Minutes of the Cypress County Council Meeting held August 19, 2008

 

PRESENT:                            Darcy Geigle, Reeve

                                                LeRay Pahl, Deputy Reeve

                                                Floyd Haas

                                                George Russill

                                                Garry Lentz

                                                Herb Scott

                                                Jerry Clark

                                                Brad Betcker

                                                Peter Konosky

                                                Lutz Perschon, Manager

                                                Rick Bleau, Public Works Supervisor

                                                Jeffrey Dowling, Planning Advisor

                                                Roxanne Risk, Recording Secretary

 

ABSENT:                              Doug Henderson, Assistant Manager

                                                Kelsey Bachmeier, Treasurer/Recording Secretary    

 

CALL TO ORDER:             10:46 A.M.

 

AGENDA:                             Resolution No. 2008/218

 

George Russill moved to accept the agenda with the additions of Fire Truck Disposition, Canadian Union of Postal Workers, and Range Road 70 to New Business.

 

                                                                                                Carried.

 

MINUTES:                            Resolution No. 2008/219

 

Floyd Haas moved to approve the minutes of the August 5, 2008 Regular Council Meeting.

 

                                                                                                Carried

 

ACCOUNTS FOR

PAYMENT:                          Resolution No. 2008/220

 

Garry Lentz moved to approve the Accounts for Payment in the amount of $356,169.77.

 

Carried

 

 

 

BUSINESS ARISING:

Bylaw 2008/23– Land

Use Amendment

(Pt SW 4-11-7-W4)                 An application has been received from The Focus Corporation, on behalf of Pat Doyle, to reclassify a portion of the SW 4-11-7-W4 in the hamlet of Seven Persons from Hamlet Industrial District “HI” to Hamlet Residential (Single Family) District “HSR”.  A Public Hearing on the proposed bylaw was held prior to the meeting. 

 

                                                Resolution No. 2008/221

 

Floyd Haas moved second reading of Bylaw 2008/23.

 

                                                                                                Carried.

 

                                                Resolution No. 2008/222

 

LeRay Pahl moved third reading of Bylaw 2008/23.

 

                                                                                                Carried.

 

Bylaw 2008/24 – Land

Use By-Law Amendment

(RRR Habitable

Floor Area)                             The Cypress County Land Use Bylaw requires an amendment within Part VI Land Use Districts & Regulations to amend the Recreation/Residential Resort District (RRR) to remove restrictions on ground floor area.  A Public Hearing on the proposed bylaw was held prior to the meeting.

 

                                                Resolution No. 2008/223

 

Jerry Clark moved second reading of Bylaw 2008/24.

 

                                                                                                Carried.

 

                                                Resolution No. 2008/224

 

Garry Lentz moved third reading of Bylaw 2008/24.

 

                                                                                                Carried.

 

DELEGATIONS:

Desert Blume Parks

James Johansen, Scheffer

Andrew Ltd.

Sheldon Dattenberger,

Scheffer Andrew Ltd.          At the April 1, 2008 Cypress County Council meeting, Council discussed the parks with representatives from Desert Blume and Scheffer Andrew Ltd.  During this discussion the question that was posed was to what standard the parks should be developed.  Cypress County is obligated to construct Municipal Reserve to a certain standard as part of the 2005 Master Agreement for Desert Blume that was signed between the County, the City of Medicine Hat and Desert Blume Developments. 

 

                                                At the August 5, 2008 Cypress County Council meeting, Barry Miller of Focus Corporation was in attendance to inform Council of it’s obligations as well as bring some deficiencies in the plans to Council’s attention.  Mr. Miller proposed that Council change the natural areas from Municipal Reserve to Environmental Reserve and questioned whether trees that require irrigation should be planted and whether garbage containers will be located in the parks.  Without Jeffrey Dowling, the Planning Advisor for Cypress County present to speak to Mr. Miller’s comments and suggestions, the issue was postponed.

 

                                                Mr. James Johansen, of Scheffer Andrew Ltd., was in attendance to receive approval to begin the construction on park area MR2. The park consists of play structures, which are safety approved, 3.0m asphalt trail, garbage bin, and park benches.  The area is landscaped with grass, trees, and shrubs.  The play area will be landscaped with pea size rock.  The County will be responsible for upkeep of the park when completed.  Scheffer Andrew is working on an agreement for water with Desert Blume Golf Club. A rough water line is already in place for the installation of sprinklers.  During discussion, Mr. James Johansen indicated that they would also like to receive approval for park areas MR1 through to and including park area MR9.

