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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-02-24 Council (Regular) MinutesCOUNTY OF NEWELL MINUTES OF REGULAR COUNCIL February 24, 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, February 24, 2022 commencing at 10:32 a.m. Notice was posted at the front entrance advising the public of the meeting. There were three members of the public physically in attendance. 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 L. Johnson, Director of Corporate Services S. Yokoyama, Information and Technology Administrative Assistant (Moderator) T. Green, Director of Agricultural Services M. Jackson, Supervisor of Planning and Development J. Nesbitt, Municipal Enforcement Supervisor S. Hanson, Controller A. Nielsen, Executive Assistant OTHERS IN S. Stanway, Brooks Bulletin ATTENDANCE: MP M. Shields, Bow River I. Friesen, County Ratepayer E. Friesen, County Ratepayer 1. CALL TO ORDER Reeve A. Doerksen called the meeting to order at 10:32 a.m. 2. EXCUSED FROM MEETING All members were in attendance at this meeting. 3. ADOPTION OF MINUTES 3.1 Minutes - Council (February 10, 2022) C-63/22 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR HOLLY JOHNSON that the February 10, 2022 Council Meeting minutes be adopted as presented. MOTION CARRIED Regular Council February 24, 2022 4. CALL FOR POST AGENDA ITEMS Reeve A. Doerksen called for post agenda items. 5. ADOPTION OF AGENDA C-64/22 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR AMANDA PHILPOTT 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. 9. ADMINISTRATIVE BUSINESS 9.1 Request for Refund of Development Permit Fee - EID Historical Park The Development Officer provided background information on this item and responded to questions from Council. C-65122 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR KELLY CHRISTMAN that Council REFUSES the request to refund the $600 fee paid by the EID Historical Park for Development Permit 2022002. MOTION CARRIED LEFT THE MEETING S. Simpson and M. Jackson left the meeting at 10:37 a.m. 8. AGRICULTURAL SERVICES BUSINESS 8.1 Additional Spending Approval - Emerson Bridge Park Upgrades The Director of Agricultural Services provided background information on this item and responded to questions from Council. He indicated that there has been increased interest in long-term camping and providing full -service sites could draw in more visitors. Irrigation will be added to the areas being upgraded to reduce the risk of fire. The Director of Agricultural Services responded to questions regarding plans for camping rates and the revenue generated on seasonal sites versus daily rentals. C-66/22 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR KELLY CHRISTMAN that Council APPROVES additional spending in the amount of $120,000 from the Regional Enhancement Fund to complete the Emerson Bridge Park Upgrades. Further discussion followed. The Chief Administrative Officer responded to questions regarding the Regional Enhancement Fund, the purpose of which is to fund projects of benefit to the region. He indicated that the majority of this fund Page 2 of 7 Regular Council February 24, 2022 has been reserved for cost shared projects with Brooks and Bassano. The Director of Agricultural Services provided additional information regarding the estimated annual revenue to be generated by full -service sites. Reeve A. Doerksen called the question. VOTE ON MOTION C-66/22 — MOTION CARRIED LEFT THE MEETING T. Green left the meeting at 10:59 a.m. ARRIVED AT MEETING S. Hanson arrived at 11:00 a.m. 9. ADMINISTRATIVE BUSINESS — continued 9.2 Restricted Surplus Review & Approval of Year -End Transfers The Controller provided background information on this item, including an explanation of the various reserve funds and their purposes. Council was given the opportunity to ask questions. The Chief Administrative Officer provided additional information on funds reserved for future projects and allocated to specific divisions. He responded to questions indicating that reserve funds can be reallocated under the guidelines of the Restricted Surplus Policy except for the Paving Reserve, which is collected through a dedicated paving tax. C-67/22 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR DAN SHORT that the year-end transfer of unrestricted net assets to the restricted surplus funds as proposed by Finance be approved as presented. MOTION CARRIED LEFT THE MEETING S. Hanson left the meeting at 11:10 a.m. 9.3 Rural Municipalities of Alberta 2022 Member Visit Scheduling Council was provided with background information on this item. The Chief Administrative Officer responded to questions from Council. Discussion followed and Council suggested the 2-3-hour meeting would be preferable. Potential discussion topics include highlighting the benefits provided by irrigation in the area, policing, and trade barriers. It was suggested that the RMA could be given a tour highlighting certain aspects of the County. C-68122 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR HOLLY JOHNSON that Administration arrange a 2-3-hour meeting for the Rural Municipalities of Alberta 2022 Member Visit at a date to be determined. MOTION CARRIED Page 3 of 7 Regular Council February 24, 2022 9.4 Joint Meeting - Grasslands School Division The Chief Administrative Officer provided background information on this item and responded to questions from Council. Council provided the following dates in order of preference: May 19, May 5, and June 9, 2022. The Executive Assistant was directed to complete the scheduling process. This item will be brought back to a future Council meeting for discussion of agenda items. 