill themselves in the near future and are in the process of obtaining equipment and hiring staff. d. Newell Recycling D. Shanks provided background information on Newell Recycling and displayed pictures of the recycling trailers in Duchess, Tilley, Rainier/Scandia, Rolling Hills, and Lake Newell Resort. He displayed photos of the new Newell Recycling building and gave an overview of the special needs work program. D. Shanks also reported that discussions have taken place regarding starting a blue box recycling program within the City of Brooks. D. Shanks opened the floor to questions. M. Harbicht inquired about recycling compact fluorescent light bulbs. D. Shanks replied that the bulb eater had been demonstrated during the trade show and that they have crushed approximately 1,600 bulbs since. He requested that bulbs be brought during the facility's operating hours so that they don't get broken and gave a short explanation on how the machine works. He also indicated that a -waste only covers computers and televisions. He gave an overview of other items that are accepted for recycling at their facility. e. Oldman River Regional Services Commission D. Horvath gave an overview of the Oldman River Regional Services Commission (ORRSC). This year, the County's Land Use Bylaw will be reviewed and updated as the document needs to stay relevant to the municipality's growth. The Land Use bylaw must also be an effective regulatory instrument that is in compliance with the policies of the municipality. She gave an explanation of the purpose of the Land Use Bylaw, the overall goals of which are to achieve orderly, economical, and beneficial land use, to maintain and improve the physical environment, and to implement the policies within the County's long-term planning documents. She gave an overview of the provincial requirements that Annual General Meeting (May 19, 2011) need to be incorporated in the Land Use Bylaw by the Municipal Government Act. The Land Use Bylaw Steering Committee began meeting in February and will continue to work towards a draft bylaw. There will be opportunities for public input in the Fall. 5. Question & Answer Period Reeve M. Douglass opened the floor for general discussion H. Dyck asked if anything could be done about the Telus lines that are dug up and left in ditches. Reeve M. Douglass replied that Telus had been present during a Council meeting and indicated that they have a limited budget to complete this work and that the County could pay to rebury the lines. However, Council feels that this is not the County's responsibility. She indicated that this is a province -wide issue. H. Dyck replied that reburying the Telus lines should be included in road construction if it is part of that. Reeve M. Douglass replied that sometimes even new lines are not buried. H. Dyck expressed concerns regarding spring flooding and the apparent lack of plan on the part of both the County and the EID for dealing with this. Reeve M. Douglass replied that the spring weather was unusual and will be considered a learning experience. H. Dyck indicated that drainage should be considered when roads are constructed and if a solution exists that does not adversely affect another area, it needs to be acted on. J. Hofer asked for a timeline when the Westside Water users group would be able to connect to the Rural Potable Water Distribution System (County of Newell Water Project), as the Chief Administrative Officer had indicated Lakeside is cutting off their water supply. The Chief Administrative Officer replied that he will consult with the Committee and have a letter sent out to confirm the anticipated construction date to the Westside Water Users. T. Doerksen commended the County on the projects they have been working on, particularly with improving the roads to non -banned status. He inquired about the status of the East Gem Road, which is on the schedule for two years from now, and whether the rural water project would affect the budget for paving. The Chief Administrative Officer gave an overview of paving funding and levies. Reeve M. Douglass indicated that the paving program would not to stop in favor of the Rural Potable Water Distribution System and that Gem was on the paving program for 2014. F. Allan inquired about the status of Range Road 14-5, which has an unpaved section in the middle where a pipeline crosses the road. The Superintendent of Public Works provided background information on the road. He indicated that the road is on the County's paving plan, but the City needs to be involved as the southern portion of Range Road 14-5 lies within city limits. A time frame has not been determined and funding sources need to be investigated. As there were no further general questions, Reeve M. Douglass encouraged any ratepayers with individual questions to visit with the various staff and/or Councillors available to obtain further information. 2 Annual General Meeting (May 19, 2011) Adjourn Reeve M. Douglass adjourned the meeting at 8:44 p.m. lllllllllllllllP� Sim F-11 I El TARY