Minutes of the Cypress County Council Meeting held March 3rd, 2009

           

PRESENT:                           George Russill, Reeve

                                                Darcy Geigle, Deputy Reeve

                                                Floyd Haas

                                                LeRay Pahl

                                                Garry Lentz

                                                Herb Scott

                                                Jerry Clark

                                                Brad Betcker

                                                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:              10:52 A.M.

 

AGENDA:                              Resolution No. 2009/56

 

                                                Garry Lentz moved to accept the agenda with the additions of 7(f) Mailboxes and 7(g) Walsh Water Plant Baffling Walls – Capital Project Request to New Business.

 

                                                                                                Carried

 

MINUTES:                            Resolution No. 2009/57

 

                                                Floyd Haas moved to approve the minutes of the February 3rd, 2009 Regular Council Meeting.

 

                                                                                                Carried

 

ACCOUNTS FOR

PAYMENT:                           Resolution No. 2009/58

 

                                                Floyd Haas moved to approve the Accounts for Payment in the amount of $ 206,935.17 (Feb17/09) & $ 129,488.72 (Mar 3/09).

 

                                                                                                Carried

                                                Council - March 3rd, 2009             

 

CASH STATEMENT:        Resolution No. 2009/59

 

Garry Lentz moved to receive for information the cash statement for the month ending January 31, 2009.

 

                                                                                                Carried

DELEGATION:

 

Open Canal Request in

Desert Blume, Scheffer

Andrew Ltd., Sheldon

Dattenberger                       Sheldon Dattenberger of Scheffer Andrew Ltd. was present to request Council’s approval that the canal located between Phase D North and Phase D South be allowed to remain open and not piped in as per the 2007 approved design drawings for the canal. 

 

                                               The Desert Blume Golf Course owns the right of way that the canal is situated within, and the SMRID has an easement within the right-of-way. 

 

                                               Desert Blume Developments and the Desert Blume Golf Course would like to leave the canal open as a visually appealing, open water feature for the adjacent residential lots that back onto the right-of-way.  Scheffer Andrew is proposing to reduce the side slopes of the canal to 7:1, install stepped gabion retaining wall structures where slopes will be 3:1 around culvert inlets and outlets, plant shrubs, and install a 1.2 metre fence around the perimeter and along the emergency access. 

 

                                               Council’s direction is to stay with the accepted design drawings for the canal, and therefore the drainage water will be piped and the canal filled in and graded.

 

 

 

BUSINESS ARISING:

 

Bylaw 2009/05 - Land

Use Amendment

(Pt SW 6-11-4-W4)               An application has been received from John Tevel to reclassify a portion of the SW 6-11-4-W4 from Agricultural District 2 “A-2 General Agriculture” to Country Residential District 2 “CR-2".

 

                                                A Public Hearing on the proposed bylaw was held prior to the meeting.

 

                                                Resolution No. 2009/60

 

                                                 Jerry Clark moved second reading of Bylaw 2009/05.

 

Defeated

 

DELEGATION:

 

Sandy Point Park May

Long Weekend, CST Mark

McCarthy, RCMP               CST McCarthy was present to discuss the previous May long weekend at Sandy Point Park and what pre-emptive action to take for the upcoming May long weekend.

 

                                                Cst McCarthy commented on the previous May long weekend and believed that the youths were well behaved and respectful.  Overall, the weekend had minimal disturbance, as the youths were grouped together at the south end of the campground and cleaned up after themselves, except for the remains of a burnt couch. 

 

                                                For the upcoming May long weekend at Sandy Point, CST McCarthy has indicated that the RCMP will be present and action will be taken as needed. 

 

RECESS:                             12:00 P.M.

 

RECONVENE:                    12:30 P.M.

                                               

BUSINESS ARISING:

 

Well Drilling Setbacks

Policy R18                            Currently, Council has approved a guideline to have all gas and oil wells set back 50 m from any developed road or road allowance. 

 

                                                There was a discrepancy in the information previously given related to the 100 m setback.  Actually, oil companies who want to drill must provide notification to the municipality for wells that are drilled less than 100 m, but more than 40 m, from any road or road allowance.  In between these distances the County may submit an objection if the County has a valid public interest.  The issue of road widening would be considered a public interest.

 

                                                Council would like to see proposed Policy R18 revised to incorporate the 50 m setback.

