Minutes of the Cypress County Council Meeting held December 15th, 2009

 

PRESENT:                           Darcy Geigle, Reeve

                                                Brad Betcker, Deputy Reeve

                                                Floyd Haas

                                                LeRay Pahl

                                                Garry Lentz

                                                George Russill

                                                Herb Scott

                                                Jerry Clark

                                                Peter Konosky

                                                Lutz Perschon, Manager

                                                Doug Henderson, Assistant Manager

                                                Rick Bleau, Public Works Supervisor

                                                Jeffrey Dowling, Planning Advisor

                                                Roxanne Risk, Treasurer/Recording Secretary

                                               

CALL TO ORDER:              10:32 A.M.

 

AGENDA:                              Resolution No. 2009/327

 

                                                George Russill moved to accept the agenda with the addition of 7(j) CFEP Grant Application – Seven Persons Community Association to New Business and deletions of Cindy Bangston and Lucille Glagau from Delegations.

 

                                                                                                Carried.

 

MINUTES:                            Resolution No. 2009/328

 

                                                Floyd Haas moved to approve the minutes of the December 1st, 2009 Public Hearing and Regular Council Meeting.

 

                                                                                                Carried.

 

  Accounts                         ACCOUNTS FOR                 

PAYMENT:                           Resolution No. 2009/329

 

Garry Lentz moved to approve the Accounts for Payment in the amount of $ 866,849.38.

 

                                                                                                Carried.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

 

Bylaw 2009/32 – Land

Use Amendment

(TWP 9-4 to 10-5)               An application has been received from NaturEner Wild Rose 2 Energy Inc. for an Overlay District in the areas of Township 9 Range 4 to Township 10 Range 5 to establish a Wind Energy Facility District “WEF”. 

 

                                               Resolution No. 2009/330

 

                                               Jerry Clark moved first reading of Bylaw 2009/32.

 

                                                                                                Carried.

 

Bylaw 2009/33 – Land

Use Amendment

(PN SE 34-11-6-W4)          An application has been received from Midwest Surveys Inc., on behalf of Laverne and Gertrude Stehr, to reclassify a portion of the SE 34-11-6-W4 from Agricultural District 1 “A-1 Urban Fringe” to Country Residential District 2 “CR-2”.

 

                                               Resolution No. 2009/331

 

                                               Jerry Clark moved first reading of Bylaw 2009/33.

 

                                                                                                Carried.

 

Olympic Torch

Relay Activities                  The 2010 Olympic Torch will run through Seven Persons on Sunday January 17th, 2010.  There will be 1-2 minutes available for dignitaries’ comments.  The school will be open and the Community Association is planning on providing hot chocolate and donuts.

 

                                               The Reeve will be in attendance and give brief remarks and well wishing.

 

 

Personnel Policy –

Sickleave Definition         The definition of sick leave has been updated to clarify that those employees not eligible for weekly indemnity or long term disability benefits are eligible for a maximum of 7 days of sick leave annually, which is not cumulative from year to year.

 

                                               Resolution No. 2009/332

 

                                               Herb Scott moved to accept the Personnel Policy as amended.

 

                                                                                                Carried.

 

 

Road Cancellation –

Krassman                           Mr. Krassman has requested that the road plan through the West half of 29-15-1-W4 be cancelled.  If the road were constructed it would run through his cultivated field.  The required notifications have been sent and the utility companies have responded with no concerns.

 

                                               Resolution No. 2009/333

 

                                               Floyd Haas moved to cancel Road Plan 413 BM affecting the SW & NW 29-15-1-W4, sell the road plan at market value, and consolidate the road plan with the adjacent parcels.

 

                                                                                                Carried.

 

Snow Removal –

Elkwater Girl

Guide Camp                       The Elkwater Girl Guide campsite has been notified that Volker Stevin will not be snowplowing the road to the camp buildings.  The Elkwater Girl Guide Committee is asking Council to perform snowplowing on this road.

                                              

                                               Staff will submit a letter to the Elkwater Girl Guide Committee indicating that snowplowing is available when needed with appropriate notice, services will be billed, and the snowplowing expenses may be reimbursed by the Elkwater Community Association through the Recreation Board Small Projects Grant program.

 

Request to Construct

Dugout on Undeveloped

Road Allowance                The Cypress Hills Grazing Co-op is asking Council to consider a proposal to construct a dugout located between SW 14-7-1-W4 and SE 15-7-1-W4 on an undeveloped road allowance. 

 

                                               Resolution No. 2009/334

 

                                               Peter Konosky moved to grant the request to construct a dugout on the undeveloped road allowance subject to access is required to travel around the dugout, and if access is not granted, the dugout will be filled in at the expense of the Cypress Hills Grazing Co-op.

 

                                                                                                 Carried.

 

 

Bridge Replacement

Approval                              Alberta Transportation is asking if Council is interested in replacing the bridge to Harry Good’s Ranch located at NW 31-9-6-W4.  The estimated cost is $ 300,000.00 and the County would be responsible for 40% of the cost.  The project would need to be completed by March 2010.

 

                                               Resolution No. 2009/335

 

                                               Jerry Clark moved approval of the Bridge Replacement Project. 

 

                                                                                                Carried.

 

Cypress View

Foundation Funding         Cypress View Foundation is asking Council to consider a loan request for $ 582,000.00 to be split equally with the City of Medicine Hat.  The funding would match a Lodge Modernization and Improvement Program Grant from Alberta Seniors and Community Supports which is a condition of the grant.

 

                                               

                                                Resolution No. 2009/336

 

                                                Floyd Haas moved to allow the Cypress View Foundation to borrow $ 291,000.00, paid back over a 15 year term, at an interest rate of 5.5% per annum.

 

                                                                                                Carried.

 

CFEP Grant Application –

Seven Persons

Community Association   The Seven Person and District Community Association is applying to the Community Facility Enhancement Program (CFEP) for 50% funding of the cost to install the deep water connections to supply raw water to the skating rink and park.  The school division and the Community Water Conservation Co-op will be paying the other 50%.  The total cost of this project was $ 37,450.00 and retroactive funding applications will be accepted up until December 31, 2009.  The rink and park are owned by the County, therefore a resolution supporting their application is needed.

 

                                                Resolution No. 2009/337

 

                                                Garry Lentz moved to submit a letter of support for the Seven Persons Community Association CFEP Grant Application.

 

                                                                                                Carried.

 

REPORTS:

 

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

 

                                                The practice of supplying gravel to ratepayers has been discontinued.  If a request is made by a ratepayer for gravel, it will be brought before Council.

 

                                                Resolution No. 2009/338

 

                                                Floyd Haas moved to proceed to the design stage for the Walsh Waterline Replacement Project.

 

                                                                                                Carried.

DELEGATION:

 

Quarterly Update –

RCMP                                   Sergeant Ness was in attendance to present the quarterly report from September to December 2009.  The report included detailed crime statistics, motor vehicle collisions statistics, total violations written, and updates on the department’s dealings.

 

RECESSS:                          12:08 P.M.

 

RECONVENE:                    12:43 P.M.

 

REPORTS:

 

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

 

                                                Council gave approval to support the 2010 Firefit Competition.  The portion of the sponsor fee that the County is responsible for is $ 3500.00.       

Assistant Manager’s

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

 

Reeve’s/Councillors’

Reports                                 Updates were provided on meetings/conferences attended and upcoming meetings.

 

                                                Councillor Lentz asked Council to consider a delegation from Glen Klaiber.  Council granted the request.

 

ADJOURN:                           1:30 P.M.