Minutes of the Cypress County Council Meeting held January 19th, 2010

 

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:              10:47 A.M.

 

AGENDA:                              Resolution No. 2010/15

 

                                                Jerry Clark moved to accept the agenda with the additions of 7(g) Elkwater Community Hall Update to New Business and 8(d) Water Conference to Reeve/Councillors Report.

 

                                                                                                Carried.

 

MINUTES:                            Resolution No. 2010/16

 

                                                 Floyd Haas moved to approve the minutes of the January 5th, 2010, Public Hearing and Council Meeting.

 

                                                                                                Carried.

 

Accounts                              FOR                                      

PAYMENT:                           Resolution No. 2010/17

 

Garry Lentz moved to approve the Accounts for Payment in the amount of $ 399,303.44.

 

                                                                                                Carried.

 

CASH STATEMENT:        Resolution No. 2010/18

 

                                               Herb Scott moved to receive for information the cash statement for the month ending December 31, 2009.

 

                                                                                                Carried.

DELEGATION:

 

Council Duties in

Disaster Situation,

Mark Murphy, AEMA         Mark Murphy is from the Alberta Emergency Management Agency.  He informed Council of their responsibilities before, during, and after emergencies.  Council is responsible for direction and control of the municipal emergency response and all related activities and decisions.  Some of the responsibilities include appointing a Director of Emergency Management, confirming emergency plans and programs, authorizing and terminating a declaration of state of local emergency, and providing media information and briefings.

 

BUSINESS ARISING:

 

Bylaw 2009/31 – Land

Use Amendment

(PN SW 7-11-6-W4)           An application has been received from Dalton and Linda Kraft, on behalf of Wayne Bennett, to reclassify a portion of SW 7-11-6-W4 from Agricultural District 2 “A-2 General Agriculture” to Country Residential District “CR”. 

 

                                               **Councillor Clark left the meeting at 11:34 A.M. and returned at 12:03 P.M. as he was not present for the public hearing.

 

                                               At the January 5th, 2010 meeting, Council asked staff to ask the applicant to consider creating two separate titles that are divided by the canal right-of-way.  The applicant denied the request.  Planner Jeffrey Dowling updated Council regarding the meeting he had with the applicant.  The applicant feels that the south side is more suitable for a yard site because there are connections for power and gas, water is being acquired through the Westside Water Co-op, its distance is limited from the train tracks and irrigation canal, and as there are already constructed buildings, it is not suitable for agricultural use.  The land has been in the Bennett family for 38 years.  By changing the land use followed by subdivision, it gives Dalton and Linda Kraft the opportunity to live on a farm, raise their family, and continue Dalton’s rodeo career. 

 

                                               Jeffrey Dowling also asked Council to consider adopting a policy that would clarify circumstances where fragmentation of farmland for single country residential lots is acceptable. 

 

                                               Resolution No. 2010/05

 

                                               George Russill moved second reading of Bylaw 2009/31.

 

                                                                                                 Defeated.

 

RECESSS:                          12:05 P.M.

 

RECONVENE:                    12:45 P.M.

 

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”.  A public hearing on the proposed bylaw was held prior to the meeting.

 

                                               Resolution No. 2010/19

 

                                               George Russill moved second reading of Bylaw 2009/33.

 

                                                                                                Defeated.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

 

Bylaw 2010/01 – Land

Use Amendment

(PN NE 33-13-6-W4)          An application has been received from Robert Scory to reclassify a portion of the NE 33-13-6-W4 (Plan 0311070, Block 1, Lot 1) from Agricultural District 1 “A-1 Urban Fringe” to Country Residential District “CR”.

 

                                               Resolution No. 2010/20

 

                                               Herb Scott moved first reading of Bylaw 2010/01.

 

                                                                                                 Carried.

