Minutes of the Cypress County Council Meeting held September 1st, 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:              11:08 A.M.

 

AGENDA:                              Resolution No. 2009/235

 

                                                Jerry Clark moved to accept the agenda with the additions of 7(f) Ports to Plains Conference and 7(g) Elkwater Fire Department to New Business. 

 

                                                                                                Carried.

 

MINUTES:                            Resolution No. 2009/236

 

                                                Floyd Haas moved to approve the minutes of the August 18th, 2009 Regular Council Meeting with the correction to the location of the unregistered road plan in the Public Work’s Report.  It should state “the intersection of NE 24-13-2-W4 and NW 23-13-2-W4.”

 

                                                                                                Carried.

ccounts                        

DELEGATION:

Economic

Development

Alliance

(Caroline Grover, 

Ron Edwards)                    Caroline Grover and Ron Edwards appeared before Council to give Economic Development Alliance updates.  They mentioned the EDA attempts to attract new business as well as helping existing businesses.  Several issues were mentioned, being the Technology Advisory Committee, SE Alberta Unmanned Vehicle Systems Industry Project, wind energy sector, as well as others.  Council was also given a copy of the Economic Development Alliance’s Annual Report for 2008. 

 

 

DELEGATION:

DC Development Permit

Application – Chris

Brooks, Terralta Inc.          Development Permit Application 09/158 has been received from Terralta Inc. to operate a waste management business at 350 Eagle Butte Road, Dunmore. The intent of the application is for office space with one truck and trailer.  Chris Brooks was in attendance to answer any questions Council might have regarding the application. 

 

                                                Council inquired about business hours, the types of vehicles that will be used, safety of transporting the waste, and storage locations.  Council agreed to approve the development application for office use only and limited to truck and one trailer based on the following conditions which are to be stated on the permit:

1.    Business Hours: Monday – Saturday between 7AM and 6PM;

2.    Annual Review;

3.    No garbage bins or containers related to the waste management business are located on site.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

Direct Control

Development Application

(Plan 9912535, Block 1,

Lot 1)                                     Resolution No. 2009/237

 

                                                Brad Betcker moved to approve the Development Permit Application 09/158 subject to the conditions as listed on the permit.

 

                                                                                                Carried.

 

 

RECESSS:                           12:00 P.M.

 

RECONVENE:                     12:35 P.M.

                                                                                               

ACCOUNTS FOR                                                              

PAYMENT:                           Resolution No. 2009/238

 

Herb Scott moved to approve the Accounts for Payment in the amount of $ 1,550,500.18.

                                               

                                                Carried.

 

 

CASH STATEMENT:         Resolution No. 2009/239

 

Floyd Haas moved to receive for information the cash statement for the month ending July 31st, 2009.

 

                                                                                                Carried.

 

BUSINESS ARISING:

 

Bylaw 2009/24 – Land

Use Amendment

(Pt NE 30-13-6-W4)            A Public Hearing on the proposed bylaw was held prior to the meeting.

 

** Floyd Haas abstained from discussion and voting on this bylaw.

 

                                               Resolution No. 2009/240

 

                                               Jerry Clark moved second reading of Bylaw 2009/24.

 

                                                                                                Defeated.

 

Bylaw 2009/25 – Land

Use Amendment

(Pt NE 36-11-4-W4)            A Public Hearing on the proposed bylaw was held prior to the meeting.

 

                                               Resolution No. 2009/241

 

                                               Jerry Clark moved second reading of Bylaw 2009/25.

 

                                                                                                Defeated.

 

Bylaw 2009/15 –

Tri-Area Intermunicipal

Development Plan,

Bylaw 2009/16 –

Municipal Development

Plan Amendments,

Bylaw 2009/17 –

Land Use Bylaw

Amendments                      The City of Medicine Hat and the Town of Redcliff have delayed adoption of their bylaws regarding the Tri-Area Intermunicipal Development Plan and affected bylaws, while discussions continue regarding the Southwest and Seven Persons water gates.

 

                                               Resolution No. 2009/242

 

                                               Floyd Haas moved to postpone Bylaws 2009/15, 2009/16, and 2009/17.

