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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-12-23 Council (Regular) MinutesCOUNTY OF NEWELL N0.4 MINUTES OF COUNCIL MEETING December 23, 2008 The regular Council Meeting of the County of Newell No. 4 was held in the County Office at Brooks, AB on Tuesday, December 23, 2008 commencing at 11:10 a.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: M. Douglass, Reeve COUNCILLORS: W. Daniels I. Schroeder A.M. Philipsen R. Andrews J. Harbinson S. Evans A. Eastman B. de Jong H. W utzke STAFF: K. Stephenson, Chief Administrative Officer A. Clapton, Executive Assistant OTHERS IN S. Nedoshytko, Landman -Wheatland County (via telephone) ~ ATTENDANCE: 1. EXCUSED FROM MEETING All members were in attendance at this meeting. 2. MINUTES a. Regular Meeting -December 11, 2008 C-442/08 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR A.M. PHILIPSEN that the December 11, 2008 Council minutes be adopted as presented. MOTION CARRIED 3. CALL FOR POST AGENDA ITEMS The Reeve called for post agenda items. 4. ADOPTION OF AGENDA ~"~ C-443/08 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR R. ANDREWS that the agenda be adopted as amended. MOTION CARRIED Regular Council Minutes December 23, 2008 5. CHEQUES FOR PAYMENT Page 2 The Chief Administrative Officer responded to questions from Council. C-444/08 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR W. DANIELS that cheques 163875 to 163879 in the amount of $53,771.96, cheques 163880 to 164011 in the amount of $805,415.30, and cheques 164012 to 164020 in the amount of $82,222.09 be approved. MOTION CARRIED 6. MUNICIPAL TREASURER'S REPORT -November 2008 The Treasurer's Report for November 2008 was presented to Council. The Chief Administrative Officer responded to questions from Council. C-445/08 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR J. HARBINSON that the Treasurer's Report for November 2008 be accepted. MOTION CARRIED 9. POST AGENDA ITEMS a. Letter to CPR re: Irricana Sub Right of Way (S. Nedoshytko, Wheatland County) The Chief Administrative Officer telephoned S. Nedoshytko, Landman for Wheatland County, for clarification on what the CPR was requesting. S. Nedoshytko indicated that, in order for the CPR to sell the land to the municipalities for $1.00, they require a resolution from each municipality stating that they agree to waive the exit fees for the line, which are set at $10,000.00 per mile paid out over a three year period. He noted that a Phase i Environmental Assessment had been completed, and that a Phase 2 Environmental Assessment would offer more detail as to the condition of the land. The Chief Administrative Officer inquired about adding a condition to the purchase agreement regarding who would be responsible in the event contamination issues are discovered. S. Nedoshytko indicated that he would contact the CPR to obtain more details regarding this, and this item will be discussed further at the January 8, 2009 Council meeting. Council was given the opportunity to ask questions. 7. BUSINESS FROM MINUTES a. 2009 Capital & Operating Budget The Chief Administrative Officer presented the 2009 Capital and Operating Budgets to Council and gave a summary of the items and Regular Council Minutes Page 3 December 23, 2008 amendments that had been made. Council was given the opportunity fo ,.-. ask questions. Councillor W. Daniels inquired about offering a program that would enable ratepayers to access water hook-ups. Councillor A. Eastman asked about the Councillor Compensation Policy, and it was noted that amendments to this policy had been made and it will be discussed further during the January 5, 2009 Workshop Session. Council discussed the allocation of funds for a new building in the 2009 budget. C-446/08 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR I. SCHROEDER that the 2009 Operating Budget in the amount of $132,492,780.00 and the 2009 Capital Budget in the amount of $12,125,622.00 be adopted as presented on December 23, 2008. MOTION CARRIED LEFT THE MEETING Councillor S. Evans left the meeting at 12:09 p.m. LUNCH Council RECESSED for lunch at 12:09 p.m, and RECONVENED at 1:00 p.m. r^ 8. OTHER BUSINESS a. Fire Requisition Increase -Division 7 The Chief Administrative Officer presented information to Council regarding changes to the Division 7 Fire Requisition. Councillor A. Eastman indicated thaf he had discussed the matter with the Village of Rosemary and the Fire Department and they had been able to lower the requisition by planning to use the Division's Regional Enhancement Reserve Funding for some capita! purchases. The Chief Administrative Officer