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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-10-06 Council (Regular) MinutesCOUNTY OF NEWELL MINUTES OF REGULAR COUNCIL October 6, 2022 The regular Council Meeting of the County of Newell was held in the County Office and livestreamed to the public via Lifesize on Thursday, October 6, 2022 commencing at 10:41 a.m. Notice was posted at the front entrance advising the public of the meeting. MEMBERS A. Doerksen, Reeve PRESENT: COUNCILLORS: D. Short A. Skanderup L. Kopp H. Johnson G. Skriver K. Christman E. Unruh A. Philpott N. Johnson STAFF: M. Fenske, Chief Administrative Officer T. Green, Director of Agricultural Services (Moderator) M. Jackson, Supervisor of Planning and Development Z. Forest, Municipal Intern - Planning L. Johnson, Director of Corporate Services D. Christensen, Projects Assistant M. Harbicht, Director of Municipal Services T. Schroeder, Manager of Operations A. Nielsen, Executive Assistant OTHERS IN S. Stanway, Brooks Bulletin ATTENDANCE: E. Oliver, EcoBrooks Committee T. Oliver, EcoBrooks Committee K. Steinley, Newell Regional Services Corporation 1. CALL TO ORDER Reeve A. Doerksen called the meeting to orderat 10:41 a.m. 2. EXCUSED FROM MEETING All members were in attendance at this meeting. 3. ADOPTION OF MINUTES 3.1 Minutes - Council (September 22, 2022) C-287/22 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR KELLY CHRISTMAN that the September 22, 2022 Council Meeting minutes be adopted as presented. MOTION CARRIED Regular Council October 6, 2022 4. CALL FOR POST AGENDA ITEMS Reeve A. Doerksen called for post agenda items. 5. ADOPTION OF AGENDA C-288/22 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR ELLEN UNRUH that the agenda be adopted as presented. MOTION CARRIED 6. QUESTION PERIOD/NOTICE OF MOTION A question period and notice of motion was held. No County Ratepayers were in attendance. The moderator indicated that there were no questions from the public. ARRIVED AT MEETING E. Oliver, T. Oliver, R. Juska, and T. Green arrived at 10:43 a.m. 7. DELEGATIONS 7.1 Proposal to Expand the EcoBrooks Committee E. Oliver provided background information on this item, indicating that City of Brooks Council has approved the request from the EcoBrooks Committee to expand their focus area to include the County of Newell. The proposal includes expanded representation and ec�ual or equitable funding commitments from all partners to be determined. E. Oliver gave an overview of the EcoBrooks Committee mandate and their focus areas. Some successfu/ initiatives of the committee include Bee City status for Brooks, the water conservation rebate program, leadership scholarships, and an annual environmental art contest. ARRIVED AT MEETING K. Steinley arrived at 10:52 a.m. E. Oliver outlined the benefits of a combined City and County Eco Committee and gave some suggestions for alternate committee structure options involving both e/ected officials and members of the community. Council was given the opportunity to ask questions. Council indicated that involvement is required from all municipalities within the region as well as the Eastern Irrigation District. E. Oliver and R. Juska responded to questions regarding the EcoBrooks Committee and how initiatives are accomplished. T. Oliver responded to questions regarding the committee's budget, indicating increased funding would be required to accomplish larger regional initiatives. The Chief Administrative Officer and Director of Corporate Services provided information regarding Elemental Energy's Community Benefit Fund, indicating that there is an opportunity for EcoBrooks to be involved in determining where a portion of that annual funding is allocated. E. Oliver responded to questions regarding committee membership, indicating that community involvement is very helpful. Page 2 of 6 Regular Council October 6, 2022 LEFT THE MEETING E. Oliver, T. Oliver, and R. Juska left the meeting at 11:07 a.m. 10. MUNICIPAL SERVICES BUSINESS 10.1 Utilities - NRSC Report K. Steinley presented The Utilities - NRSC Report to Council, giving an overview of the highlights. Council was given the opportunity to ask questions. LEFT THE MEETING K. Steinley left the meeting at 11:13 a.m. 8. AGRICULTURAL SERVICES BUSINESS 8.1 ASB Update .__ The Director of Agricultural Services presented an update on the recent activities of the Agricultural Services Department, including construction at Emerson Bridge Park and seed cleaning plant inspections. Council was given the opportunity to ask questions. The Director of Agricultural Services provided details regarding the upcoming South Region Agricultural Services Board conference. LEFT THE MEETING T. Green left the meeting at 11:17 a.m. ARRIVED AT MEETING D. Christensen arrived at 11:18 a.m. 9. ADMINISTRATIVE BUSINESS 9.1 Planning & Development Report (July - September 2022) The Supervisor of Planning & Development presented an update on the recent activities of the Planning & Development Department. Council was given the opportunity to ask questions. The Supervisor of Planning & Development responded to questions regarding farming operations encroaching