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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-07-23 Council (Regular) MinutesCOUNTY OF NEWELL N0.4 ~ MINUTES OF COUNCIL MEETING July 23, 2009 The regular Council Meeting of the County of Newell No. 4 was held in the County Office at Brooks, AB on Thursday, July 23, 2009 commencing at 10:03 a.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: COUNCILLORS: M. Douglass, Reeve W. Daniels I. Schroeder A.M. Philipsen R. Andrews J. Harbinson S. Evans A. Eastman B. de Jong H. Wutzke STAFF: L. Johnson, Assistant Administrator A. Wickert, Development Control Officer G. Tiffin, Manager of Information Technology M. Harbicht, Superintendent of Public Works A. Clapton, Executive Assistant OTHERS IN S. Stanway, Brooks Bulletin ATTENDANCE: R. Kiedrowski, Brooks & County Chronicle M. Fitzgerald, Q-13 Fox Radio S. Sgt. J. Haley, Brooks RCMP Sgt. G. Ericson, Brooks RCMP 1. EXCUSED FROM MEETING All members were in attendance at this meeting. 2. MINUTES The Assistant Administrator responded to questions from Council. C-249/09 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR A.M. PHILIPSEN that the July 10, 2009 Council minutes be adopted as presented. MOTION CARRIED 3. CALL FOR POST AGENDA ITEMS The Reeve called for post agenda items. Regular Council Minutes July 23, 2009 4. ADOPTION OF AGENDA Page 2 C-250/09 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR B. DE JONG that the agenda be adopted as amended. MOTION CARRIED ARRIVED AT MEETING Councillor W. Daniels arrived at 10:09 a.m. 5. CHEQUES FOR PAYMENT The Assistant Administrator responded to questions from Council. C-251/09 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR A. EASTMAN that cheques 165368 to 165501 in the amount of $2,476,312.97 be approved. MOTION CARRIED 6. MUNICIPAL TREASURER'S REPORT -June 2009 The Treasurer's Report for June 2009 was presented to Council. C-252/09 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR J. HARBINSON that the Treasurer's Report for June 2009 be accepted. MOTION CARRIED 7. BUSINESS FROM MINUTES There was no business from the minutes to discuss at this meeting. 9. OTHER BUSINESS a. Foothills Little Bow Municipal Association Meeting (September 18, 2009) Council was presented with a letter from fhe Foothills Little Bow Municipal Association indicating the submission deadline for resolutions to be considered at the nexf meeting. Potential resolutions will be discussed during the August 6, 2009 Council meeting. ARRIVED AT MEETING G. Tiffin arrived at 10:12 a.m. b. 2009 Census Results G. Tiffin gave a presentation to Council on the results of the 2009 Municipal Census, including a breakdown of population by division and Regular Council Minutes July 23, 2009 .~- hamlet. The total population for the County is 7,101, which the 2006 population of 6,862. G. Tiffin offered thanks to D. G. Rorke for their assistance and Council agreed that all involved in the census had done a good job. Reeve M. inquired about the next steps, and G. Tiffin replied tha Council approval, the results would be forwarded to Albert Affairs. Page 3 is up from Lester and who were Douglass t, following a Municipal C-253/09 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR J. HARBINSON that the 2009 census report be accepted. MOTION CARRIED LEFT THE MEETING G. Tiffin left the meeting at 10:23 a.m. ARRIVED AT MEETING A. Wickert arrived at 10:23 a.m. 10. BYLAWS ~- a. Bylaw 1672-09 - 09 LUA 008 (Ptn. of Lot 6, Block 1, Plan 821 1419 - NW '/a 35-18-15-W4) P. Smith & F. Skuban (Owner/Applicant) LI -Light Industrial District to CR -Country Residential District (1St Reading) The Development Control Officer presented background information on this item. C-254/09 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR J. HARBINSON that Bylaw 1672-09, being a bylaw to amend Bylaw 1626-07 by rezoning approximately 0.05 hectares (1.23 acres) of land in NW '/a 35-18-15-W4 from LI -Light Industrial District to CR -Country Residential District, be given FIRST reading. MOTION CARRIED 11. POST AGENDA ITEMS a. Subdivision Extension Request 2007-0-288 - N. & V. Salonka (Owner/Applicant) SE'/a 6-19-14-W4 The Development Control Officer presented background information on Phis item. ~~ Regular Council Minutes Page 4 July 23, 2009 C-255/09 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR H. WUTZKE that the request fora 1 year time extension to subdivision application 2007-0-288 to July 23, 2010 be approved. MOTION CARRIED LEFT THE MEETING A. Wickert left the meeting at 10:27 a.m. ARRIVED AT MEETING S. Sgt. J. Haley and Sgt. G. Ericson arrived at 10:28 a.m. 8. DELEGATIONS a. RCMP Quarterly Reports Sgt. G. Ericson presented Brooks RCMP statistics to Council. He responded to questions from Council regarding the substantial increase in theft under $5,000.00 and the individuals they believe are responsible for most of these incidents. S. Sgt. J. Haley reported on another significant event, a boating accident on Lake Newell, and expressed gratitude for the support and hospitality shown to those involved in the search by the residents of Lake Newell Resort. He responded to questions regarding outside assistance to the RCMP in emergency situations, indicating that they are permitted to receive assistance only from properly trained and certified persons in a recovery situation. In a primary rescue situation, they are able to use whatever resources are readily available. S. Sgt. J. Haley responded to questions about the ALERT team in Medicine Hat, which is working closely with the Brooks RCMP. Council was given the opportunity to ask questions. Council discussed raising public awareness and how to pass on concerns to the RCMP. Sgt. G. Ericson indicated that Rural Crime Watch and Crimestoppers are both effective in distributing information. The Bassano RCMP report was also distributed to Council. LEFT THE MEETING S. Sgt. J. Haley, Sgt. G. Ericson, and R. Kiedrowski left the meeting at 10:51 a.m. 11. POST AGENDA ITEMS -continued b. Mini Bus Monthly Reports -June 2009 This item was accepted as information. Regular Council Minutes Page 5 July 23, 2009 ~... c. Brooks & District Museum -Thank You Card Council was presented with a card from the Brooks & District Museum thanking them for their participation in their Canada Day Celebration. This item was accepted as information. d. Oldman River Regional Services Commission -Annual Report & Financial Statements 2008 This item was accepted as information. e. Red Deer River Watershed Alliance -State of Our Watershed 2009 Report & Certificate of Appreciation This item was accepted as information. f. Scandia Sewage Lagoon Councillor 1. Schroeder presented Council with photographs of .