Minutes of the Cypress County Council Meeting held March 2nd, 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:              10:30 A.M.

 

AGENDA:                              Resolution No. 2010/54

 

                                                LeRay Pahl moved to accept the agenda.

 

                                                                                                Carried.

 

MINUTES:                            Resolution No. 2010/55

 

                                                Garry Lentz moved to approve the minutes of the February 16th, 2010, Public Hearing and Council Meeting.

 

                                                                                                Carried.

 

** Councillor Clark arrived at 10:35 A.M.

 

ACCOUNTS FOR              

PAYMENT:                           Resolution No. 2010/56

 

Herb Scott moved to approve the Accounts for Payment in the amount of $ 509,236.32.

 

                                                                                                Carried.

CASH STATEMENT:        Resolution No. 2010/57

 

                                               LeRay Pahl moved to accept for information the cash statement for the month ending January 31st, 2010.

 

                                                                                                Carried.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

 

Bylaw 2010/07 – Land

Use Amendment

(Pt NE 33-14-9-W4)             An application has been received from Munro Global Surveys Group on behalf of Ronald Treiber and Peter Pleskie to reclassify a portion of the NE 33-14-9-W4, in the Hamlet of Suffield from Agricultural District 2 “A-2 General Agricultural” to Hamlet Commercial District “HC”. 

 

                                               Resolution No. 2010/58

 

                                               George Russill moved first reading of Bylaw 2010/07.

 

                                                                                                Carried.

 

Bylaw 2010/06 –

Municipal Planning

Commission                       Council is the body with authority to provide time extensions for subdivision applications, as permitted under Section 657 of the MGA.  Under section 203, Council may delegate this function to a council committee.  Staff is recommending Council update the bylaw establishing the MPC with the additional duty of approving time extensions for subdivision approvals.

 

                                               Resolution No. 2010/59

 

                                               George Russill moved 1st reading of Bylaw 2010/06. 

 

                                                                                                Carried.

 

                                               Resolution No. 2010/60

 

                                               LeRay Pahl moved 2nd reading of Bylaw 2010/06. 

 

                                                                                                Carried.

                                               Resolution No. 2010/61

 

                                               Brad Betcker moved by unanimous consent to have 3rd  reading.

                                                                                                Carried.

 

                                               Resolution No. 2010/62

 

                                               Garry Lentz moved 3rd reading of Bylaw 2010/06. 

 

                                                                                                Carried.

 

Bylaw 2010/08 –

Unsightly Property           The number and condition of vehicles is one of the factors that an enforcement officer uses when determining if a property is unsightly.  Interpretation of what is meant by “unregistered” has lead to questions regarding enforcement.  The Bylaw has as addition under section Unsightly Property, Section 3.2(c) “For Clarity, a registered vehicle must have attached to it the corresponding license plate with a current year sticker attached.”

 

                                               Resolution No. 2010/63

 

                                               Jerry Clark moved 1st reading of Bylaw 2010/08.

 

                                                                                                 Carried.

 

                                               Resolution No. 2010/64

 

                                               LeRay Pahl moved 2nd reading of Bylaw 2010/08.

 

                                               Resolution No. 2010/65

 

                                               Garry Lentz moved to amend the Bylaw 2010/08 to state a maximum of four unregistered vehicles on a property.

 

                                                                                                Defeated.

 

                                               Resolution No. 2010/64

 

                                               LeRay Pahl moved 2nd reading of Bylaw 2010/08.

 

                                                                                                Carried.

 

                                               Resolution No. 2010/66

 

                                               Brad Betcker moved by unanimous consent to have 3rd reading of Bylaw 2010/08.

 

                                                                                                Defeated.

 

DELEGATION:

 

EDA Semi-Annual

Presentation,

Caroline Grover                 Caroline Grover appeared before Council to give Economic Development Alliance updates.  She mentioned the EDA attempts to attract new business as well as helping existing businesses.  Several issues were mentioned, being the Technology Advisory Committee, hiring an Innovation Facilitator, a strategic plan for solar research and training, developing community profiles, development of a marketing strategy for the Unmanned Vehicle Systems industry, wind energy sector, as well as others. 

