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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-11-20 Council (Regular) MinutesCOUNTY OF NEWELL N0.4 ~"' MINUTES OF COUNCIL MEETING November 20, 2008 The regular Council Meeting of the County of Newell No. 4 was held in the County Office at Brooks, AB on Thursday, November 20, 2008 commencing at 10:03 a.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: M. Douglass, Reeve COUNCILLORS: I. Schroeder R. Andrews J. Harbinson S. Evans A. Eastman B. de Jong H. Wutzke ABSENT: W. Daniels A.M. Philipsen STAFF: K. Stephenson, Chief Administrative Officer B. Keith, Assistant Administrator D. Erdman, Economic Development & Tourism Coordinator A. Clapton, Executive Assistant OTHERS IN S. Stanway, Brooks Bulletin ATTENDANCE: R. Kiedrowski, Brooks & County Chronicle M. Fitzgerald, Q-13 Fox Radio J. Culligan, Economic Development & Tourism Advisory Committee C. Harbinson, Economic Development & Tourism Advisory Committee Jeff Billinton, Alberta Electric System Operator Leanne Dawkins, Alberta Electric System Operator 1. EXCUSED FROM MEETING C-402/08 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR B. DE JONG that Councillor W. Daniels and Councillor A.M. Philipsen be excused from the meeting. MOTION CARRIED 2. MINUTES a. Regular Meeting -November 6, 2008 ~~ The following changes were made to the November 6, 2008 Council minutes: Page 6 -Item 11 a. "West of Fisher Bridge will... " should read `The West bridge will... " Regular Council Minutes November 20, 2008 C-403/08 Page 2 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR I. SCHROEDER that the November 6, 2008 ~, Council minutes be adopted as amended. MOTION CARRIED 3. 4. C-404/08 CALL FOR POST AGENDA ITEMS The Reeve called for post agenda items. ADOPTION OF AGENDA MOVED BY COUNCILLOR I. SCHROEDER that the agenda be adopted as amended. MOTION CARRIED 5. C-405/08 6. 8. CHEQUES FOR PAYMENT The Chief Administrative Officer responded to questions from Council. MOVED BY COUNCILLOR A. EASTMAN that cheque 163651 in the amount of $4,273.15, cheques 163652 to 163668 in the amount of $117,079.80, cheque 163669 in the amount of $42,763.27, and cheques 163670 to 163776 in the amount of $2,806,883.84 be approved. MOTION CARRIED BUSINESS FROM MINUTES There was no business from the minutes to discuss at this meeting. OTHER BUSINESS a. Canadian Badlands Ltd. Levy Increase Council discussed an increase in funding from 10 cents per capita to 50 cents per capita for Canadian Badlands Ltd. Canadian Badlands Ltd. has been successful in drawing attention to the area and is interested in expanding their operations. Reeve M. Douglass indicated that, at this time, Canadian Badlands Ltd. was looking for feedback from municipalities regarding a funding increase. ~~ b. Request to Cancel Corresponding Tax Penalties Council was presented with a letter requesting the removal of the corresponding penalties for the Patricia Lagoon Sewer Upgrade Local "` Improvement, which was removed as a result of the July 23, 2008 ~~...~ Regular Council Minutes November 20, 2008 Page 3 Assessment Appeal Board. The Assistant Administrator responded to ~... questions from Council. C-406/08 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR I. SCHROEDER that, as a result of the July 23, 2008 Assessment Review Board's decision to remove the Patricia Lagoon Sewer Discharge Upgrade local improvement levy from Tax Accounts #344000 and #344801, that all penalties accumulated from non-payment of said local improvement and corresponding utility levies be cancelled. MOTION CARRIED c. Red Deer River Watershed Alliance Funding Request - 2009 Council was presented with a letter from the Red Deer River Watershed Alliance which requested funding in the amount of 50 cents per capita for the year 2009. The Chief Administrative Officer responded to questions from Council. C-407/08 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR B. DE JONG that we provide financial support to the Red Deer River Watershed Alliance in the amount of 50 cents per capita for 2009. MOTION CARRIED 9. POST AGENDA ITEMS -continued a. Regional Enhancement Reserve Funding Request -City of Brooks Council was presented with a letter from the City of Brooks requesting Regional Enhancement Reserve funding for the construction of a multi- use facility/building. LEFT THE MEETING A. Clapton, S. Stanway, R. Kiedrowski, and M. Fitzgerald left the meeting at 10:19 a.m. C-408/08 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR I. SCHROEDER that we move in camera at 10:19 a.m. MOTION