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Home My WebLink About2023-05-11 Council (Regular) MinutesCOUNTY OF NEWELL MINUTES OF REGULAR COUNCIL May 11, 2023 The regular Council Meeting of the County of Newell was held in the County Office and livestreamed to the public via Lifesize on Thursday, May 11, 2023 commencing at 11:45 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. Harbicht, Director of Municipal Services G. Tiffin, Manager of Planning, Development and Engineering A. Nielsen, Executive Assistant OTHERS IN S. Stanway, Brooks Bulletin ATTENDANCE: G. Farnden, STARS 3 County Ratepayers 1. CALL TO ORDER Reeve A. Doerksen called the meeting to order at 11:45 a.m. 2. EXCUSED FROM MEETING All members were in attendance at this meeting. 3. ADOPTION OF MINUTES 3.1 Minutes - Council (April 20, 2023) C-165/23 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR ADENA SKANDERUP that the April 20, 2023 Council Meeting minutes be adopted as presented. MOTION CARRIED Regular Council May 11, 2023 3.2 Minutes - Special Council (May 6, 2023) C-166/23 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR KELLY CHRISTMAN that the May 6, 2023 Special Council Meeting minutes be adopted as presented. MOTION CARRIED 4. CALL FOR POST AGENDA ITEMS Reeve A. Doerksen called for post agenda items. 5. ADOPTION OF AGENDA C-167/23 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR AMANDA PHILPOTT that the agenda be adopted as presented. MOTION CARRIED 6. QUESTION PERIOD/NOTICE OF MOTION A guestion period and notice of motion was held. M. Benci asked if there was a mechanism in place for a property assessment to be reviewed if a neighbouring development results in decreased value to the adjacent properties. The Chief Administrative Officer provided information on the assessment process. Residential property is valued annually through a mass appraisal process and property values change based on sa/es of similar properties in the region. The County Assessor works on a five-year cycle to update assessments based on improvements. Changes to property values surface over time. Assessment information is included in the annual tax notice and a landowner can call the County Assessor and request a review. 7. DELEGATIONS 7.1 STARS Update G. Farnden provided background information on STARS including an overview of funding, fundraising efforts, and expenditures. She provided statistics on missions flown within the County of Newell boundaries since 2018, which average 32 missions per year. G. Farnden displayed a map showing over 90% ofAlberta municipalities are annual supporters of STARS. She provided information on the Emergency Link Centre (ELC) and provided an update on the STARS fleet which is now complete with the acquisition of a tenth helicopter. She a/so gave an overview of the intensive care equipment available in the helicopters. In 2022, the STARS team won first place in the Air Medical Transport Conference simulation competition. G. Farnden thanked Council for their continued support and requested consideration of a fixed annual contribution of $25, 000 per year. Council was given the opportunity to ask questions. G. Farnden responded to questions regarding interfacility transfers and municipal funding received. She indicated that Brooks, Bassano, Duchess, and Rosemary have not been Page 2 of 7 Regular Council May 11, 2023 approached for funding in the past. She responded to further questions regarding /ogo sponsorship and how STARS is dispatched. LEFT THE MEETING G. Farnden left the meeting at 12:21 p.m. LUNCH Council RECESSED for lunch at 12:21 p.m. and RECONVENED at 1:02 p.m. ARRIVED AT MEETING T. Green arrived at 1:04 p.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. Emerson Bridge Park is ready to open for the season. The Director of Agricultural Services gave the highlights of the Know Your Food Ag Days event held in partnership with Grass/ands Public Schools. The Director of Agricultural Services responded to questions from Council regarding the Know Your Food event and the access road to Emerson Bridge Park. LEFT THE MEETING T. Green left the meeting at 1:11 p.m. 9. ADMINISTRATIVE BUSINESS 9.1 Newell Pro Rodeo Pancake Breakfast (June 9, 2023) The Executive Assistant provided background information on this item and responded to questions from Council. C-168/23 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR GREG SKRIVER that Council accepts the invitation from the City of Brooks to participate in the Newell Pro Rodeo Pancake Breakfast being held on June 9, 2022 at 7:00 a.m.; further, that the County of Newell agrees to cover 50% of the costs. MOTION CARRIED Councillor K. Christman provided details regarding the Bassano Rodeo which is scheduled for June 23-25, 2023 and suggested that the County partner with Bassano to host their pancake breakfast. Discussion followed. Page 3 of 7 Regular Council May 11, 2023 C-169/23 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR KELLY CHRISTMAN that Council will participate and share costs associated with the Bassano Pro Rodeo Pancake Breakfast being held on June 24, 2023, if the Town of Bassano Council is interested in partnering. MOTION CARRIED 9.2 Meeting with Grasslands Schools (June 8, 2023) - Call forAgenda Items The Chief Administrative Officer provided background information on this item, indicating that the deadline for submitting agenda items is June 2, 2023. Discussion followed regarding agenda items and Council suggested the following: • agricultural education • ideas for making communities more attractive to newcomers This item will be brought back to the May 25, 2023 Council meeting for further discussion. 