Minutes of the Cypress County Council Meeting held September 23, 2008

 

PRESENT:                            Darcy Geigle, Reeve

                                                LeRay Pahl, Deputy Reeve

                                                Floyd Haas

                                                George Russill

                                                Garry Lentz

                                                Herb Scott

                                                Jerry Clark

                                                Brad Betcker

                                                Peter Konosky

                                                Doug Henderson, Assistant Manager

                                                Rick Bleau, Public Works Supervisor

                                                Jeffrey Dowling, Planning Advisor

                                                Kelsey Bachmeier, Treasurer/Recording Secretary

 

ABSENT:                              Lutz Perschon, Manager        

                                                                                               

 

CALL TO ORDER:             11:02 A.M.

 

AGENDA:                             Resolution No. 2008/242

 

Garry Lentz moved to accept the agenda as amended.

 

                                                                                                Carried

 

DELEGATIONS:

Medical Co-Response

Program – Sandy

Halldorson, Palliser Health

Region, EMS and Dr. Ian

Phelps, Palliser Health

Region, MD, CCFP,

EMT-P                                   There has been an increase in the number of requests by Cypress County fire departments to respond to more that just fires and motor vehicle collisions due to a time lapse waiting for emergency medical units responding from Medicine Hat to the scene within Cypress County for medical/trauma emergencies.  Palliser Health Authority is prepared to proceed with the necessary training required to train our volunteer fire department members and use Cypress County as the pilot project for the entire Palliser Health area.  The Medical Co-Responders program course is an Alberta College of Paramedics approved Emergency Medical Responder Course (EMR).  Staff recommends that Cypress County strive to assist Palliser Health in providing this service to the ratepayers of Cypress County.

 

                                                Mr. Halldorson and Dr. Phelps from the Palliser Health Region were in attendance to speak to Council about the Medical Co-Response Program in Southern Alberta.  The goal of the program would be to provide formalized training to volunteer fire department personnel.  Implementation of this program would provide for coordinated and consistent dispatch among Cypress County and the Medicine Hat divisions and universal equipment.  Volunteer personnel would only be dispatched for the highest severity calls where time is of the essence.  This program would cover off-duty personnel who provide care as “Good Samaritans.”  The training would be approximately 80-150 hours in duration and Palliser Health Region would be willing to provide this training within the volunteer communities.  The cost of the program would be approximately $1,000 per student for training and $5,000 per department willing to participate for the necessary equipment. 

 

Monarch Subdivision

Encroachment – Hugh

Bice, Bice and Sons

Drywall/Stucco Services       At last Council meeting, during the discussion of the Public Works Supervisor’s report, Council indicated that there should be no encroachment of development into County road rights-of-way.  Bice and Sons Drywall/Stucco Services feels their lawn and irrigation system should be allowed as it adds significant street appeal to their business and the subdivision.  Acceptance of these improvements may indicate approval of encroachment, which may soon lead to other developments in the ditches.  Recently, notices were sent to residents in County hamlets asking them to remove any developments, such as curbs, within one metre of the road surface.  The deadline on the notice was November 1, 2008.

 

                                                Hugh Bice was in attendance to explain to Council that his intent to landscape his property was not to cause problems within Cypress County.  He only wished to set a precedence in the light industrial area where his new shop is.  He further explained that he was willing to maintain the lawn he has put down in the ditch.  With regards to the low water use intent of the Monarch Subdivision, Mr. Bice suggested that once the grass has established, the water maintenance on this piece would not substantially increase their water consumption.  Since occupancy, his water bill has only been $15-20 per month and there are only four individuals working in his office.      

 

BUSINESS ARISING:

Monarch Subdivision

Encroachment                       Council has requested that Bice and Sons Drywall/Stucco Services remove the sprinklers from Cypress County property in accordance with the notice sent out to County residents.

 

MINUTES:                            Resolution No. 2008/243

 

LeRay Pahl moved to approve the minutes of the September 9, 2008 Regular Council Meeting.

 

                                                                                                Carried

 

ACCOUNTS FOR

PAYMENT:                          Resolution No. 2008/244

 

Floyd Haas moved to approve the Accounts for Payment in the amount of $739,489.79.

 

Carried

 

 

BUSINESS ARISING:

Bylaw 2008/26 – Land

Use Amendment

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

 

                                                Resolution No. 2008/245

 

                                                Jerry Clark moved second reading of Bylaw 2008/26.

 

                                                                                                Defeated

 

RECESS:                               12:00 P.M.

 

RECONVENE:                     12:40 P.M.