CARRIED ARRIVED AT MEETING Councillor R. Andrews arrived at 10:25 a.m. C-409/08 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR I. SCHROEDER that we move out of camera at f^ 10:38 a.m. MOTION CARRIED ,,~ ,, '` ~~~ Regular Council Minutes Page 4 November 20, 2008 ARRIVED AT MEETING A. Clapton, S. Stanway, R. Kiedrowski, and M. Fitzgerald arrived at 10:40 a.m. D. Erdman, C. Harbinson, and J. Culligan arrived at 10:41 a.m. 7. DELEGATIONS a. Economic Development/Tourism Advisory Committee Quarterly Report Council was presented with a written report from the Economic Development/Tourism Advisory Committee. J. Culligan indicated that several projects were currently in progress, and that the installation of the Visitor Information signs was now complete and fhaf they had received favourable reports. Council was given the opportunity to ask questions. Councillor J. Harbinson requested an update on the biodiesel project. D. Erdman replied that the groundwork had been completed and the project is now moving into the operating stage. Councillor 8. de Jong asked about the walk-in traffic statistics, and D. Erdman replied that the Economic Development department receives about 3-4 visitors per month, and most of these are gauging opportunities that are available in the County. D. Erdman gave Council an update on the search for a representative on the Economic Development/Tourism Advisory Committee from Division 4, noting that the position is still open. Reeve M. Douglass asked about the training presentation for the PFRA Groundwater Study. D. Erdman replied that the Committee would be arranging these sessions for early in 2009. Council discussed how often Committee. The Economic will present a regular report invited to report to Council achievements. they would like to receive reports from this Development/Tourism Advisory Committee to Council every 6 months and are also at any time regarding notable events and LEI= T THE MEETING D. Erdman, J. Culligan, and C. Harbinson left the meeting at 10:59 a.m. 9. POST AGENDA ITEMS -continued a. Regional Enhancement Reserve Funding Request -City of Brooks C-410/08 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR B. DE JONG that the request from the City of Brooks regarding funding for the construction of a multi-use facility/building be TABLED until further information is received. MOTION CARRIED Regular Council Minutes November 20, 2008 Page 5 ~,..., c. Letter from Alberta Municipal Affairs Re: Municipal Sustainability Initiative between the City of Brooks & the County of Newell No. 4 Council was presented with a letter from the Minister of Municipal Affairs, congratulating the County of Newell and the City of Brooks in their partnership for distribution of Municipal Sustainability Initiative funding. Reeve M. Douglass indicated that a response would be sent to the Minister of Municipal Affairs explaining the Regional Enhancement Reserve and outlining all the partnerships that the County of Newell is involved with. Councillor I. Schroeder requested that a copy of the response be forwarded to D. Johnson, AAMDC President. b. Airport Funding The Chief Administrative Officer reported that the Joint Services Committee had recently discussed the advantages of creating a regional airport. Councillor B. de Jong indicated that regionalization would result in higher productivity and that they were looking at other regional airports for cost-sharing examples. Council discussed the benefits a regional airport would provide to the County and the City of Brooks. /'` ARRIVED AT MEETING J. Billinton and L. Dawkins arrived at 11:10 a.m. 7. DELEGATIONS -continued b. Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) J. Billinton distributed to Council the information that would be presented at the upcoming open house meetings in the area. He presented background information on AESO and an overview of the project, which is focused on transmission reinforcement between Edmonton and Calgary. He indicated that the transmission system plan was based on long-term outlook and individual needs, and was driven by load growth (demand) and generation development (supply). He also noted other potential energy sources available in the area, including wind power, coal, and nuclear power, and presented diagrams of the physical structures themselves. Council inquired if underground. options had been considered, and J. ~' BiNinton replied that underground lines had been investigated, but that nothing currently in place was long enough or carried a high enough voltage. He displayed maps showing an overview of the transmission .