Minutes of the Cypress County Council Meeting held October 20th, 2009

PRESENT: Darcy Geigle, Reeve

Brad Betcker, Deputy Reeve

Floyd Haas

LeRay Pahl

Garry Lentz

Herb Scott

Jerry Clark

George Russill

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: 11:17 A.M.

AGENDA: Resolution No. 2009/280

Jerry Clark moved to accept the agenda with the additions of 7(b) Highway 3 Bypass, 7(c) Highway 1 Bypass, and 7(d) Forty Mile Gas Co-op to New Business.

Carried.

MINUTES: Resolution No. 2009/281

Herb Scott moved to approve the minutes of the October 6^th, 2009 Regular Council Meeting.

Carried.

ACCOUNTS FOR

PAYMENT: Resolution No. 2009/282

Floyd Haas moved to approve the Accounts for Payment in the amount of $ 2,246,545.19.

Carried.

CASH STATEMENT: Resolution No. 2009/283

LeRay Pahl moved to receive for information the cash statement for the month ending September 30, 2009.

Carried.

NEW BUSINESS:

Power Transmission

Line Road

Encroachment AltaLink is proposing to install a 240kV transmission line from northeast of the City of Medicine Hat to Whitla. They are asking for the County’s permission to close off an undeveloped portion of Range Road 43 from Highway 1 north to Highway 41.

Resolution No. 2009/284

LeRay Pahl moved no action.

Carried.

Highway 3 Bypass Councillor Clark attended the open house for the Highway 3 future twinning study on October 7^th. He would like a letter submitted indicating that access to the Hamlet of Seven Persons remain open.

Council has directed staff to ask Alberta Transportation and their consultant to speak to Council.

DELEGATION:

Introduction of

New NCO,

Staff Sgt. Ness, RCMP Staff Sergeant Ness appeared before Council to introduce himself. He has 19 years of service with the RCMP. He asked for Council’s feedback about information reporting. It was agreed that reporting to Council shall be done quarterly.

RECESSS: 12:05 P.M.

RECONVENE: 12:36 P.M.

COMMITTEE

SESSION: Resolution No. 2009/285

LeRay Pahl moved to go into committee of the whole.

Carried.

Resolution No. 2009/286

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

Carried.

DELEGATION:

Report on Casual

Sickleave,

Keith Bender Discussed in Committee Session.

NEW BUSINESS:

Highway 1

Bypass Councillor Haas would like to readdress the future Highway 1 alignment. He stated that the route proposed is going through the best agriculture land in the County. He suggested that the highway could go north of the City of Medicine Hat. He is requesting that the County submit opposition letters to the Minister of Agriculture, MLA Mitzel and surrounding MLAs, and get support from the Town of Redcliff.

Council discussed the issue. When Alberta Transportation was receiving feedback to the proposed alignment of the Highway 1, the County submitted their opinion and concerns and it was adequate. It is felt that at this time it is unnecessary to resubmit letters.

DELEGATIONS:

Speed Control

Sign Issue,

Robin Herrmann At the October 6^th, 2009 Council meeting, it was brought forward to Council that the reduced speed limit signs were removed in the immediate vicinity of Mr. Herrmann’s farmyard on Range Road 43. As a result, a policy on selective speed control is to be ratified.

Mr. Herrmann appeared before Council to express his concerns regarding the removal of the signs and the resulting safety implications. He explained that in 1996 the oil companies started to have business in the area. In 2005, he approached the oil companies regarding the health and safety issues that resulted from the dust created from the companies’ vehicles travelling on the gravel road and they agreed to the installation of the reduced speed limit signs. The amount of dust created and the number of accidents have been significantly reduced since the installation of the signs.

Mr. Herrmann has contacted surrounding municipalities regarding the installation of signs and most have a policy to address the issue.

Mr. Herrmann is requesting that the signs be reinstated until they can be established permanently. Council declined.

Council directed staff to contact other municipalities regarding a policy for installation of signs.

Land Use Change,

Bruce Johnson Mr. Johnson of Ag-Plus Mechanical Services appeared before Council to request a letter that indicates that the area located at PN NE 36-11-6-W4 is acceptable and appropriate as industrial zoning. As per the proposed Intermunicipal Development Plan, it has been designated as industrial appropriate land.

Council directed staff to provide Mr. Johnson a letter stating the property located at PN NE 36-11-6-W4 is acceptable and appropriate as industrial zoning subject to various conditions.

NEW BUSINESS:

Forty Mile Gas Co-op Councillor Russill received a request from Forty Mile Gas Co-op to submit a letter of support for their Corridor Communications application to the federal government under their Broadband Canada Connecting Rural Canadians Grant Program.

Resolution No. 2009/287

George Russill moved to submit a letter of support for the Forty Mile Gas Co-op.

Carried.

REPORTS:

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

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.

Reeve’s/Councillors’

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

ADJOURN: 2:26 P.M.