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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-01-22 Council (Regular) MinutesA COUNTY OF NEWELL NO, 4 MINUTES OF COUNCIL M£ET1NG January 22, 2008 The regular Council Meeting of the County of Newell No. 4 was held in the County Office at Brooks, AB on Thursday, January 22, 2009 commencing at 10:03 a.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: COUNCILLORS: M. Douglass, Reeve W. Daniels I. Schroeder A.M. Philipsen R. Andrews J. Harbinson S. Evans A. Eastman B. de Jong H. Wutzke STAFF: K. Stephenson, Chief Administrative Officer A. Wickert, Development Control Officer M. Nesbitt, C3rant Adminstrator A. Clapton, Executive Assistant OTHERS fIN S. Stanway, Brooks Bulletin ATTENDANCE: R. Kiedrowski, Brooks & County Chronicle M. Fitzgerald, Q-13 Fox Radio S.Sgt. J. Haley, Brooks RCMP Sgt. G. Ericson, Brooks RCMP Cpl. D. Fisher, Bassano RCMP 1. EXCUSED FROM MEETING All members were in attendance at this meeting. 2. t 1 TF a. Regular Meeting -January 8, 2009 The following changes were made to fhe January 8, 2009 Council minutes: Page 6, 4"' paragraph -line should read "...and noted there should be steps in the process... fl C-14/09 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR AM. PHILIPSEN that the January 8, 2009 Council minutes be adopted as amended. MOTION CARRIED 3. CALL F R POSE A~j,ENDA ,IT~IIS The Reeve called for post agenda items. Regular Council Minutes Page 2 January 22, 2009 4. ADOPTION OF AGENDA C-15/09 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR S. EVANS that the agenda be adopted as amended. MOTION CARRIED 5. CHEGIUES FOR PAYMENT The~Chief Administrative Officer responded to questions from Council. C-16/09 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR B. DE JONG that cheques 164107 to 164108 in the amount of $64,305.30, cheques 164109 to 164113 in the amount of $84,239.91, and Direct Debit Batch 14347 in the amount of $83,589.68 be approved. MOTION CARRIED 6. BUSINESS FROM MINUTES a. Alberta Royal Canadian Legion -Military Service. Recognition Book The Chief .Administrative Officer presented Council with further information regarding this publication, indicating that it would include most of the soldiers from Alberta and that, if the County chose to sponsor this publication, .they would be provided with a copy of the book. This item was accepted as information. ARRIVED AT MEETING A. Wickert, Development Control Officer, arrived at 10:07 a.m. 8. OTHER BUSINESS a. ~~~ Road Closure Application - M. & R. Stark, . (Lot 2, Block 1, Plan 971 0724 - SW ~/a 5-18-14-W4) The Development Control Officer provided background information on this item, indicating a letter from the applicant which outlined the reasons for this application. She noted that the applicant was asked to obtain a letter of consent from a neighbour, but the' neighbour is currently out of town. The Department of Public Works has indicated that they do not currently maintain this road. Council was given the opportunity to ask questions. Council discussed whether or not there would be adequate room for emergency access if this application was approved. The Chief Administrative Officer requested that the Development Control Officer submit this application to Alberta Transportation for their opinion prior to proceeding. The Development Control Officer responded to questions from Council. Rsgular Council 1Ainut~ January 22, 2009 Page 3 C-17/9 II~VED BY COUNCILLO#~ A.M. PHILiPSEN that Council APPROVE the application for and proceed` with the closure and sale of the road allowance located at SW '/a 5-18-14-W4 (Lot 2, Block 1, Plan 971 0724). MOTION DEFEATED LEFT THE MEETING A. Wickert, Development Control Officer, left the meeting at 10:20 a.m. ARRIVED AT MEETING M. Nesbitt, Grant Administrator, arrived at 10:20 a.m. b. Request for Approval for Participstion - Community Facility Enhancement Grant (Emerson Bridge ParklCampground) The Grant Administrator presented Council with an application for the 2009 Community `Facility Enhancement Grant, which will be used for upgrades to Emerson Bridge Park & Campground. The Grant Administr3ator responded tc~ questions from Council. ~1 C-~8Jb8 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR J. HARBiN~N that Council APPROVES the submission of the Provincial Grant app cation for the Community Facility Enhancement Grant 2009 in the amount of $125,000.00 for the upgrades to Emerson Bridge Park & Campground, which will include the new shower/washroom facility and power to 30 sites and the buitrding, and that the remaining $174,200.00 required will be funded through the Agricultural Services Budget and Reserves. MOTION CARRIED ARRIVED AT MEETING Councillor A. Eastman arrived at 1.0:22 a.m. c. Canada-Alberta Building Canada Fund The Grant Administrator presented Council with information regarding the Building Canada Fund. She indicated tha# the application deadline is March i5, 2009 and requested ideas for eligible projects. Council discussed potential projects that would qualify for funding, such as the i0 year wing program and hamlet sewer and water treytment