                                               

Desert Blume Parks              Resolution No. 2008/225

 

                                                Floyd Haas moved to approve park areas MR1 through MR9, in principal, and subject to approval from the Cypress County Planning Authority.

 

                                                                                                Carried

 

NEW BUSINESS:

Bylaw 2008/26 –Land

Use Amendment

(Pt NE 12-12-6-W4)              An application has been received from The Focus Corporation, on behalf of Lacey Construction, to reclassify a portion of the NE 12-12-6-W4, from Agricultural District 1 “A-1 Urban Fringe” to Country Residential District “CR”.

 

                                                Resolution No. 2008/226

 

                                                Jerry Clark moved first reading of Bylaw 2008/26.

 

                                                                                                Carried.

 

Seven Persons Hall

Seepage                                  Due to seepage, which has caused the settling of the Seven Persons Hall, cracks have emerged in the floor and wall/door frames.  The original blueprints show plans for weeping tile and a sump pump in the basement which were not implemented.  The Seven Persons and District Community Association requests that repairs, for an estimated cost of $51,000.00, be accepted and implemented this fall if possible.

 

                                                By consent the issue is postponed.

 

RECESS:                               12:07 P.M.

 

 

RECONVENE:                     12:28 P.M.

                                               

 

Fire Truck Disposition          As a result of the delivery of the new Irvine and Schuler fire trucks, the County will have two fire trucks available for disposal.  The fire trucks for disposal would be the 1986 Ford F700 (Schuler) and the 1981 Chev (current spare). 

 

                                                Resolution No. 2008/227

 

                                                Jerry Clark moved to advertise the fire trucks in the municipal newsletters for one month, subject to the bid process.

 

                                                                                                Carried.

 

Canadian Union of Postal

Workers Prairie Region       A letter was received from the Canadian Union of Postal Workers Prairie Region, requesting a submission to the strategic review of Canada Post commenting on the deregulation of postal services.

 

                                                By consent no action is to be taken.

 

Range Road 70                      Jerry Clark informed Council of a near miss along Range Road 70, south of Robinson Coulee Road.  A vehicle came over a hill and nearly missed colliding with a combine. 

 

                                                This section of road will be reviewed on the fall road tour.

 

DELEGATIONS:

Great Sandhills Railway

Jim Major, Great

Sandhills Terminal

Perry Pellerin, GNP

Consulting                              Mr. Jim Major of Great Sandhills Terminal and Mr. Perry Pellerin of GNP Consulting provided information regarding the purchase of the Empress Short Line, McNeill Spur, and Hazlet Spur rail lines. The Empress Short Line includes approximately 117 miles of track just west of Swift Current through Leader to Burstall and includes the Hazlet Spur south of Cabri.  The McNeill Spur runs west 5.4 miles from Burstall into Alberta. The purchase price is $6.3 million. Today’s net salvage value is $12 million.  The feasibility study that was conducted indicates favourability for a short line operation.  The track is in good condition but close to 300 ties per mile need to be replaced at a value of approximately $3 million.  Currently there are two major shippers being Great Sandhills Terminal and Spectra Energy Empress Ltd. If the rail line were to disappear it would result in over 10,000 additional trucks on area highways.

 

                                                LeRay Pahl inquired about the return on investment.  Mr. Major indicated that no return would be seen until the 5-10 year mark, as the 1st priority is to get the line speed reinstated to 25 km/h.

 

                                                Resolution No. 2008/228

 

                                                Floyd Haas moved to invest $100,000.00 in the Great Sandhills Railway subject to the Minister’s Approval.

 

                                                                                                Carried.

 

REPORTS:

 

Manager’s Report                 The Manager’s Report was presented and accepted for information.

 

Water Rights                         Peter Konosky left the meeting.

 

                                                Manager Perschon reported that Peter Konosky refused the offer from the County to purchase his water rights.  Council was not prepared to increase their offer.           

 

                                                Peter Konosky returned to the meeting.

 

                                               

 

ADJOURN:                           2:01 P.M.