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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-10-25 Council (Regular) MinutesCOUNTY OF NEWELL NO. 4 MINUTES OF COUNCIL MEETING OCTOBER 25, 2007 C-446/07 1. The regular Council Meeting of the County of Newell No. 4 was held in the County Office at Brooks, AB on Thursday, October 25, 2007 commencing at 10:04 a.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: M. Douglass, Reeve COUNCILLORS: W. Daniels I. Schroeder A. Philipsen R. Andrews J. Harbinson S. Evans B. de Jong H. Wutzke ABSENT: A. Eastman STAFF: K. Stephenson, County Administrator B. Keith, Assistant Administrator A. Clapton, Executive Assistant S. Christensen, Corporate Safety Services Supervisor OTHERS IN A. McCuaig, Brooks Bulletin ATTENDANCE: S. Stanway, Brooks & County Chronicle M. Fitzgerald, Q13 Fox Radio Michael Louie, Red Cross Mindy Genereux, Red Cross Biftu Abdalla, Red Cross Sgt. G. Ericson, Brooks RCMP Staff Sgt. J. Haley, Brooks RCMP EXCUSED FROM MEETING MOVED BY COUNCILLOR I. SCHROEDER that Councillor A. Eastman be excused from the meeting. MOTION CARRIED ~M,D Regular Council Minutes Page 2 October 25, 2007 2. MINUTES Council Minutes -October 11, 2007 C-447/07 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR A.M. PHILIPSEN that the October 11, 2007 Council minutes be adopted as presented. MOTION CARRIED C-448/07 MOVED BY COUNCILLLOR J. HARBINSON that the October 19, 2007 Organizational Meeting minutes be adopted as presented. MOTION CARRIED ARRIVED AT MEETING A. McCuaig arrived at 10:09 a.m. 3. CALL FOR POST AGENDA ITEMS The Reeve called for post agenda items. 4. ADOPTION OF AGENDA C-449/07 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR S. EVANS that we adopt the agenda as amended. MOTION CARRIED 5. CHEQUES FOR PAYMENT C-450/07 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR A.M. PHILIPSEN that cheque 159551 in the amount of $339.20, cheques 159552 - 159553 in the amount of $133.00, and cheques 159554 - 159665 in the amount of $572,445.00 be approved. MOTION CARRIED 6. MUNICIPAL TREASURER'S REPORT The Treasurer's Report for September 2007 was presented to Council. C-451/07 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR W. DANIELS that the Treasurer's Report for September 2007 be accepted. MOTION CARRIED 7. BUSINESS FROM MINUTES There was no business from the minutes to discuss. ~,._.~v~ Regular Council Minutes Page 3 October 25, 2007 9. OTHER BUSINESS a. Alberta Sustainable Resource Development - Fish & Wildlife Division -Survey on Sunday Hunting Council was presented with a survey from Alberta Sustainable Resource Development -Fish & Wildlife Division requesting feedback on hunting on Sunday. The feedback gathered by Reeve M. Douglass and Councillor A. Eastman will be compiled and submitted to Alberta Sustainable Resource Development. 10. POST AGENDA ITEMS a. Councillor Compensation & Expenses Policy This item was included in the adoption of the Organizational Meeting Minutes. b. Lease Agreement -E.I.D. Historical Park A draft of a lease agreement between the E.I.D. Historical Park and the County of Newell No. 4 was presented to Council. C-452/07 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR R. ANDREWS that the lease agreement between the County of Newell No. 4 and the E.I.D. Historical Park for the lands described as NE ~/a 19-15-15-W4M for the period commencing November 1, 2007 for 25 years be approved. MOTION CARRIED ARRIVED M. Louie, M. Genereux, and B. Abdalla arrived at 10:29 a.m. 8. DELEGATIONS a. Red Cross Presentation 10:30 a.m. (M. Louie, M. Genereux, & B. Abdalla) Re: Red Cross Agreement with the City of Brooks M. Louie explained that the proposed agreement requested $8,000.00, and that this cost was to be divided evenly between the County of Newell No. 4 and the City of Brooks. The funds would be used to train local volunteers that would then be able to assist in various disaster situations within the County. Council was given the opportunity to ask questions. Councillor A.M. Philipsen asked whether the funding requested was meant to cover operating costs or if it was a donation that would be used towards training the volunteers. M. Louie replied that the Red Cross generally needs to raise $40,000 per year to cover their operating costs, and that ~--~v~ Regular Council Minutes Page 4 October 25, 2007 donations received are typically for specific disasters and cannot be used for other purposes. Councillor H. Wutzke inquired about the consequences of not accepting the proposed agreement. M. Louie replied that, in the event of a disaster, the Red Cross would have to prioritize aid and fulfill their contracts before providing services to other affected areas. He suggested that the proposed agreement be accepted for cone-year term with discussions at the ten-month mark regarding renewal, or the agreement could be amended to include a longer term and clauses for renegotiation. M. Louie, M. Genereux, & B. Abdalla left the meeting at 10:51 a.m. C-453/07 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR J. HARBINSON that a one year agreement with the Red Cross be