plant upgrades. The Chief Administrative Officer noted that he had met with officials last week regarding Municipal Sustainability Initiative funding, and they had confirmed that the MSl funding would be made available once the funding Regular Council Minutes Page 4 January 22, 2009 side of the application is completed. He suggested rural water co-ops as a potential project, 'but indicated that the :engineering drawings would have to be completed. first. The Grant Administrator responded to questions from Council, indicating that this was cone-time funding opportunity. C-19/09 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR 1. SCHROEDER that Council supports an application to the Canada-Alberta Building Canada Fund for the .Hamlet Sewage Upgrade project in the amount of $5,100,000.00, with the County of Newell's third of the cost ($1,278,053.34) funded through the Municipal Sustainability Initiative funding. MOTION CARRIED 11. POST AGENDA ITEMS c. Municipal Sponsorshlp: Gnat -Request to Proceed The Grant Administrator presented Council with a Conditional Grant Agreement for the Municipal Sponsorship. Program 2008, which has been approved in the amount of $48,781.00 for network server upgrades. C-20/09 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR B. DE, JONG that Council APPROVES the signing of the Municipal Sponsorship Program 2008 Grant Conditional Agreement document by the Chief Elected Official, Reeve M. Douglass, and the signing officer, Chief Administrative Officer Kevin Stephenson. MOTION CARRIED LEFT THE MEETING M. Nesbitt, Grant Administrator, left the meeting at 10:42 a.m. ARRIVED AT MEETING S. Sgt. J. Haley and Corp. D. Fisher arrived at :.10:43 a.m. 7. DELEGATIONS a. RCMP Quarterly Reports Corp. D. Fisher presented the Bassano .RCMP statistics to Council, indicating that there had been few ..significant events since the last meeting. He presented a comparison between the 2007 and 2008 numbers. Regarding staffing, administrative activities have increased and the detachment currently has a total of five active members, including two new recruits. S. Sgt. J. Haley presented the Brooks RCMP statistics to Council, Regular Council MinuMe Page 5 January 22, 2009 indicating some significant events that had ocxurred and noting that the calls for service and the number of prisoners have both decreased since last year. The Brooks RCMP detachment has a full complement of members on both the urban and rural side, and they have been approved for another public servant position. S. Sgt. J. Haley noted that they are in discussion with Edmonton r+egarc~ng expan~on of their current binding. He also presented Council with an overview of the new integrated service that would be operating throughout the Palliser Health Region targeting drug and gang activity. Council was given the opportunity to ask questions. CounciNor B. de Jong inquired about drug education programs with the school division fc~r parent or stuci~ent groups. S. Sgt. J. Haley replied that the Southern Alberta Marijuana Investigative Team would be holding a session on drug awareness and identi#ication at Griffin Park School starting at 6:30 p.m. Corp. D. Fisher indicated that they had run a series of drug awareness sessions within the scahools and also for the public, but the public sessions were not well-attended despite advertising. I~ElrT TIH~ MIIETING S. Sgt. J. Haley and Corp. D. Fisher left the meeting at 11:14 a.m. B~~ ~AT MEETING A. Wickert, Development Control Officer, arrived at 11:15 a.m. 9. PUBt I.C HEARINGS a. Bylaw 1653-09 -Road Closure & Lease (lKa~egawa) NE 1/a 23-15-15-W4 & SE ~/a 26-15-15-W4 Reeve M. Douglass called the Public Hearing to order at 11:15 a.rn. The County Administrator stated that the purpose of the Public Hearing was to hear representations on Bylaw 1655-09. Bylaw 1655-09 is a bylaw to close and /ease a portion of the government road allowance between NE % 23-15-~5-W4 and SE I& 26.15-i6-W4 which lies east of the production southerly of the east limit of canal right of way on Plan lRR 970. The Development Control Officer provided background information on this application, noting that there had been no objections received from either the required agency referrals or adjacent landowners. A letter has also been sent to the applicant indicating that it will be a lease rather than a sale. Regular Council Minutes Page 6 January 22, 2009 Reeve M. Douglass did not review the procedures that would be followed for the hearing as there were no new persons in attendance. Council was given. the opportunity to ask questions. C-21/09 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR R. ANDREWS that the public hearing adjourn at 11:17 a.m. MOTION CARRIED 10. BYLAWS a. ..Bylaw 1656-09 -Road Closure & Lease (Kanegawa) NE'/a 23-15-15-W4 & SE 1/a 26-15-#5-W4 (1St Reading) The Development Control Officer provided background information on this item to Council. C-22/09 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR J. HARBINSON that Bylaw 1655-09,,, being a bylaw for the purpose of closing to public travel and leasing the portion of road allowance lying between