 

NEW BUSINESS:

 

Local Improvement

Plan – Westside

Water Co-op                        The Westside Water Co-op Ltd. is undertaking the construction of a rural waterline to provide drinking water to 475 households located west and southwest of the City of Medicine Hat within Cypress County.  The main objective of the project is to supply rural residents with a supply of treated water, intended for human consumption and household purposes.  The water distribution system is intended to come off of the existing water line that is in place and provides treated water to the Hamlet of Seven Persons.  Individual members of the Co-op would be responsible for conveying the delivered water from a connection at their property line to a storage unit/cistern for the purpose of providing water on a demand usage.  Each resident would receive their water at a restricted flow rate of 0.35 imperial gallons per minute.  The total costs of the project are estimated to be $12,070,250.00.  An application was submitted and approved for Federal and Provincial Canada Funds totaling $5,858,334.00, based on 2/3 of the eligible estimated construction costs.  The total amount of the project to be paid by the Co-op members is approximately $ 6,211,916.00.  Based on the current plan of 475 connections, each connection will cost about $13,078.00.  Cypress County will finance through a local improvement tax, a maximum of 75% of the members’ non-grantable cost.  As a member of the Co-op, each land owner will be responsible to pay a minimum down payment of 25% for the non-grantable portion for each connection. The cost will be approximately $3,270.00 per connection, paid to the Co-op, leaving a balance of $9,808.00 to be financed over 15 years.  Based on the current ACFA rate of 4.139%, the annual payment to be collected per connection over a period of 15 years will be $891.00.  If a sufficient petition against the project is not received within the deadline, Council will undertake the financing when requested by the Co-op, preferably within 2010.  The local improvement tax will be imposed in 2011.

 

                                                Resolution No. 2010/67

 

                                                Brad Betcker moved to approve the Local Improvement Plan for the Westside Water Co-op.

 

                                                                                                Carried.

 

** Councilor Clark did not vote due to pecuniary interest.

 

2010 Municipal

Elections                              Election day is Monday, October 18, 2010.  Nomination day is Monday, September 20, 2010.  The County has several bylaws dealing with various administrative aspects.  Council discussed some of the issues involved.   Remuneration of Election Officials did not change.  A Special Ballot Provision is not necessary.  The Advance Vote will take place Thursday, October 7th.  No action is required on Electoral Divisions, Appointment of Returning Officer, and Permanent Electors Register.

 

                                                Resolution No. 2010/68

 

                                                LeRay Pahl moved to conduct an Advance Vote on Thursday October 7th, 2010 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM and no changes on any other election issues at this time.

 

                                                                                                Carried.

 

Tax Recovery Sale –

Reserve Bids                       March 30, 2010 has been set as the date for a Tax Recovery Sale for that property which has unpaid taxes for the 2006 tax year.  Section 419 of the Municipal Government Act requires Council to set a reserve bid for each parcel that is as close as reasonably possible to market value.  Council was presented with the description of the property involved.

 

                                                Resolution No. 2010/69

 

                                                LeRay Pahl moved to set the reserve bid for the parcel as $25,000.00, with terms of cash - 10% on the day of auction with full payment to be made within 30 days following the auction.

 

                                                                                                Carried.

 

RECESS:                              12:03 P.M.

 

RECONVENE:                     12:39 P.M.

 

REPORTS:

 

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

 

                                                Council directed staff to submit a letter of support for a fuel reduction application for property adjacent to Dan Reesor’s property that is located in the Cypress Hills Provincial Park to the Fire Smart program.

 

 

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

 

                                                The Peace Officer will submit quarterly reports.  Command start will not be standard on County vehicles.  Council stated no action regarding fencing at the drainage pond in Eagle Ridge.

                                               

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.

 

DELEGATION:

 

Walsh Water,

Jeff Shoesmith                    Jeff Shoesmith appeared before Council to express his

frustration about the water distribution system.  He has lived in Walsh for at least ten years, where he with his family, operate Trailside Gas Bar.  Over the years he has had his fair amount of highs and lows.  The only thing that remains constant is his frustration with the water system.  Mr. Shoesmith presented the background of the system, from the boil advisory years to the new filtrations system that was implemented a few years ago and the associated costs.  Mr. Shoesmith was a former employee of the County and supervised the system.  Mr. Shoesmith presented his thoughts and opinions on how to increase the productivity and efficiency of the system. 

 

BUSINESS ARISING:

 

2010  Operating &

Capital Budget &

5 year Capital Plan             Council reviewed and discussed the operating and capital budget.  The budget will be brought back for final approval. The 5 year capital plan was discussed and updated.

 

COMMITTEE

SESSION:                             Resolution No. 2010/70

 

                                                Brad Betcker moved to go into committee of the whole.

 

                                                                                                Carried.

 

                                                Resolution No. 2010/71

 

Jerry Clark moved to come out of committee of the whole.

                                   

                                                                                                Carried.         

                                                                                               

ADJOURN:                           4:00 P.M.