approved for providing volunteer disaster training, subject to the County share not exceeding $4,000 and subject to the City of Brooks executing the same agreement with the Red Cross. The discussion of this item was postponed until later in the meeting. ARRIVED Sgt. G. Ericson & Staff Sgt. J. Haley (Brooks RCMP) arrived at 11:02 a.m. b. RCMP Quarterly Reports 11:00 a.m. (Sgt. G. Ericson & Staff Sgt. John Haley -Brooks RCMP) Sgt. G. Ericson introduced Staff Sgt. John Haley to Council and presented the Quarterly Report for July to September 2007. He indicated that the file count had decreased this quarter for both the County and the City, and the prisoner count had risen. Some key points in the report were the major accidents on Highway #1 and Scott Lake Road, vandalism, and the success of the enhanced police services during the Patricia Rodeo. Council was given the opportunity to ask questions. Vandalism and the lack of RCMP presence in rural areas were identified as major areas of concern. Sgt. G. Ericson indicated that the Rural Crime Watch was implementing a computer system which would notify the members of crimes in their area. It was suggested that Councillors aid police by identifying problem areas within their divisions. The Occurrence Stats for January 2007 to September 2007 from the eassano RCMP were also presented to Council. M. Fitzgerald left the meeting at 11:30 a.m. (`~ Sgt. G. Ericson and Staff Sgt. John Haley left the meeting at 11:43 a.m. V Regular Council Minutes October 25, 2007 a. Red Cross Presentation -continued Re: Red Cross Agreement with the City of Brooks Page 5 Council continued discussion of the proposed agreement between the Red Cross, the City of Brooks, and the County of Newell No. 4. B. Keith was directed to obtain a copy of the draft agreement that was brought to the Joint Disaster Services meeting. This item will be brought back to a future Council meeting. C-454/07 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR J. HARBINSON that motion C-453/07 be tabled until further information is received. 10. POST AGENDA ITEMS -continued MOTION CARRIED c. Brooks & District Museum -Operating Budget for 2008-2010 & Funding Request A letter was presented to Council from the Brooks & District Museum, requesting that their current level of funding in the amount of $5000.00 be maintained for 2008. The letter also included an Operating Budget for 2008-2010 and 2006 unaudited financial statements. C-455/07 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR I. SCHROEDER that the County support this request from the Brooks & District Museum and approve funding in the amount of $5000.00 for the year 2008. MOTION CARRIED d. EDA Alberta Course #8 - "Project Management in Economic Development" Council was presented with a letter from the County of Newell No. 4's Department of Economic Development & Tourism, regarding the EDA Alberta Course #8 - "Project Management in Economic Development." This course has been booked for November 26, 2007 from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. in the EOC room. Councillors were directed to inform administration if they wanted to attend. C-456/07 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR W. DANIELS that all County of Newell No. 4 Councillors be permitted to attend the EDA Alberta Course #8 - "Project Management in Economic Development" on November 26, 2007 in the County of Newell Administration Building as a function of Council. MOTION CARRIED 1-~~ n Regular Council Minutes October 25, 2007 e. Meeting with Monte Solberg -November 9, 2007 Page 6 Council will meet with Monte Solberg on November 9, 2007 at 11:15 a.m. at the County of Newell No. 4 Administration Building. Council discussed potential agenda items for this meeting, including CAMRIF, the justice system, an update on Ottawa, trade imbalance and trade within Canada. LUNCH Council recessed for lunch at 12:00 p.m. and reconvened at 12:45 p.m. 11. COMMITTEE REPORTS e. Tourism Representative Councillor A.M. Philipsen presented a video from the Canadian Badlands. ARRIVED AT MEETING S. Christensen, Corporate Safety Services Supervisor, arrived at 1:03 p.m. 9. OTHER BUSINESS -continued b. Corporate Safety Policies S. Christensen presented the revised County of Newell Health & Safety Manual to Council and indicated that a copy would be available in Council Chambers once it had been approved. The new version is more detailed and contains the eight key elements that are required by the Partnerships in Health & Safety Program. S. Christensen gave Council an overview of each chapter. Council was given the opportunity to ask questions. Council discussed evacuation procedures, accidents involving County equipment, and updating the emergency contact numbers. S. Christensen requested that Council approve the Statement of Commitment and the Health & Safety Policy. C-457/07 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR I. SCHROEDER that Council's Statement of Commitment and the Health and Safety Policy be approved as presented. MOTION CARRIED S. Christensen also outlined some upcoming projects for Corporate Safety