-- increasing damage to the land around the Scandia Sewage Lagoon due to seepage from the lagoon. This item was postponed until later in this meeting. ARRIVED AT MEETING Sgt. G. Ericson arrived at 10:59 a.m. g. Patricia Rodeo -Enhanced Police Services Sgt. G. Ericson indicated that he would ensure that one member would be working in Patricia during the Labour Day Weekend. !f the Patricia Rodeo Committee wishes to enter into an agreement for enhanced police services as has been done in the past, they will contact Sgt. G. Ericson. Sgt. G. Ericson responded to questions from Council. LEFT THE MEETING Sgt. G. Ericson left the meeting at 11:05 a.m. h. Bassano Air Rodeo Councillor S. Evans indicated that she had tickets available for the Bassano Air Rodeo if Council wanted to attend. ~~ Regular Council Minutes Page 6 July 23, 2009 12. COMMITTEE REPORTS a. Airport Commission Councillor B. de Jong reported that the tender would be closing July 28th for paving at the Brooks Airport and the Bassano tender had been awarded. Currently, the commission is selecting a company to do a long term study of the Brooks Airport. b. Municipal Library Board Councillor W. Daniels indicated that all Shortgrass Libraries now have video conferencing equipment available. c. Municipal Planning Commission Councillor A.M. Philipsen reported that the recent meeting on the Alberta Land Use Framework had been very well attended. The Oldman River Regional Services Commission will be preparing a position paper regarding the Alberta Land Use Framework which will be submitted to each Council for review. d. Sheerness Tour Councillor A.M. Philipsen indicated that a tour of Sheerness power plant and mine had been scheduled for September 23, 2009. Registration forms will be distributed to Council and Administration will arrange the transportation. e. Canadian Badlands Councillor A.M. Philipsen reported that Canadian Badlands was initiating a project to install Canadian Badlands signs on existing County signs. She suggested that the Economic Development & Tourism Advisory Committee would be responsible for sign decisions following Council's approval. C-256/09 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR W. DANIELS that Council agrees to participate in the Canadian Badlands signage project. MOTION CARRIED f. Regional Services Committee Councillor 1. Schroeder reported on a workshop they had attended with Regular Council Minutes Page 7 July 23, 2009 MPE Engineering Ltd. regarding the establishment of water co-ops. ~^ Council discussed having the Newell Regional Services Corporation oversee the operation of the water co-ops or whether the NRSC should be the owner/operator of a rural water distribution system, and agreed that discussions regarding this should continue once the feasibility study has been completed. ARRIVED AT MEETING M. Harbicht arrived at 11:25 a.m. 9. OTHER BUSINESS -continued c. Canadian Pheasant Company Signs The Superintendent of Public Works indicated that he had been approached by E. Houck of the Canadian Pheasant Company regarding the installation of new Tourism signs within County road allowances. He suggested that E. Houck make a presentation to Council. 11. POST AGENDA ITEMS -continued f. Scandia Sewage Lagoon The Superintendent of Public Works reported that AMEC is currently preparing a proposal for a thorough investigation of the site, an action plan, and associated costs. He acknowledged that effluent is seeping, but there are no visible leaks and radar may be required to determine where the leak is. The Assistant Administrator suggested that perhaps the study should focus on upgrading the lagoon to a two cell system. Councillor W. Daniels noted that the residents of The Hamlet of Scandia would be responsible for the cost unless grant funding could be obtained. Council expressed concerns with the ongoing investigation of the problem and limited progress made to resolve the problem. The Superintendent of Public Works replied that a good understanding of the problem is required in order to create an effective solution. 13. QUESTION PERIOD/NOTICE OF MOTION A question period and notice of motion was held. Councillor W. Daniels inquired about the status of the land acquisition discussions and whether or r,,.,, not a pivot will be installed. The Assistant Administrator replied that R. Havinga would be speaking with Alberta Environment regarding an amendment to the water license that would allow the County to discharge the Ulf Regular Council Minutes Page 8 July 23, 2009 lagoon into the ditch following the irrigation season. This will be a short-term solution while new land for the lagoon is acquired. 14. INFORMATION ITEMS a. Oldman River Regional Services Commission Executive Committee Meeting Minutes (May 14, 2009) This item was accepted as information. LEFT THE MEETING S. Stanway and M. Fitzgerald left the meeting at 11:45 a.m. 15. IN CAMERA C-257/09 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR W. DANIELS that we move in camera at 11:49 a.m. MOTION CARRIED C-258/09 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR I. SCHROEDER that we move out of camera at 12:15 p.m. MOTION CARRIED 16. ADJOURN C-259/09 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR A.M. PHILIPSEN that the meeting adjourn at 12:15 p.m. MOTION CARRIED ~~~Q-~ Reeve Cou Administrator