 

                                                                                                Carried.

 

Per Diem

Survey                                 Staff contacted other municipalities regarding the remuneration for Councillors.  Responses were extensive ranging from no authorization, no payment to a complex policy. 

 

                                               Council has decided to take no action and the responses gathered are for information only.

 

 

NEW BUSINESS:

 

Oldman River Regional

Services Commission

Position Paper                   The Oldman River Regional Services Commission is requesting municipal participation in their position paper questionnaire on the Land Use Framework.

 

                                               Manager Perschon completed the questionnaire.  Council indicated that he represented the views of the County correctly and would like minor changes to the response to question 10, balancing the interest of multiple users on public and private lands and the inclusion of wind energy and the location of wind farms.

 

                                               Resolution No. 2009/243

 

                                               Herb Scott moved to submit the Position Paper Municipal Questionnaire for the Oldman River Regional Services Commission.

 

                                                                                                Carried.

 

Invitation to County

Officials to Visit

NaturEner Glacier            

Wind Farm

(Montana)                            NaturEner is inviting Council and appropriate staff to visit the NaturEner Glacier Wind Farm located in Montana, on October 8th.  All meals and transportation will be provided.  It is noted that participates must hold a valid Canadian passport.

 

                                               Council discussed the invitation at length.  Council indicated that it is appropriate to attend and per diem will be paid.  Council has indicated that staff in the Planning & Development department, the Municipal Planning Commission members, and staff from the Public Works department should attend.

 

Royal Canadian

Legion – Support

Request                               Reeve Russill received a request to show our recognition and appreciation for our veterans by supporting their remembrance project with an advertisement/support message. 

 

                                               Resolution No. 2009/244

 

                                               Floyd Haas moved to support the Royal Canadian Legion with a ¼ page, full colour advertisement.

 

                                                                                                Carried.

 

Personnel Policy

Review – Vacation            Staff would like Council to consider amending the wording of the vacation policy to bring it in alignment with current practice.  The current wording is confusing and perplexing.    The amended wording will allow for better understanding and implementation of the policy.

 

                                               Resolution No. 2009/245

 

                                               LeRay Pahl moved to accept the amended wording of the Vacation Policy.

 

                                                                                                Carried.

 

Ports to Plains

Conference                         The Ports to Plains Conference is being held in November in Texas.  It focuses on the Texas-Alberta connection to increase trade and economic development.  Council received the information.

 

Elkwater Fire

Department                         The Elkwater Volunteer Fire Department has responded to seven medical calls within the campground and was not paid because the campground is the responsibility of Alberta Parks.  They are looking for reimbursement for these calls.  Medical calls are reimbursed at $100/call.

 

                                               Council discussed the issue.  Discussion ensued regarding the responsibility of conservation officers, attendance to calls at cottages versus the campgrounds, the composition of the fire department, and the reimbursement of the other volunteer fire departments when they attend incidents involving land held by the Alberta government. 

 

                                               Resolution No. 2009/246

 

                                               Peter Konosky moved to reimburse the volunteer fire departments for all medical call outs.

 

                                                                                                Carried.

REPORTS:

 

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

 

                                                At this time, Council is not interested in an additional water line for the Hamlet of Walsh.  Council has directed staff to reimburse Halo Environmental half of their invoice.  Council directed staff to contact Public Lands regarding the Walburger Road (Range Road 10).  

                                               

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

 

Assistant Manager’s

Report                                   Assistant Manager Henderson informed Council that five applications have been received for the scholarships and Prairie Rose School Division Board is interested in meeting with council do discuss issues of mutual concern, such as  expansion of the Eagle Butte High School.

                                                                                               

Reeve’s/Councillors’

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

 

                                                Councilor Konosky requested authorization to attend an Elected Officials Course because he has expended his annual allocation.  Council accepted the request.                         

 

COMMITTEE

SESSION:                             Resolution No. 2009/247

 

                                                Brad Betcker moved to go into committee of the whole.

 

                                                                                                Carried.

 

                                                Resolution No. 2009/248

 

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

 

                                                                                                Carried.

 

ADJOURN:                           3:15 P.M.