indicated that the rates do not need to be readvertised because they have decreased and responded to questions from Council. C-447/08 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR A. EASTMAN that the County of Newell No. 4 APPROVE the 2009 Fire Requisition funding for Division 7 in the amount of $35,520.00. MOTION CARRIED b. Letter Re: The John W. Smidstrup Student Scholarship Fund/Account Council was presented with a letter requesting that the John W. Smidstrup Scholarship fund be transferred to Grasslands Regional i''` Division #6. Regular Council Minutes December 23, 2008 Page 4 C-448/08 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR H. WUTZKE that the County of Newell No. 4 -.< APPROVE the transfer of the John. W. Smidstrup Scholarship Fund to Grasslands Regional Division #6. MOTION CARRIED 9. POST AGENDA ITEMS -continued b. Bow River Basin Council -Request for Funding (2009) Council was presented with a letter from the Bow River Basin Council requesting funding for 2009. Councillor R. Andrews presented an a-mail from S. Shigehiro, Manager of Finance, that indicated funding for this request was included in the budgets for both 2008 and 2009, but that a written request for funding has not been received from the Bow River Basin Council for several years. He requested that a letter be written to the Bow River Basin Council indicating that the cheque covers two years and that requests for funding should be sent to the County of Newell Administration Office. C-449/08 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR R. ANDREWS that the County of Newell No. 4 support this request from the Bow River Basin Council and APPROVE funding in the amount of $1,000.00 per year for 2008 & 2009, for a total of $2,000.00. MOTION CARRIED c. Pow Hotel Development The Chief Administrative Officer presented Council with a letter from the City of Brooks stating that their Council had approved in principle the annexation of land north of 15th Avenue West between JoAnn Trucking Road and Highway 873 for the purpose of building a hotel. He indicated that fhe conditions involved included that the County of Newell would retain ownership and responsibility for the maintenance of JoAnn Trucking Road and the drainage ditches adjacent to the hotel property. Council discussed these conditions, and noted that the affected landowners would have to be in agreement to the annexation, and that the condition relating to the maintenance of the JoAnn Trucking Road and drainage should only apply to the first stage of annexation prior to actual development of the land. Councillor B. de Jong inquired about drainage issues in the area, and the Chief Administrative Officer replied that a development that changes the contours of the land may affect drainage, but that permit would come from the City of Brooks. Council also discussed the Cify's paving tax structure and how this would affect the owners of the annexed land. Regular Council Minutes December 23, 2008 Page 5 ~,--. C-450/08 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR B. DE JONG that the County of Newell No. 4 supports this annexation in principle subject to agreement from the affected landowners, and that the County agrees to maintain that portion of the roadway until any future annexations or development that impacts the design of the road, at which point the developer will be responsible for upgrades to the road, and that the County accepts responsibility for the current drainage, and that the County must approve the drainage plan before any development can take place. MOTION CARRIED d. Hamlet Water Facility Upgrade -Revised Costs The Chief Administrative Officer presented Council with revised cost estimates for the Hamlet Water Facility upgrades and responded to questions from Council. This item was accepted as information. e. Grants Information The Chief Administrative Officer updated Council on some grant funding that had been approved. Alberta Municipal Affairs has approved funding ~ for Emergency Management Training. The deadline for applications is February 12, 2009 and the funding can be used to deliver workshops and exercises. The Chief Administrative Officer will forward this information to K. Swanson, Director of Disaster Services. The Chief Administrative Officer also noted that the Alberta Municipal Infrastructure Program (AMIP) is currently accepting applications for 2008/2009 and that the upgrades to the Tillebrook Park Access to Highway 875 have been approved. The Chief Administrative Officer presented Council with a letter from Alberta Municipal Affairs, indicating that the County of Newell has been selected for the 2009/2010 