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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-04-27 Annual General Meeting (Annual General) MinutesThe 2006 Annual Inn on Thursday, April 27, 2006 commencing at 7:05 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: M. Douglass, Reeve W. Daniels I. Schroeder A.M. Philipsen C. Vermeeren M. Nesbitt S. Evans A. Eastman A. Eckert H. Wutzke STAFF PRESENT: B. Keith, Operations Review Manager T. Henry, County Planner S. Wylie, A.S.B. Fieldman N. Moriyama, Assistant Administrator A. Martens, Administrator S. Yokoyama, Administrative Secretary D. Seitz, Equipment Operator R. Arsenault, Grader Operator S. Rodwell, Accounting Supervisor P. Urban, Development Control Officer OTHERSIN ATTENDANCE: J. Petrie, Q13 Radio K. Rothbauer, Brooks Bulletin R. Kiedrowski, Brooks & County Chronicle F. Barg C. Charlton C. Chomistek V. Parker T. Parker S. Hajash A. Peltzer D. Weisbeck B. Wutzke L. Pye-Matheson County of Newell Ratepayer Id at the Heritage -2- 10 ratepayers were in attendance for the 2006 Annual Meeting of the County of i Newell No. 4. 1. Election of Chairman The Administrator called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. and called for nominations for the position of Chairman. Charlie Charlton nominated Fred Barg. There were no further nominations. Vern Parker arrived at 7:06 p.m. Fred Barg was declared Chairman and assumed the Chair. Chairman Barg welcomed ratepayers to the 2006 Annual Meeting. 2. Election of Secretary (� Chairman Barg called for nominations for the position of Secretary. Alfred Peltzer nominated A. Martens. There were no further nominations. A. Martens was declared Secretary. 1 3. Adoption of Agenda MOVED BY D. SEITZ that the Agenda be adopted as presented. MOTION CARRIED Don Weisbeck arrived at 7:10 p.m. 4. Readin_g & Approval of Minutes of the 2005 Annual Meeting The Secretary read minutes of the 2005 Annual Meeting held April 14, 2005. MOVED BY C. CHARLTON that the 2005 Annual Meeting minutes be adopted as presented. MOTION CARRIED 5. Business from Minutes None -3- 6. Reeve's Report Reeve Douglass presented the Reeve's Report. MOVED BY B. WUTZKE that the Reeve's Report be adopted as presented. MOTION CARRIED Ratepayers had no questions regarding this report. 7. Agricultural Service Board Chairman's Report The Agricultural Service Board Chairman, Councillor Eastman, presented this report. MOVED BY COUNCILLOR EASTMAN that the Agricultural Service Board Chairman's Report be adopted as presented. (� MOTION CARRIED Ratepayers had no questions regarding this report. 8. Municipal Committee Chairman's Report The Municipal Committee Chairman, Councillor Daniels, presented this report. MOVED BY COUNCILLOR DANIELS that the Municipal Committee Chairman's Report be adopted as presented. MOTION CARRIED Ratepayers had no questions regarding this report. 9. Assessor's Report Assistant Administrator, Noel Moriyama, presented the Assessor's Report. MOVED BY N. MORIYAMA that the Assessor's Report be adopted as presented. MOTION CARRIED Ratepayers had no questions regarding this report. 10. Open Discussion Chairman Barg opened the floor for general discussion. • Carl Chomistek asked which roads in the County would be paved over the next 5 years. Councillor Daniels stated that he would mail him a copy of the 5 year road paving plan. Charlie Charlton questioned Council's reasons for foregoing the tender process on the recent purchase of graders, loaders and scrapers for the County of Newell. Council's reasons for foregoing the tendering process included: - good buy backs and guarantees from Finning in the past for our used equipment - by eliminating the tendering process the long lag time when ordering equipment could be reduced Mr. Charlton felt that the tenders are slanted so no one else can bid. He also noted that other businesses he had spoken with received a better price from Canadian Public Auctions rather than the company buy back. Mr. Charlton commented that he preferred the County tender all their purchases. Councillor Nesbitt indicated that she would provide Mr. Charlton with the hours of use for the scrapers and packers. Sandra Hajash expressed a concern regarding development within the County. Why is the County allowing developments without approval? She has had a business operating next to her property for 5 years and nothing has been finalized. She presented a letter to Council regarding this issue and asked that it brought back to a Council meeting and addressed. 