 

RCMP Local Policing

Priorities                               Cpl Dave Brunner from the RCMP appeared before Council at the February 3rd, 2009 Council meeting to discuss the Annual Performance Plan.  He asked Council to determine which community issues they would like addressed for the 2009-2010 year. 

 

                                                Council would like assaults, traffic safety, property theft and substance abuse addressed and forwarded to the RCMP.

 

Capital Budget - Walsh

Water Lines                          During the review of the capital budget at the previous council meeting on February 3rd, 2009, the Walsh water line replacement project was put on hold pending a review of the scope. 

 

                                                Staff has reviewed the project and recommends that the project be approved.

 

                                                Council discussed the project with its benefits and costs.  Council postponed the issue.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

 

Slumping Bank, Gary

& Joe Groves                      Gary & Joy Groves were in attendance to make Council aware of the slumping of the river bank located on County property.  The slump is located behind the subdivision located at Plan 7911261, Block 1, Lot 4 (SE 6-13-6-W4).   The bank has been slumping at a rate of 12 m in two years.  Pictures were presented showing the effect of the slumping bank.  Council recommended that the Groves contact a geotechnical engineer.

 

Policy Amendment –

ADM PR2                              The current policy requires two weeks’ notice for beginning or ending maternity leave.  Alberta Labour Standards require four weeks’ notice to end leave.

 

                                                Staff would like Policy ADM PR2 revised to match the provincial regulations.

 

                                                Resolution No. 2009/61

 

                                                Darcy Geigle moved to revise Policy ADM PR2 to match the provincial regulations.

 

                                                                                                Carried

 

Fire Agreement                   Discussed in committee session.

 

CAO Performance

Appraisal                              Discussed in committee session.

 

Redcliff Landfill – Versus

Goliath Proposal                The Town of Redcliff would like support from Cypress County that would allow Versus Goliath to provide a proposal to proceed with a feasibility study at no expense to the Redcliff/Cypress Regional Landfill, Town of Redcliff, or Cypress County, for a methane recovery project

.

 

                                                Resolution No. 2009/62

 

                                                LeRay Pahl moved to support the Town of Redcliff’s recommendation to allow Versus Goliath to provide a proposal document/agreement for a methane recovery project.

 

                                                Carried

 

Mailboxes                            Councillor Lentz brought forward two letters regarding the placement of the Canada Post mailboxes.  The mailboxes in question are located off the Josephburg Trail & Eagle Butte Road.  The concerns regarding the placement of the mailboxes include an increase in local traffic, safety issues, snow removal, environmental issues, and road maintenance.

 

                                                Council recommends a letter be sent to Canada Post to address the safety issues regarding the placement of the mailboxes.

 

Walsh Water Plant

Baffling Walls –

Capital Project Request   During the review of the capital budget at the previous council meeting on February 3rd, 2009, the Walsh water plant baffling walls capital project request was approved. 

 

                                                Staff has received an updated cost on the project.  Staff would like to receive confirmation that the new cost of the project is approved. 

 

                                                Council discussed the project with its benefits and costs.  Council postponed the issue.

 

REPORTS:

 

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

                                               


                                                Neil Strauss of Hilda would like permission from Council to install a Texas gate on Twp Road 202. 

 

                                                Resolution No. 2009/63

 

                                                Floyd Haas moved to approve the Texas gate request by Neil Strauss.

 

                                                Carried

 

                                                Council’s direction regarding a road ban on Eagle Butte Road for 2009 is at the discretion of the Public Works department.

 

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

                                               

Assistant Manager’s

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

 

                                                Council approved a silver sponsorship of $300 for the Alberta Assessors Association annual conference.                                     

 

Reeves/Councilors’

Reports                                Councilor Scott & Councilor Clark attended a Negotiation Course in Cochrane. 

 

                                                Councilor Scott & Councilor Pahl attended the Canadian Badlands Meeting. 

 

Committee Session           Resolution No. 2009/64

 

                                                LeRay Pahl moved to go into committee of the whole.

 

                                                Carried

 

                                                Resolution No. 2009/65

 

                                                Floyd Haas moved to come out of committee of the whole.

 

                                                Carried

 

                                                Resolution No. 2009/66

 

                                                Herb Scott moved to enter into a contract with the City of Medicine Hat for fire services.

 

                                                                                                Carried

 

                                                ADJOURN:                           4:00 P.M.