Services. S. Christensen left the meeting at 1:31 p.m. ~~ ~.. Regular Council Minutes October 25, 2007 10. POST AGENDA ITEMS -continued f. Environmental Impairment Liability Insurance B. Keith presented a report to Council indicating that Jubilee Insurance Agencies Limited had recommended at the last AAMD & C meeting that the County obtain Environmental Impairment Liability Insurance, and that an inspection of the County's facilities by Wotherspoon Environmental Inc. was required prior to coverage being approved. C-458/07 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR I. SCHROEDER that the fee of $3,100.00 plus disbursements to conduct an Environmental Impairment Liability Insurance Inspection for the County of Newell be funded from the Municipal Surplus Reserve. g. Pheasant Tracks Newsletter -Fall 2007 Page 7 MOTION CARRIED This item was received as information. h. Palliser Economic Partnership -Information Package This item was received as information. i. Letter from Alberta Environment Re: Proposed Cumulative Effects Management Framework This item was received as information. 11 COMMITTEE REPORTS a. Crime Stoppers Board/Rural Crime Watch Councillor R. Andrews indicated that Husky Oil had donated money for the computer system that was to be used to notify the Rural Crime Watch members. This committee is currently working on rebuilding support for the Rural Crime Watch program, developing new membership packages, and updating the member lists. b. Economic Development Advisory Committee Councillor A.M. Philipsen reported that at the last Economic Development Advisory Committee meeting, Kelly Christman had been elected Chairman and Fred Klassen had been elected Vice Chairman. She also indicated that D. Erdman was in the process of getting the design and an estimate finalized for new County signs, and that there ~~~ Regular Council Minutes Page 8 October 25, 2007 were upcoming conferences for Economic Development in Nisku and for the Palliser Economic Partnership in Medicine Hat. c. Municipal Library Board Councillor W. Daniels indicated that the next Municipal Library Board meeting would be on November 20rr' and that the Shortgrass Library Board meeting would be on November 21 sr C-459/07 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR W. DANIELS that funding the Shortgrass Library System be done through the general mill rate including Divisions 3, 8, and 9 and, if libraries require additional funding, that it be done through a specified mill rate. Councillor W. Daniels requested that he and the Reeve meet with the Village of Duchess to discuss the funding of the Duchess Library. This item was referred to the November 5rn Council Workshop session. C-460/07 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR W. DANIELS that motion C-459/07 be referred to the November 5, 2007 Council Workshop meeting. MOTION CARRIED d. Newell Foundation Councillor S. Evans presented to Council the minutes of the last Newell Foundation meeting. Both lodges are currently full with waiting lists, and the Newell Foundation is looking into expanding the facilities. She also reported that their Chief Administrative Officer had been offered another 3-year contract and thaf the renovations to Playfair Lodge should be completed by the end of November. 10. POST AGENDA ITEMS -continued j. Bylaws and Policies Councillor 1. Schroeder requested that a selection of policies and bylaws be brought to each Workshop session for evaluation and revision. This would allow the Councillors to become familiar with the current policies and bylaws. K. Stephenson indicated that administration is currently identifying priorities and developing a plan of action for the County's bylaws and policies. ~~ k. Grants for the Upgrade of Water and Sewer Systems Councillor W. Daniels inquired about the water and sewer system upgrades in Scandia and Rolling Hills, and whether or not grants were available for this. Administration was directed to prepare a report on Regular Council Minutes October 25, 2007 Page 9 the upgrades that were done in Scandia and Rolling Hills, including the lease agreement, and bring this to a future Council meeting. 12. 13. QUESTION PERIOD/NOTICE OF MOTION Councillor J. Harbinson requested the dates of several upcoming meetings. INFORMATION ITEMS a. Letter from Brooks & District Museum Re: Approval as an Accredited Visitor Information Centre A letter was presented to Council from the Brooks & District Museum. This item was received as information. 14. C-461 /07 IN CAMERA MOVED BY COUNCILLOR I. SCHROEDER that we move in camera at 2:30 p.m. MOTION CARRIED C-462/07 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR J. HARBINSON that we move out of camera at 3:09 p.m. MOTION CARRIED C-463107 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR W. DANIELS that we approve the expenditure of $250,000 for the PSAB-3150/Tangible Capital Assets Project to be funded from the Municipal Surplus Reserve. MOTION CARRIED 15. ADJOURN C-464107 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR I. SCHROEDER that the meeting adjourn at 3:10 p.m. MOTION CARRIED Reeve Administrator