91 J,'?/-/ ?e"mo`v)fe//J duaC'Clvts *0,>E410 Councillor Vermeeren noted that this is a long standing issue which has gone to court and will be brought back to an upcoming Council meeting. • Vern Parker questioned why Council does not easily approve a subdivision that meets all the qualifications for the area? He also noted that Highway 525 is still rough heading east to Rolling Hills. Councillor Vermeeren noted that it is up to each councillor to decide how they want to vote on an issue. He also commented that Highway 525 is under provincial jurisdiction for repairs. • Vern Parker questioned the necessity of having to complete a rezoning prior to a subdivision application. Councillors Daniels and Vermeeren attempted to clarify the Land Use Amendment and Subdivision process for Mr. Parker. -5 - Tom Parker questioned why some businesses could get away without i permits and others cannot. Councillor Vermeeren indicated that a Stop Work Order had been issued for the case referred to by Mrs. Hajash. He noted that the courts haven't addressed this issue and the County must wait for the courts to deal with it before it can be finalized. Sandra Hajash commented that the Courts are not going to enforce the issue if the County guidelines are not being enforced. Councillor Vermeeren commented that enforcement does take time and the County would require more staff to address all of these issues. • Vern Parker asked for the process required to stop a development if it is not compatible with an area. Councillor Vermeeren commented that a stop work order can be issued and the applicant then has an opportunity to appeal the decision and if it goes to court it can take quite some time to be resolved. • Reg Arsenault questioned why the County Special Constable was unable to assist with enforcement of development permits. Mr. Arsenault was informed that the Special Constable is required to enforce the County bylaws, traffic and road issues. The County Development Officer enforces development issues. Charlie Charlton commented about a development adjacent to his property that does not have a valid permit and has since been granted another permit for additional work even though the outstanding permit has not been dealt with yet. • Sandra Hajash requested that the County deal with issues brought forward to them in a timely manner. Tom Parker advised that there has been an increase in the speed of the traffic along the newly paved Peltzer Road and asked if anything could be done to reduce the speed. Councillor Vermeeren advised that the County Special Constable can enforce speed limits on local county roads. • Tom Parker commented that loads of waste manure are being hauled from Brooks through the smaller areas causing damage to the roads. He also wanted to know whom he should contact regarding garbage in the ponch he received from Lakeside. Steve Wylie advised that Alberta Environment has an emergency number to deal with his ponch concern and he would be happy to provide him with that number. • Carl Chomistek asked if there was still a ban on county gravel roads. Council advised that the ban on gravel roads has been removed. Reeve Douglass thanked those in attendance for their comments and concerns. It is quite clear that development issues are of great concern to the County residents and this will be a major area for Council discussion. Darcy Seitz questioned why the County did not implement road bans on gravel roads earlier in the year. Council commented that they do not like to ban gravel roads in the County as this can cause problems for the economy. It was also noted that companies have been asked to discontinue their continuous hauls during the spring when the gravel roads are soft. Councillor Vermeeren asked that Council be advised if anyone notices county roads being damaged. • Alfred Peltzer suggested that the County build their roads to a standard that can handle heavier traffic or repair them to that standard. He also offered a bouquet to the County for the work completed on the Peltzer Road. Lynn Pye-Matheson arrived at 8:18 p.m. Chairman Barg thanked the ratepayers for their comments and attendance at the 2006 Annual Meeting. 11. Adjourn MOVED BY C. CHARLTON that the meeting adjourn at 8:18 p.m. MOTION CARRIED �v P� - CHAIRMAN ,r SECRETAR