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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-09-24 Council (Regular) MinutesCOUNTY OF NEWELL MINUTES OF REGULAR COUNCIL September 24, 2020 The regular Council Meeting of the County of Newell was held in the County Office on Thursday, September 24, 2020 commencing at 10:19 a.m. The Chief Administrative Officer, being the Designated Officer for the County of Newell, attended at the County Council Chambers to allow members of the public to watch the livestream meeting proceedings. Notice was posted at the front entrance advising the public of the meeting. No members of the public were physically in attendance. MEMBERS M. Douglass, Reeve PRESENT: COUNCILLORS: C. Amulung H. Kallen A.M. Philipsen W. Hammergren T. Fyfe K. Christman E. Unruh B. de Jong L. Juss STAFF: K. Stephenson, Chief Administrative Officer L. Johnson, Director of Corporate Services T. Green, Director of Agricultural Services (Meeting Moderator) S. Luchies, Rural Fire & Emergency Services Coordinator G. Tiffin, Manager of Planning, Development & Engineering M. Harbicht, Director of Municipal Services A. Nielsen, Executive Assistant OTHERS IN S. Stanway, Brooks Bulletin ATTENDANCE: 1. CALL TO ORDER Reeve M. Douglass called the meeting to order at 10:19 a.m. 2. EXCUSED FROM MEETING All members were in attendance at this meeting. 3. ADOPTION OF MINUTES 3.1 Minutes - Council (September 10, 2020) C-312/20 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR ANNE MARIE PHILIPSEN that the September 10, 2020 Council Meeting minutes be adopted as presented. MOTION CARRIED Regular Council September 24, 2020 4. CALL FOR POST AGENDA ITEMS Reeve M. Douglass called for post agenda items. 5. ADOPTION OF AGENDA C-313/20 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR ELLEN UNRUH that the agenda be adopted as amended. 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. 7. BYLAWS 7.1 Bylaw 1994-20 Regional Emergency Management The Director of Corporate Services provided background information on this item. The Rural Fire & Emergency Services Coordinator provided further information and responded to questions from Council. C-314/20 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR KELLY CHRISTMAN that Council APPROVES the Regional Emergency Management Agreement between the County of Newell, the Town of Bassano, the Village of Duchess, and the Village of Rosemary as presented. MOTION CARRIED C-315/20 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR WAYNE HAMMERGREN that Bylaw 1994-20, being a bylaw for the purpose of establishing a Regional Emergency Management Committee, Agency, and Planning & Coordinating Group, be given THIRD and FINAL reading. MOTION CARRIED 8. AGRICULTURAL SERVICES BUSINESS 8.1 Agricultural Fieldman's Report (September 2020) The Director of Agricultural Services presented the Agricultural Fieldman's Report to Council. Council was given the opportunity to ask questions. The Director of Agricultural Services responded to questions regarding the 20' sprayer, the reseeding of Bantry Field by the Eastern Irrigation District, Emerson Bridge Park revenue, and skunk and hawk populations. C-316/20 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR BRIAN DE JONG that the Agricultural Fieldman's Report for September 2020 be accepted as presented. MOTION CARRIED Page 2 of 7 Regular Council September 24, 2020 9. ADMINISTRATIVE BUSINESS 9.1 Regional Quality Management Plan (Fire Accreditation) The Rural Fire & Emergency Services Coordinator provided background information on this item, outlining the key changes. Council was given the opportunity to ask questions. Council requested definitions for Groups 'A" through "F" be included in the document. The Rural Fire & Emergency Services Coordinator responded to questions regarding fees for inspections, indicating that this would be a free service. Discussion followed. The Rural Fire & Emergency Services Coordinator and the Director of Corporate Services will determine a schedule of reasonable inspection fees and present this to Bassano, Duchess, and Rosemary for consideration. He suggested that the fees be charged directly to the individual or business requesting the inspection which is the practice followed by the City of Brooks. The Rural Fire & Emergency Services Coordinator responded to questions about the frequency of inspections completed in the past. This item will be brought back to the October 8, 2020 Council meeting for further discussion. LEFT THE MEETING S. Luchies left the meeting at 11:17 a.m. 9.2 Municipal Stimulus Program Application - Project(s) Selection Discussion followed regarding potential projects to be considered for funding under the Municipal Stimulus Program. The Manager of Planning, Development & Engineering provided an update on Phase 2 of the County of Newell Water Project (CNWP), indicating that MPE Engineering has started the feasibility study for connections across six rural water system registration areas. The Manager of Planning, Development & Engineering provided additional details, indicating that a rough estimate for the cost of the project is $16-25 million. If this project is selected, he suggested focusing on one of the six areas. A funding model for end users would also have to be considered. The Manager of Planning, Development & Engineering responded to questions from Council. Discussion followed. The Chief Administrative Officer indicated that CNWP Phase 2 is a good initiative, but it would require significant additional funding. Further, Municipal Stimulus Program funds are intended for projects that are not already included in a municipality's capital plan. The Director of Corporate Services responded to questions regarding the information to be submitted with the application. Discussion followed regarding the proposed paving projects that would benefit industry and the local economy. The Director of Municipal Services responded to questions from Council, noting that the costs associated with each project are rough estimates. The Director of Corporate Services responded to questions regarding the project objectives. Further discussion occurred regarding the options for paving projects and the Director of Municipal Services responded to further questions. C-317/20 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR TRACY FYFE that an application be submitted to the Municipal Stimulus Program for funding to pave 1.12km of RR145 from the City of Brooks Limits north to the existing end of pavement at Bow Slope. Page 3 of 7 Regular Council September 24, 2020 Further discussion occurred and the Director of Municipal Services responded to questions regarding future potential development in that area. Reeve M. Douglass called the question. VOTE ON MOTION C-317/20 - MOTION CARRIED LUNCH Council RECESSED for lunch at 12:13 p.m. and RECONVENED at 1:01 p.m. 9. ADMINISTRATIVE BUSINESS - continued 9.3 Rural Municipalities of Alberta Fall 2020 Convention - Meetings with Ministers The Executive Assistant provided background information on this item and responded to questions from Council. Discussion followed and Council requested the following meetings be arranged: • Minister of Environment & Parks —Water Act (Wetlands) Bassano Drainage • Minister of Transportation - Fisher Bridge • Minister of Municipal Affairs - Funding Issues, Farmland Assessment This item will be brought back to the October 8, 2020 Council meeting for further discussion. 