Municipal Internship Program. The candidate selection process will begin in March 2009, and the Chief Administrative Officer indicated that this has been a very successful program with the City of Brooks. h. Newell Regional Services Corporation -Appointments to Board of Directors The Chief Administrative Officer reported to Council that, since the Organization Meeting occurred before the actual incorporation, a new ~ resolution needs to be made appointing the County of Newell representatives to the Board of Directors of the Newell Regional Services Corporation. Regular Council Minutes December 23, 2008 Page 6 C-451/08 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR A.M. PHILIPSEN that Councillor I. Schroeder and Councillor H. Wutzke be appointed to the Board of Directors of the Newell Regional Services Corporation for 2008-2009. MOTION CARRIED 10. COMMITTEE REPORTS a. Bow River Basin Council Councillor R. Andrews reported that he had attended the quarterly forum in Calgary, which presented a great deal of information about setting up watershed groups. b. Red Deer River Municipal Users Group Councillor R. Andrews presented this report to Council, indicating that the funding rate for 2009 will stay at 25 cents per capita and that he would try to gather more information about Ducks Unlimited compensating landowners for preserving wetland areas. c. Economic Development Advisory Committee -~ Councillor R. Andrews noted that his role on this committee has changed `"~ as he is now representing Division 4 with vo#ing rights. He indicated that there is currently a sample of the website available for viewing and the funding request from the Small Beginnings Visual Arts show was approved at their last meeting. He also noted that he would be attending the Tiffin Conference in Lethbridge on January 22, 2009. d. Regional Services Committee Councillor 1. Schroeder presented this report to Council. The Line Committee has set the tender dates for Contract 2 for March 2, 2009 with the work to be completed by December 2009. Council discussed adding a bulk water fill station in Rainier. Councillor R. Andrews indicated that this would be beneficial to the residents of Rainier, Scandia, and Bow City. The Executive Committee also met and approved the budgets for 2008- 2009. The Chief Administrative Officer provided some information about the funding available, and noted that the MPE studies should be used to divide costs between the County and the City. Councillor 1. Schroeder requested input from Council regarding how to address connection charges for landowners not included in the original set of easements. Regular Council Minutes December 23, 2008 Page 7 This item will be discussed further during the January 5, 2009 Workshop meeting. e. Palliser Economic Partnership Councillor W. Daniels presented this report to Council, which included a study that will be conducted in southeast Alberta to determine value- added business opportunities for farmers. Reeve M. Douglass inquired about the meeting schedule for 2009, and Councillor W. Daniels replied that he would find this and forward it on. f. Mayors' & Reeves' Association of Southeast Alberta Reeve M. Douglass indicated that she had attended a meeting on December 4, 2008 with Mayor M. Shields, B. Chrumka of the Eastern Irrigation District, and Alberta Electric System Operator representatives regarding power distribution lines in the County of Newell. 11. 12. g. Tourism Representative CouncillorA.M. Philipsen submitted a written report to Council. QUESTION PERIOD/NOTICE OF MOTION A question period was held. INFORMATION ITEMS a. Alberta Municipal Affairs -Letter & Certificate Re: 10th Anniversary of the Municipal Dispute Resolution Initiative Council was presented with a letter and certificate from Alberta Municipal Affairs recognizing the role of the County of Newel! No. 4 in the Municipal Dispute Resolution Initiative. This item was accepted as information. /"' b. Nestle Waters Canada -Letter Re: Banning the Sale of Bottled Water Council was presented with a letter and information regarding the ban of bottled water sales. This item was accepted as information. Regular Council Minutes Page 8 December 23, 2008 c. Alberta Tourism, Parks & Recreation -Letter Re: 2012 Alberta Winter Games Council was presented with a letter inviting the County of Newell No. 4 to submit a bid to host the 2012 Alberta Winter Games. This item was accepted as information. 13. IN CAMERA There were no in camera items to discuss at this meeting. 14. ADJOURN C-452/08 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR A.M. PHILIPSEN that the meeting adjourn at 2:55 p.m. MOTION CARRIED J