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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991-02-08 Council MinutesM AGENDA FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS COMBINED MEETING FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8TH, 1991 1 Call to Order 2 Welcome by Reeve Hoff 3 Introduction of Members of Parliament and Members of Legislative Assembly (Gary Severtson, M L A Innisfail Constituency sends his regrets) 4 Possible Items for Discussion a Provincial Stand on Intensive Livestock Regulations - Model by -law - Which Department should have control Agriculture, Health or Environment, etc b Provincial plans for regionalization of Health Units and Hospitals c Problems with Ambulance Regulations /Difficulty complying with EMT standards established by the Province d Proposed Corporate Pooling Plans /Education Costs e Transportation Grants f GRIP Program - Income Protection for Farmers g R C M P Policing Costs h Federal Deficit - how will the Government get control of its spending 5 Date for Next Meeting 6 Adjournment THE M D COUNCIL EXTEND A WARM WELCOME TO THOSE IN ATTENDANCE COFFEE AND DONUTS WILL BE SERVED AT THE COMPLETION OF THE M'_ C3 N LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS COMBINED MEETING FRIDAY,_ FEBRUARY 8TH, 1991 A meeting of the Local Government Officials was held in the Three Hills Community Center, Three Hills, Alberta, on Friday, February 8th, 1991 The following were present for the meeting Mrs Connie Osterman, M L A Mr Stan Schumacher, M L A M D of Kneehill Reeve Otto Hoff, Councillors J Finlay Code, Robert E Boake, Richard A Marz, Harold Mueller, Richard M Vickery and Lawrence Hogg J C Jeffery, Administrator, Mrs Jean Wilkinson, Assistant Administrator City of Drumheller Alderman Doug Milne Ray Romenetz, Administrator Town of Three HIlls Mayor Robert Robertson, Councillors, Lawrence Bauer, Myrna Bauman, Ron Wilson, Bill Chapman, Brenda Dormer, Louis Perrault, Jack Ramsdon, Administrator, Terry Nash, Assistant Administrator Town of Trochu Mayor Al Gehring, Village of Carbon Councillor Leo Ohlhauser Village of Torrington Councillors Mack Hutton and Allan Anderson Village of Linden Councillor David Dyck, Ross Dean, Administrator Trochu General Hospital Norman Hoppins, Trustee Peter Verhesen, Administrator Drumheller Hospital Jim Ramsbottom, Administrator Elnora Hospital Pat Matthews, Administrator Michelle Wagstaff Three Hills School Division Bert Adrian, Administrator Ed Skuba, Superintendent Drumheller Health Unit Bonnie McMillan, Big Country Tourist Association Richard Kushlus Reeve Hoff called the meeting to order and thanked Mrs Osterman and Mr Schumacher for taking time to come to the meeting The items proposed for discussion today were noted and no other items were suggested The meeting then discussed the items listed on the agenda as follows a) Provincial Stand on Intensive Livestock Regulations 0 f LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS COMBINED MEETING FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8TH_ 1991 Mr Code M D Kneehill reported on discussions held with the Province regarding minimum separation distances between residences and intensive livestock operations There is concern over which government department would ultimately be responsible for controlling minimum separation distances between residences and intensive operations Should Alberta Agriculture, Health or Environment be in control Most people feel this is an agricultural problem and health should not be involved in determing separation distances, but due to pressure being put on the Province by some people the other departments may become more involved He also reviewed the amendments made to the M D land use by -law to try to address some of the problems created because of smell from such operations Mrs Osterman if Agriculture frame the guidelines, Health and Environment will still be involved Water quality and other environmental issues have to be looked after Mrs McMillan, Health Unit the complaint they have received about another farmer The M D focus of attention right now, but with are usually a farmer complaining and the Health Unit are the feel the problem must be dealt Mrs Osterman There are problems in areas where there are alot of acreage owners - such as Rockyview - and feel the rules must be laid out so the conflict between people can be lessened Otto Hoff Agriculture will be conducting experiments to try and control the smell from intensive operations Smell is not a health problem and regulations to try to control these intensive livestock problems should not be under the Department of Health b) Provincial Plans for regionalization of Health Units and Hospitals Jim Ramsbottom, Drumheller Hospital Health Unit had a meeting yesterday to look at possible ways to set up an advisory board to review all health issues on a regional area Rainbow Committee report suggested there 9 health regional hospital areas in the Provinces and hospitals are looking at making some recommendations to the government on a very broad base Mrs McMillan Health Unit Regionalization is happening, but not sure of the rules - there will be some benefits if it is undertaken, but some concern about losing local automony Mrs Osterman Holding regional discussions is a good idea Cannot give much help about this situation at this time No concrete statement from the Minister about what is going to happen Jim Ramsbottom, Drumheller Hospital Been advised legislation will likely be in place in 1991, but it appears the situation has not been talked about by the Provincial cacusus and am afraid it may not be Regulations may be imposed without any discussion _ l :�q r 1�q LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS COMBINED MEETING FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8TH, 