~ ?/~- Regular Council Minutes Page 6 November 20, 2008 area and indicated that the study area had been expanded as a result of the previous open houses. --.,, Council was given the opportunity to ask questions. Councillor R. Andrews asked if there was currently any potential for more generation. J. Billinton replied that the infrastructure they are planning will enable future generation. LEFT THE MEETING R. Kiedrowski, M. Fitzgerald, J. Billinton, and L. Dawkins left the meeting at 11:58 a.m. LUNCH Council RECESSED for lunch at 11:59 a.m. and RECONVENED at 12:51 p.m. 10. COMMITTEE REPORTS a. Associate Dean Advisory Council Reeve M. Douglass presented this report to Council, indicating that they have been focusing on ways to encourage doctors to practice in rural .~, Alberta. She noted that more seats at universities have been made available for medical students who wish to practice in rural areas. b. Crime Stoppers Board/Rural Crime Watch Councillor R. Andrews indicated that concerns had been raised by some members of the community regarding the local perception of the Crime Stoppers organization. He stressed that people should be made aware that the Crime Stoppers phone line is anonymous and does not have call display. The Crime Stoppers Board will be working with Grasslands Public Schools and other groups in the community to educate the public about their services. ~~ c. Newell Foundation Councillor H. Wutzke reported that they had submitted a resolution to AAMDC, but it was withdrawn at the convention because another jurisdiction had submitted a very similar resolution. The other jurisdiction's resolution did receive a great deal of support. He also indicated that the Minister of Seniors & Community Supports had met ; ^'' with the Newell Foundation and toured the facilities, and that he felt this ~..,i was a very successful meeting. A recent increase to the rate differential Regular Council Minutes Page 7 November 20, 2008 between day and night staff has also been successful in attracting employees. d. Regional Services Committee Councillor 1. Schroeder indicated that the environmental approval had been received, and work can begin on the regional water system, but that they are still waiting for incorporation papers. He also reported that the resolution they had submitted to AAMDC regarding 75 % funding for farmers and ranchers had passed. Councillor 1. Schroeder responded to questions from Council. e. 9-1-1 Committee Reeve M. Douglass presented this report to Council, including an update on the Alberta First Responders radio communications system. She also noted that Alberta Health Services Commission had made an announcement regarding the consolidation of ambulance dispatch centres. Foothills Regions/ Emergency Medical Services has submitted a proposal to be one of these dispatch centres and the results of this call for proposals should be available bymid-December. 11. QUESTION PERIOD/NOTICE OF MOTION A question period was held. Councillor J. Harbinson thanked the Chief Administrative Officer and the Assistant Administrator for their work in putting together the resolutions package for AAMDC. Reeve M. Douglass reminded Council of the Festival of Trees Light-Up Celebration, which begins at 4:00 p.m. today. 12. INFORMATION ITEMS a. Oldman River Regional Services Commission Executive Committee Minutes (September 11, 2008) Council was presented with the September 11, 2008 minutes of the O/dman River Regional Services Commission Executive Committee. This item was accepted as information. b. Alberta Health & Wellness -Letter Re: Emergency Health Services Council was presented with a letter from Alberta Health & Wellness which included a draft of the Emergency Health Services Act. This item was accepted as information. ~. Regular Council Minutes November 20, 2008 13. IN CAMERA Page 8 C-411/08 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR H. WUTZKE that we move in camera at 1:08 p.m. MOTION CARRIED C-412/08 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR R. ANDREWS that we move out of camera at 2:37 p.m. MOTION CARRIED C-413/08 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR H. WUTZKE that the County of Newell No. 4 agrees to provide up to $250,000.00 towards the cost of earth work at the Silver Sage area, and that this funding will come from the General Municipal Surplus Reserve. MOTION CARRIED 14. ADJOURN C-414/08 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR B. DE JONG that the meeting adjourn at 2:39 p.m. MOTION CARRIED Reeve C ty Administrator