9.5 Councillor Payment Sheets (January 2022) Councillor D. Short indicated that there are still some corrections to be applied. C-69/22 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR DAN SHORT that the January 2022 Councillor Payment Sheets be accepted with the amendments recommended by the Councillor Compensation Review Committee. MOTION CARRIED RECESS Council RECESSED at 11:27 a.m. and RECONVENED at 11:33 a.m. 7. DELEGATIONS 7.1 Request - Use of County of Newell Name - Silver Sage Agricultural Society The Chief Administrative Officer provided background information and responded to questions from Council. C-70/22 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR HOLLY JOHNSON that Council takes no issue with the Silver Sage Agricultural Society using the name "Newell Pro Rodeo." MOTION CARRIED 9. ADMINISTRATIVE BUSINESS — continued 9.6 Requests for Functions of Council 9.6.1 Medicine Hat College Brooks Campus Meet & Greet (March 16, 2022) Councillor G. Skriver provided background information on this item. Discussion followed and it was noted that this event conflicts with the Rural Municipalities of Alberta Spring 2022 Convention. 10. COMMITTEE REPORTS 10.1 Newell Housing Foundation Councillor A. Philpott submitted a written report and provided an update on the Financial Manager position. A website is also in development. Page 4 of 7 Regular Council February 24, 2022 C-71/22 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR AMANDA PHILPOTT that the Newell Housing Foundation report be accepted. MOTION CARRIED 10.2 RESIDE Program - Pilot Project Councillor K. Christman submitted a written report. C-72/22 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR KELLY CHRISTMAN that the RESIDE Program - Pilot Project report be accepted. MOTION CARRIED 11. POST AGENDA ITEMS There were no post agenda items to discuss at this meeting. 12. INFORMATION ITEMS 12.1 Payment Registers The Chief Administrative Officer responded to questions from Council. This item was accepted as information. ARRIVED AT MEETING MP M. Shields and L. Johnson arrived at 11:45 a.m. 7. DELEGATIONS — continued 7.2 MP Martin Shields MP M. Shields provided information on various topics: • the situation in the Ukraine; • JBS program with Medicine Hat College providing tuition for JBS employees or their dependents; • labour shortages, • reports that several Canadian Mexican Mennonite families have left the Taber region; • truck driver shortage. MP M. Shields responded to questions from Council. ARRIVED AT MEETING Councillor N. Johnson arrived at 12:01 p.m. MP M. Shields provided an overview of the trucker convoy in Ottawa, ON and responded to further questions from Council. Page 5 of 7 Regular Council February 24, 2022 LEFT THE MEETING MP M. Shields left the meeting at 12:17 p.m. LUNCH Council RECESSED for lunch at 12:17 p.m. and RECONVENED at 1:04 p.m. ARRIVED AT MEETING I. Friesen, E. Friesen, J. Nesbitt, and M. Jackson arrived at 1:04 p.m. 7. DELEGATIONS — continued 7.3 Request - Permission for Additional Cattle in a Subdivision - Division 2 The Municipal Enforcement Supervisor provided background information on this item. /. Friesen responded to questions regarding the location of the property, the size of the lot, and the number of cattle. He indicated that the cattle would be on this property for the winter, then moved to a pasture in the Calgary area in June and responded to further questions from Council. The Municipal Enforcement Supervisor responded to questions regarding the complaint. /. Friesen responded to further questions from Council regarding other items in his yard. Discussion followed. /. Friesen responded to questions regarding moving the cattle, indicating that it is difficult to find suitable grazing locations at this time of year. The Municipal Enforcement Supervisor outlined a potential solution, which would include setting a reasonable deadline for the cattle to be removed and a condition that the cattle will not be brought back for the winter unless the number of animals is in compliance with the Animal Control bylaw. He indicated that he would discuss the proposed solution with the complainant. C-73/22 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR LYNETTE KOPP that Council DENIES the request to allow additional cattle; further, that the landowner must remove the additional cattle by April 30, 2022. Discussion followed. The Supervisor of Planning & Development outlined the process for obtaining an injunction to have the cattle removed. The Municipal Enforcement Supervisor provided additional information, indicating that the enforcement order would be reissued with the deadline for removal set by Council. 1. Friesen and E. Friesen provided additional information and expressed concerns with being able to find a location for the cattle before June. Discussion followed regarding the date. Reeve A. Doerksen called the question. VOTE ON MOTION C-73/22 — MOTION CARRIED LEFT THE MEETING I. Friesen, E. Friesen, J. Nesbitt, and M. Jackson left the meeting at 1:47 p.m. Page 6 of 7 Regular Council February 24, 2022 12. INFORMATION ITEMS 12.2 Strategic Priorities Chart This item was accepted as information. 12.3 Correspondence - Brooks Kinsmen Rodeo This item was accepted as information. 12.4 2021 Q4 Financial Information Package This item was accepted as information. 13. IN CAMERA C-74/22 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR HOLLY JOHNSON that we move in camera at 1:49 p.m. to discuss the following matters: • Intergovernmental Relations - FO/PP Act Section 21. MOTION CARRIED C-76/22 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR AMANDA PHILPOTT that we move out of camera at 2:24 p.m. MOTION CARRIED 14. ADJOURN Being that the agenda matters have been concluded, the meeting adjourned at 2:24 p.m. Signed this I� day of I a d--\ 12022 Reeve .I, County Administrator Page 7 of 7