on County road allowances. C-289/22 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR LYNETTE KOPP that the Planning & Development Report for July - September 2022 be accepted as presented. MOTION CARRIED Page 3 of 6 Regular Council October 6, 2022 LEFT THE MEETING M. Jackson left the meeting at 11:23 a.m. 9.2 Policy Review — POL-002-22 Tangible Capital Assets The Projects Assistant provided background information on this item and responded to questions from Council. He provided examples of betterment to a tangible capital asset - these include repaving a road or rebuilding a grader motor. The Projects Assistant responded to further questions regarding calculating depreciation and expected useful life. C-290/22 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR KELLY CHRISTMAN that Policy POL-002-22 (Tangible Capital Assets) be adopted as presented. MOTION CARRIED LEFT THE MEETING D. Christensen left the meeting at 11:27 a.m. 9.3 Shortgrass Library System - 2023 & 2024 Municipal Per Capita Levy The Director of Corporate Services provided background information on this item. Council was given the opportunity to ask questions. C-291/22 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR HOLLY JOHNSON that the 2023 and 2024 Municipal per capita levy submitted by Shortgrass Library System in the amount of $4.97 for 2023 and $5.13 for 2024 be APPROVED. MOTION CARRIED LEFT THE MEETING L. Johnson left the meeting at 11:29 a.m. 9.4 Councillor Payment Sheets (August 2022) C-292/22 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR NEIL JOHNSON that the August 2022 Councillor Payment Sheets be accepted with the amendments recommended by the Councillor Compensation Review Committee. MOTION CARRIED 9.5 Requests for Functions of Council There were no functions of Council to discuss at this meeting. ARRIVED AT MEETING M. Harbicht, T. Schroeder, and Z. Forest arrived at 11:30 a.m. Page 4 of 6 Regular Council October 6, 2022 10. MUNICIPAL SERVICES BUSINESS — continued 10.2 Director of Municipal Services Report The Director of Municipal Services presented his report to Council, giving an overview of the highlights. Council was given the opportunity to ask questions. The Director of Municipal Services responded to questions regarding how grader service levels are determined. C-293/22 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR ADENA SKANDERUP that the Director of Municipal Services Report and the Utilities - NRSC Report for September 2022 be APPROVED as presented. MOTION CARRIED 10.3 Tender Award - County of Newell Water Project Phase 2- Contract 1 The Municipal Intern - Planning provided background information on this item and responded to questions from Council. The Director of Municipal Services responded to questions regarding tender submissions and the construction timelines, indicating that this process is different from Phase 1 in that locations are connecting to the main lines that are already in place. The Director of Municipal Services and the Chief Administrative Officer indicated that the recommended bid is in line with the engineer's estimate for each service. C-294/22 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR KELLY CHRISTMAN that Council awards the tender for the construction of the County of Newell Water Project Phase 2— Contract 1 to SynCore Directional Drilling Ltd. in the amount of $2,384,340. MOTION CARRIED LEFT THE MEETING Z. Forest left the meeting at 11:46 a.m. 10.4 Tender Award - Dust Abatement (2023-2025) The Manager of Operations provided background information on this item and responded to questions from Council regarding the product used in past applications versus this product. The Director of Municipal Services provided additional information, indicating that this product allows for a betterlevel of service for the cost and more controlled application. The Manager of Operations explained the differences between magnesium chloride and calcium chloride and how the program is evaluated. The Director of Municipal Services responded to additional questions from Council. C-295/22 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR KELLY CHRISTMAN that Council award the Dust Abatement Supply for 2023 - 2025 to NSC Minerals Ltd. in the amounts of $326,470 for 2023, $338,130 for 2024, and $338,130 for 2025. MOTION CARRIED LEFT THE MEETING M. Harbicht and T. Schroeder left the meeting at 12:04 p.m. Page 5 of 6 Regular Council October 6, 2022 11. POST AGENDA ITEMS There were no post agenda items to discuss at this meeting. 12. INFORMATION ITEMS 12.1 Strategic Priorities Chart This item was accepted as information. 13. IN CAMERA C-296/22 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR NEIL JOHNSON that we move in camera at 12:05 p.m. to discuss the following matters: • Intergovernmental Relations — FOIPP Act Section 21. MOTION CARRIED C-297/22 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR AMANDA PHILPOTT that we move out of camera at 12:40 p.m. MOTION CARRIED 14. ADJOURN Being that the agenda matters have been concluded, the meeting adjourned at 12:40 p.m. Signed this � day of �L� �� , 2022 Re e County Administrato Page 6 of 6