9.3 Councillor Payment Sheets (March 2023) C-170/23 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR AMANDA PHILPOTT that the March 2023 Councillor Payment Sheets be accepted with the amendments recommended by the Councillor Compensation Review Committee. MOTION CARRIED 9.4 Requests for Functions of Council 9.4.1 Medicine Hat College Convocation (June 9, 2023) C-171/23 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR HOLLY JOHNSON that any Councillor be permitted to attend the Medicine Hat College Convocation in Medicine Hat, AB on June 9, 2023 as a function of Council. MOTION CARRIED 9.4.2 Bow River Basin Council Discussion followed regarding whether a Council representative should be appointed to the Bow River Basin Council. Councillor K. Christman provided background information, indicating that previous Council decided not to appoint a representative as the BRBC is not an operational board. The Chief Administrative Officer indicated that Council previously appointed representatives to the Red Deer River Watershed Alliance (RDRWA) and Red Deer River Municipal Users Group (RDRMUG) as well. Discussion followed. Administration will prepare information regarding the locations and time commitment associated with these meetings and this item will be brought back to the May 25, 2023 Council meeting for further discussion. Page 4 of 7 Regular Council May 11, 2023 C-172/23 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR NEIL JOHNSON that Council appoints representatives to the Bow River Basin Council, Red Deer River Watershed Alliance, and Red Deer River Municipal Users Group. C-173/23 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR NEIL JOHNSON that Motion C-172/23 be TABLED for more information. 9.4.3 Recycling Council of Alberta Conference (October 18-20, 2023) Councillor L. Kopp provided background information on this item. Discussion followed. This item will be brought back to the May 25, 2023 Council meeting for further discussion. 9.4.4 Alberta Air Tour (June 3, 2023) Discussion followed. Councillor D. Short will attend County's representative on the Airport Commission. Committee made a motion approving attendance Committee members. 10 MUNICIPAL SERVICES BUSINESS 10.1 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. C-174/23 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR DAN SHORT that the Director of Municipal Services Report forApril 2023 beAPPROVED as presented. MOTION CARRIED this event as the The Joint Services of Joint Services MOTION CARRIED 10.2 Proclamation - National Public Works Week (May 21-27, 2023) The Director of Municipal Services provided background information on this item and responded to questions from Council. C-175/23 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR KELLY CHRISTMAN that County Council proclaims May 21 — 27, 2023 as National Public Works Week. 10.3 TenderAward - Steveville Gravel Crush MOTION CARRIED The Manager of Planning, Development & Engineering provided background information on this item and responded to questions from Council. Page 5 of 7 Regular Council May 11, 2023 C-176/23 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR NEIL JOHNSON that County Council award the contract for crushing, stockpiling, and other work to Smith Trucking Service (1976) Ltd. for their tendered prices plus additional costs for gravel testing and measurement; furthermore, that administration be granted the capacity to extend the quantities in the contract, at their discretion, to efficiently extract as much resource as possible within the allotted project window under the approved budget. MOTION CARRIED LEFT THE MEETING M. Harbicht and G. Tiffin left the meeting at 1:52 p.m. 11 POST AGENDA ITEMS There were no post agenda items to discuss at this meeting. 7. DELEGATIONS — continued 7.1 STARS Update — continued Discussion continued. C-177/23 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR DAN SHORT that the annual funding contribution to STARS be increased to $25,000 per year starting in 2024. The ChiefAdministrative Officerresponded to questions from Council. Discussion followed. Council acknowledged a need to encourage Brooks, Bassano, Duchess, and Rosemary to support STARS. VOTE ON MOTION C-177/23 — MOTION CARRIED 12. INFORMATION ITEMS 12.1 Payment Registers The Chief Administrative Officer responded to questions from Council. This item was accepted as information. 12.2 Strategic Priorities Chart This item was accepted as information. 12.3 2023 Q1 Financial Information Package This item was accepted as information. 13. IN CAMERA Page 6 of 7 Regular Council May 11, 2023 C-178/23 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR GREG SKRIVER that we move in camera at 2:02 p.m. to discuss the following matters: • Intergovernmental Relations — FOIPPAct Section 21. MOTION CARRIED C-179/23 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR KELLY CHRISTMAN that we move out of camera at 2:43 p.m. MOTION CARRIED 14. ADJOURN Being that the agenda matters have been concluded, the meeting adjourned at 2:43 p.m. Signed this ZS day of ��i , 2023 e 've � �`�� CountyAdministra Page 7 of 7