NE ~/a 23-15-15-W4 and SE 1/a 26-15-t5-W4 which lies east of the production southerly of the east limit of canal right of way on Plan IRR 970, be given first reading. MOTION CARRIED b. Bylaw 1656-09 -Inter Municipal Development Plan (1 gr Reading) The Chief Administrative Officer presented Council with Bylaw 1656-09, indicating that it would be advertised for. Public Hearing following first reading. C-23/09. MOVED BY COUNGILLOR A.M. PHILIPSEN. that Bylaw 1656-09, being a bylaw to adopt a land use plan that provides a framework and guidelines for dealing with future subdivision and development of lands within the designated intermunicipal plan boundary and promotes the ongoing cooperation, consultation, and coordination. the County of Newell No. 4 and the City of Brooks have established, be given first reading. MOTION CARRIED LEF'C THE MEETING A. Wickert, Development Control Officer, left the meeting at 11:18 a.m. .. ,> :;;, Regular Cowjcil Minutes Page ~ January 22, 2009 c. Bylaw 1591-06 - Sps~d Limits ~~ The Chief Administrative Officer presented Council with a letter from the Village of Duchess requesting tha# the speed limit on Highway 873 coming south past the entrance to the Village of Duchess be reduced to 50km/hour. He indicated that both Bylaw 15,91-06 and Policy t 998-PPW- 037 would probably need to be amended if Council agreed to change this. Councillor B. de Jong suggested that. the speed limit in both directions be amended, as it changes from 50km/h to 70km/h in one direction and stays at 70km/h in the other. He noted that the Village of Duchess would like the speed limit reduced to 50km/h. Council discussed changing the speed limit, and it was noted that Alberta Transportation sets the speed limit on Highway 873. Council suggested that they write a letter to the Village of Duchess indicating that they would support a speed limit of 70km/h for Highway 873, and forward the request to Alberta Transportation. C-24/09 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR B. DE JONG that the speed limit on Highway 873 from the Highway 550 intersection to 200m north and south be amended to 50km/h. Councillor B. de Jong amended the motion to read as follows: MOVED BY COUNCILLOR B. DE JONG mat Council supports amending the speed limit on Highway 873 from the Highway 550 intersection to 200m north and south to 70km/h, and that. a letter be sent to Alberta Transportation requesting #his amendment. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 8. OTHER BUSINESS - ntin d. COPE -Memorandum of Understanding The Chief Administrative Officer presented Council wi#h a Memorandum of Understanding concerning amendments to the 2009 X10 CUPS contract. C-259 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR J. HARBINSON that Council APPROVES the Memorandum of Understanding regarding :amendments to Section 21.04 of the 2009-2011 Collective Agreement (Health Spending Account). MOTION CARRIED Regular Council Minutes January 22, 2009 11. POST AGENDA ITEMS.-continued Page 8 a. Regional Enhancement Reserve Funding Request -Rolling Hills Agricul#ural Society Council was presented with a request for Regional Enhancement Reserve funding from the Rolling. Hills Agricultural Society. Councillor W. Daniels indicated that the application had been forwarded to him and that he felt it should come from the Division 1 committee. This item was referred back to fhe Regional Enhancement Reserve Committee for Division 1. b. AAMDC Spring 2009 Convention -Resolutions The Chief Administrative Officer presented Council with information regarding submitting resolutions for the Spring 2009 AAMDC Convention and noted the deadline for submission is February 20, 2009. This item was accepted as information. ARRIVED AT MEETING M. Nesbitt, Grant Administrator, arrived at 11:36 a.m. d. Funding Request -Tilley 4-H The Grant Administrator presented Council with a funding application .from the Tilley School 4-H requesting funding for their program. Councillor 1. Schroeder noted that Tilley School was only the second in Alberta that has brought the 4-H program into their school, and now some other schools in the Grasslands Regional Division are looking at this program. Council suggested that local Agricultural Societies should be approached as a source of funding. LEFT THE MEETING M. Nesbitt, Grant Administrator, left the meeting at 11:41 a.m. 12. CQMMITTEE REPORTS a. County/City Joint Services Councillor H. Wutzke indicated that they would be discussing the Inter Municipal Development Plan and access to City of Brooks standards information at the meeting today following Council. n.ui eu RegutarCouncil INinutee Page 9 January 22, 2009 b. Crime Stoppers Bosrd/Rural Crime Watch Councillor R. Andrews indicated that he had received a letter from the Brooks & District Crime Stoppers requesting that Council distribute the Crime Stoppers contact infom-ation within. their communities. The letter also asked about suggestions for areas within these communities where literature could be placed in order to prornot+e their cause and educate the communities. c. Red Deer Riser Municipal Users Group