 

Bylaw 2010/02 – Water

& Sewer Bylaw

Amendments                       In 2007, Council passed a Water & Sewer Bylaw with a five year plan aimed at proceeding towards greater cost recovery of the water and sewer systems.  As a result of the recent rate increases from the City of Medicine Hat, increases in County rates are needed to continue in that direction.  A new bylaw is required to recognize the increase in water rate, by amending the levying and collection of water and sewer service charges.

 

                                                Resolution No. 2010/21

 

                                                Jerry Clark moved first reading of Bylaw 2010/02.

 

Carried.

 

                                                Resolution No. 2010/22

 

                                                Brad Betcker moved second reading of Bylaw 2010/02.

 

Carried.

 

                                                Resolution No. 2010/23

 

                                                 George Russill moved by unanimous consent to have third       reading of Bylaw 2010/02.

 

Defeated.

Fire Chief

Appointments – Irvine       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 Irvine

Volunteer Fire Department recently selected Lynette Riedlinger as their new chief, with Dwayne Johnson as deputy.

 

                                                 Resolution No. 2010/24

 

Herb Scott moved to appoint Lynette Riedlinger as Fire Chief, and Dwayne Johnson as Deputy Fire Chief for the Irvine Volunteer Fire Department.

 

                                                                                                Carried.

 

U of A Planning

Program                                The University of Alberta has developed a proposal to establish an undergraduate degree in Planning commencing the fall of 2011.  The University of Alberta is seeking letters of support that recognize the value of planning education in Alberta.

 

                                                 Resolution No. 2010/25

 

                                                 Garry Lentz moved to submit a letter of support to the

                                                 U of A.

                                                                                                Carried.

 

Transmission Lines           Due to the recent growth and development of the wind energy sector and the need to connect these projects through transmission lines, the Public Works Department would like Council’s direction where transmission lines can be located in relation to County road allowances.  Three options were indicated.  The first option allowed a 30m buffer from the road allowance to the transmission line right-of-way.  The second option allowed the transmission line right-of-way to butt against the road allowance requiring the transmission line to be 40m from the centre of the road allowance.  The third option is to allow the transmission line right-of-way to include the road allowance so the transmission line could be  1m within the road allowance. 

 

                                                 Council decided that option one is acceptable which requires a 30m buffer from the road allowance to the transmission line right-of-way.

 

Elkwater Community

Hall Update                         Councillor Russill updated Council on the progress of the grant funding and construction of the new Elkwater Community Hall. The CAF funding has been approved, but the CEFP funding has not yet been approved. 

 

                                               Councillor Russill explained that the Elkwater Community Association has money invested in GICs and they come due in April.  In the interim, invoices have to be paid up front, and then submitted to CAF for grant reimbursement.  The Elkwater Community Association is asking for their grant of  $ 250,000.00 or a portion of it, even though they have not received confirmation of the CFEP grant.

 

                                               Resolution No. 2010/26

 

                                               Garry Lentz moved to advance the Elkwater Community Association $125,000.00 of their $250,000.00 grant. 

 

                                                                                                Carried.

REPORTS:

 

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

 

                                                Council decided not to do a study for the Walsh Water Treatment Plant to find out what upgrades would have to be done to meet all environmental rules and regulations for now and in the future, if we stick to the existing raw water supply.

 

                                                Council decided to go ahead with the Walsh Water Distribution Lines project. 

 

                                                Council decided to go ahead with testing and cleaning the Irvine Water wells. 

                                               

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 will not allow the lessee of Block Y in Suffield (the horse pasture) to dig a small dugout.

 

Reeve’s/Councillors’

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

 

                                                Water Conference  - Councillor Scott would like to attend the water conference in Calgary, Feb 22-24 instead of attending the AAMDC spring convention.   Council agreed to the request.

 

2010 Operating and

Capital Budget                     Staff has requested two permanent positions, a Municipal

Infrastructure Management System Technician and an Assessment Administrative Assistant.  Council approved these positions.

 

Capital projects requested were reviewed by Council.  Council asked for additional information for some of the projects before the whole capital budget is approved. 

                                                

ADJOURN:                           3:44 P.M.