 

SEAWA Executive

Director Payroll                     During last Council meeting, Councillor Scott requested, on behalf of SEAWA, that Council consider placing the new director for SEAWA on Cypress County’s benefit plan.  Staff has consulted Cypress County’s benefit carrier and has found that this scenario  would not be possible.  The benefit carrier requires that an individual be an employee or contractor of Cypress County to qualify.  Staff has recommended that SEAWA contact the Medicine Hat Chamber of Commerce and investigate the benefits program they have to offer.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

Funding Request – Rural

Development Symposium     Council has received a letter from the planning committee of “Growing in Rural Alberta – A Rural Development Symposium” requesting funding support from Cypress County for the upcoming  Symposium, being held at the Medicine Hat Lodge on October 27 and 28, 2008.  This event is an opportunity for rural residents to learn and share best practices on developing rural economies, understand the workplace realities and build community capacity.  The overall goal is to empower rural communities with the resources and support needed to build their communities.  The organization is requesting a donation of $500 per community.

 

                                                Resolution No. 2008/246

 

                                                Herb Scott moved to provide funding support in the amount of $500.00 to “Growing in Rural Alberta – A Rural Development Symposium.”

 

                                                                                                Carried

 

Municipal Sponsorship

Grant                                      Cypress County has been approached by several neighbouring municipalities to join efforts in the Foothills Little Bow 2008 Ortho Project.  This project would enable Cypress County and partners to update their air photos.  The plan is to have the air photos available in 2010 by flying Southern Alberta in 2009.  The project would qualify under the Municipal Sponsorship Program  for 2008 as an intermunicipal project, which receives bonus grant funding.  The MD of Willow Creek will manage the project and the County will allocate $25,295 or 52% of its 2008 grant to the project.  Under the project guidelines, a resolution must be passed designating a managing partner for the project.

 

                                                Resolution No. 2008/247

 

                                                Floyd Haas moved to pass the Municipal Sponsorship Program Council Resolution as attached.

 

                                                                                                Carried

                                               

Fire Chief Appointments      The County Fire Services Bylaw 2002/17 and Policy FP1 – Volunteer Fire Departments require the appointment of a Fire Chief and deputies by resolution of Council.  The Schuler Volunteer Fire Department recently selected Andrew Mclean as their new chief, with Don Friessen and Gerritt Jans as deputies.  This selection requires either Council’s formal appointment of the department’s selection or direction to go through a selection procedure outlined in the policy

 

                                                Resolution No. 2008/248

 

                                                Floyd Haas moved to appoint Andrew Mclean, Fire Chief, Don Friessen and Gerritt Jans as Deputy Fire Chiefs for the Schuler Volunteer Fire Department.

 

                                                                                                Carried

 

Appointment of Fire

Guardians                              The Forest and Prairie Protection Act (FPPA) requires rural municipalities to appoint a sufficient number of fire guardians.  With recent changes in the Schuler Volunteer Fire Department, some changes to our Fire Guardians list is needed.  Tim Krassman has resigned as chief and therefore no longer qualifies as a fire guardian.  Andrew Mclean, the new chief, was previously appointed when he was a deputy chief.  The two new deputies need to be appointed.

 

                                                Resolution No. 2008/249

 

                                                Jerry Clark moved to appoint Don Friessen and Gerritt Jans of the Schuler Fire Department as Fire Guardians and rescind Tim Krassman’s appointment, pursuant the Forest and Prairie Protection Act.

 

                                                                                                Carried           

 

Medical Co-Response

Program                                 Resolution No. 2008/250

 

                                                George Russill moved to give support to the Medical Co-Response program and have fire chief, Dennis Mann, further investigate the costs and liability issues associated with the program.

 

                                                                                                Carried

 

Road Cancellation                 During the August 5, 2008 Council meeting, Council passed a resolution to cancel Road Plan 6825 HX affecting the SW 18-12-6-W4 and NW 7-12-6-W4.  However, Midwest Surveys has advised that to close a road and create a Title (not followed by a consolidation), in most cases, Land Titles requires a plan showing the area required for road closure purposes.  The cost of this plan in NW 7 would be over $2,000.

 

                                                Resolution No. 2008/251

 

                                                LeRay Pahl moved to cancel Road Plan 6825 HX affecting the SW 18-12-6-W4.

 

                                                                                                Carried

 

Land Sale                               Barry Goodine has recently approached Cypress County to buy a fourteen lots of agricultural land currently owned by Cypress County, along with adjacent road right of way, west of Redcliff.  The lots in question are surrounded by Mr. Goodine’s land that he owns and currently grazes.  If Cypress County were to sell Mr. Goodine the land, he would consolidate them into his existing parcels.

 

                                                Resolution No. 2008/252

 

                                                Garry Lentz moved to sell Plan 1015AV Block 5 Lots 1-14 and adjacent road rights-of-way to Barry Goodine at fair market value provided he amalgamates it with his existing land.

 

                                                                                                Carried           

 

 

REPORTS:

Public Work’s Report           The Public Work’s Report was presented and accepted for information.

 

                                                Resolution No. 2008/253

 

                                                Floyd Haas moved to have Eagle’s Nest Ranch Association comply to the letter sent on September 10, 2008 by Peace Officer, Anna Mast.

 

                                                                                                Carried           

                                               

Assistant Manager’s

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

 

ADJOURN:                           2:50 P.M.