9.4 Funding Request - Brooks & District Seniors OutReach Society Council was presented with background information on this item. C-318/20 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR ELLEN UNRUH that Council APPROVES the request from the Brooks & District Seniors OutReach Society in the amount of $1,000.00 for the Seniors OutReach Dinner with funding from the Charitable Grants & Donations Account. MOTION CARRIED 9.5 Assessment Model Changes - Public Awareness Reeve M. Douglass provided background information on this item. The Executive Assistant reported that the information was published in the September 23, 2020 issue of the Brooks Bulletin and will be published in next week's issue of the Bassano Times. It is also available on the County web page and was sent out via all County social media channels. Discussion followed. Page 4 of 7 Regular Council September 24, 2020 9.6 Councillor Payment Sheets (August 2020) C-319/20 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR LIONEL JUSS that the August 2020 Councillor Payment Sheets be accepted with the amendments recommended by the Councillor Compensation Review Committee. MOTION CARRIED 9.7 Cheques for Payment C-320120 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR ELLEN UNRUH that cheque 188082 in the amount of $5,421,862.69 be APPROVED. MOTION CARRIED 9.8 Payment Register C-321/20 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR ANNE MARIE PHILIPSEN that the Payment Register be accepted. MOTION CARRIED 9.9 Requests for Functions of Council There were no functions of Council to discuss at this meeting. 10. COMMITTEE REPORTS 10.1 Canadian Badlands Councillor A.M. Philipsen submitted a written report. 10.2 Red Deer River Municipal Users Group Councillor A.M. Philipsen submitted a written report. 10.3 Newell Foundation Councillor A.M. Philipsen submitted a written report. 10.4 Newell Regional Tourism Association Councillor E. Unruh reported that the Annual General Meeting was held last week. The deadline to apply for Experience Development Funding (EDF) has been removed. Councillor E. Unruh provided a list of the EDF disbursements. The County of Newell was a popular destination for campers this summer. Duchess plans to complete upgrades to Main Street. The NRTA's Destination Recovery Plan will be activated once the Government of Alberta has given approval to proceed. Councillor E. Unruh responded to questions from Council. Page 5 of 7 Regular Council September 24, 2020 10.5 Palliser Economic Partnership Councillor W. Hammergren provided details regarding a presentation given at a recent Palliser Economic Partnership (PEP) meeting regarding investors from southeast Asia who are interested in backing projects in southern Alberta. The City of Medicine Hat has given formal notice of their withdrawal from PEP. Councillor W. Hammergren provided details on current and upcoming PEP projects. PEP also received a presentation by TransCanada Energy regarding the XL Pipeline project. 10.6 Safe Communities Committee Councillor H. Kallen indicated that Sgt. B. McDonald, RCMP -Brooks reported that crime is down overall. The County's Municipal Enforcement Supervisor has been asked to provide his views on safety in the County (e.g. people walking on rural roads) on the radio. Alberta Association of Police Governance Conference in Brooks was cancelled due to COVID-19 and they hope to reschedule for next April. 10.7 Newell Regional Services Corporation Councillor C. Amulung reported that water consumption levels are down. Water treatment and distribution facilities are working well. 10.8 Alberta Urban Municipalities Convention (September 24-25, 2020) Reeve M. Douglass and Councillor B. de Jong reported on the AUMA convention sessions that they have attended online so far. Reeve M. Douglass indicated that links to the presentations will be forwarded to Council when they become available. Presentation topics have included building healthy communities, the PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) Program, and recent changes to the Local Authorities Election Act. 11. POST AGENDA ITEMS There were no post agenda items to discuss at this meeting. 12. INFORMATION ITEMS 12.1 Mini Bus Monthly Report (August 2020) This item was accepted as information. 12.2 Strategic Priorities Chart This item was accepted as information. Page 6 of 7 Regular Council September 24, 2020 12.3 Upcoming Community Events Council was provided a form to submit information for upcoming events in their community. 13. IN CAMERA C-322/20 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR HUBY KALLEN that we move in camera at 1:42 p.m. to discuss the following matters: • Legal - FOIPP Act Section 27. MOTION CARRIED C-323120 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR LIONEL JUSS that we move out of camera at 2:16 p.m. MOTION CARRIED C-324/20 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR BRIAN DE JONG that Motion C-308/20, which reads as follows: MOVED BY COUNCILLOR HUBY KALLEN that Council accepts the low tender as submitted and awards the Ballast Gravel Crush tender to Westridge Rock Ventures Ltd. for the tendered price of $886,600.00 excluding GST. be RESCINDED. MOTION CARRIED C-325/20 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR TRACY FYFE that based on legal advice from Brownlee LLP Council accepts the low tender as submitted and awards the Ballast Gravel Crush Tender to Hadean Aggregate Solutions Inc. for the tendered price of $865,000.00 excluding GST. MOTION CARRIED 14. ADJOURN Being that the agenda matters have been concluded, the meeting adjourned at 2:19 p.m. Signed this 8�ay of O�bkW- , 2020 Reeve'"�"�'��' Coddministrator Page 7 of 7