Councillor R. Andrews presented this report to Council, indicating that they had elected new directors and discussed the budget at their last meeting. d. Grasslands Regional FCSS Councillor J. Harbinson noted that the Women's Shelter had a meeting where they discussed choosing new board members and a new facilitator has been hired. He also reported that Ashton's Place Youth Center has found a location and is currently looking .for a director. e. Mayors' A Reeves' Association of So~heast Alberta Reeve M. Douglass presented this report to Council, indicating that they had met on January 9, 2009 before the Palliser Economic Partnership meeting to discuss proposed changes to small hospitals. There were also two guest speakers at this meeting, which gave presentations on rural cooperatives and TILMA, which will come in~ffect at the beginning of April. f. Newell Foundation Councillor H. Wutzke reported that they had a meeting r ntl Bassano regarding some issues with the windows, boiler, and the elin~' system. Councillor S. Evans indicated that they were currently wing on a policy regarding electnc wheelchairs -and scooters. ;There are currently 22 on the waiting list for Newbrook Lodge, 4 empty rooms at Playfair Lodge, and the Doctor Scott Apartments are full. Regular Council Minutes January 22, 2009 g. Shortgrass Library Board Page 10 Councillor W. Daniels requested permission to attend the Alberta Library Conference in Jas r, AB on A ril 23 26, 2009 as a function of Council. Pe P He reported that there had been .another person appointed to the Board from the Medicine Hat Library Board and that the RISE program is progressing with new equipment. to be installed in libraries. He also indicated that a drop box system has been adopted in some areas without libraries, and the Shortgrass Library Systems has developed some wikis online that will provide information to visitors. C-26/09 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR A.M. PHIUPSEN that Councillor W. Daniels be permitted to attend the Alberta Library Conference in Jasper, AB on April 23-26, 2009 as a function of Council MOTION CARRIED h. Veteran's Memorial Highway Development Safety Association Councillor B. de Jong presented this report to Council, indicating that they had met with the Minister of Transportation and expressed concerns regarding the highway. Potential projects brought up at this meeting included the widening of passing lanes in the Red River Valley, the Emerson Bridge turnout, and the identification of locations for more turnout lanes. They have also requested renumbering part of Highway 4 and north on Highway 881, as they are continuations of the Veteran's Memorial Highway. Regarding overpasses, Councillor B. de Jong indicated that there was not enough traffic on the highway to warrant an overpass. 11. -POST AGENDA ITEMS -continued e. Encana Reeve M. Douglass indicated that Encana would like to make a presentation to Council regarding .their ..division into two independent energy companies. Reeve M. Douglass will provide them with the dates of future Council meetings and a delegation will be arranged. f. Economic Development Courses ,, ~~` The Chief Administrative Officer presented Council with information regarding two upcoming Economic Development Courses scheduled for February 23 and 24, 2009. This item was accepted as information. 0 ~ ^ Regular Council Minutes Page ~~ January 22, 2009 g. Alberta Land Use Framework -Guiding Principles The Chief Administrative Officer presented Council with the guiding principles of the Alberta Land Use Framework, indicating that there was a deadline for comments or concerns. Thls item will be discussed further after lunch. LEfT THE MEETING Councillor B. de Jong, Councillor R. Andrews, S. Stanway, R. Kiedrowski, and M. Fitzgerald left the meeting at 12:05 p.m. LUN H Council RECESSED for lunch at 12:05 p.m. and RECONVENED a# 1:07 p.m. 11. POST AGENDA ITEMS -continued g. Alberta Land Use Framework -Guiding Principles -continued The Chief Administrative Officer noted that they were just looking at the ~""'~ changes and not determining whether or not anything was omitted. Council discussed the document. 13. nUEST1ON PERIOD/NOTICE OF MOTION ~ A question period was held. 14. INFORMATION ITEMS There were no information items to discuss at this mE 15. IN CAMERA C-27/09 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR A. EASTMAN that we move in camera at 1:16 p.m. MOTION CARRIED Regular council Minutes January 22, 2009 Page 12 . C-28/09 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR A.M. PHILIPSEN that we move out of camera at 2:25 p.m. MOTION CARRIED C-29/09 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR H. WUTZKE that, as per Section 425 of the Municipal Government Act, the Chief Administrative Officer be authorized to sell Roll No. 1184000 "23 Blue Heron Court" to the Ahighest offer over $37,390.00, being the market value set by Benchmark Assessment Inc. MOTION: CARRIED 16. ADJOURN C-30/09 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR J. HARBINSON that the meeting adjourn at 2:26 p.m. MOTION CARRIED ve Co my dministrator 0