1991 Mrs McMillan There is no money available for health promotion and this is a problem for the Health Unit J Finlay Code, M D Kneehill Drumheller Hospital will have a deficit this year c) Ambulance Regulations EMT Standards Richard A Marz, M D Kneehill EMT regulations established by the Province are causing a problem Ambulance service is operated by volunteers and every EMT must go on so many calls a year to retain EMT status and there is not enough calls in a year for all the EMT personnal to do this Approximately 15 volunteers on the local ambulance services have put a lot of effort into taking the EMT course and now some may not get designation because of the lack of calls and those who do get the designation may not be able to keep it The regulations seem to promote paid ambulance services Mr Schumacher It was not intention to destroy volunteer services Will have to look at some changes to the regulations to try and overcome this problem Richard A Marz, M D Kneehill Perhaps look at an exemption based on population? Mrs Osterman Regulations should be able to accomodate a lessor level of service if the area was content with the type of service being offered Robert Robertson, Town of Three Hills Not enough calls in Three HIlls for their volunteers to retain EMT status Jim Ramsbottom, Drumheller Hospital Regulations have just about destroyed Drumheller Ambulance service which was operated on a volunteer basis People are not prepared to put in time and money to get designation There was discussion about STARS ambulance service - Chopper service is too expensive Province will have to decide once and for all if they are going to provide this kind of service Stars is taking alot of donated money out of the area which could be used for local groups such as minor hockey, etc Discussion about the request from the STARS group for a per capita requisition from municipalities M D advised they have not dealt with the request from STARS as yet Will be discussed at the annual or divisional meetings However M D did make a $500 00 donation to the service Mr Schumacher Donated money goes to offset the waiting time for the service Province pays for all travel time Also noted a second helicopter has been purchased by the service The service annual costs were $800,000 for travel time and $600,000 00 for waiting time Mrs Osterman Stars is an emmotional issue - people feel you can not place a monetary value on life However this sometimes has to be done We cannot afford everything Suggested M D should have good information available when discussing the issue with their ratepayers e�� V_ _N LM LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS COMBINED MEETING FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8TH, 1991 Also noted there is always abuse of the provincial system if the regulations are loosened up and people perceive the government will pay for the service There was discussion about the number of times STARS came into this area, the time taken for the calls, the waiting time while the patient was stabilized, the distance of the calls and the need for fixed wing service if the call is too far from the city d) Proposed Corporate Pooling for Education Dr Skuba, Three Hills School Division Bert Adrain, Three Hills School Division Suggested everyone should attend any meetings which are to be held on this matter and make their own decisions Some areas are very much in favour and others very much opposed Three Hills School Division should gain under the proposal- about $300,000 00 but not sure what would happen to the taxing areas Red Deer is in favour they would gain over one million dollars Most of Zone 5 is opposed to the proposal Discussion regarding this concept and generally agreed not enough known about the proposal and the municipalities would need more information e) Transporation Grants Mrs Osterman Nothing from the Minister as yet Budget will be tough and likely will be less money Province has a massive road infrastructure and it very expensive and must be maintained Should not look at building more roads but should maintain what we have Requests will be looked at and priorized and projects may be extended over a 5 year period instead of 3 There was discussion about Highway 21, Highway 36 and Highway 56 It appears Highway 56 may be up- graded right to the U S border Ross Dean, Village of Linden What has the Government done with Vision 2020 - Village made its plans but nothing coming from the Government about the program Mrs Osterman Ball is likely in municipality court - you have established what you want to be and should pursue that plan Likely the Government will not pursue the matter much further R A Marz, M D Kneehill How much money was spent by the Province on this program In bad economic times there are alot of other areas where the money could have been spent Would like to know' Ross Dean, Village of Linden Can not plan that far ahead, but Village did plan for 3 to 5 years Al Gehring, Town of Trochu Vision 2020 should be pursued by the Province Mr Schumacher Vision 2020 was an exercise to have municipalities look and plan their future direction &V —4O Ray Romanetz, City of Drumheller The onus is on the municipality to follow up on their own Vision 2020 plan No reason to wait for the Province LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS COMBINED MEETING FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8TH, 1991 f) Grip Program Mrs Osterman This should be a reasonably neutral program and hopefully will encourage farmers to stay in grain production and not change their operation Nisa program has not been dealt with by the Province as yet Not much information available as yet Province did agree to go with the GRIP program R A Marz, M D Kneehill Lack of information makes it hard for farmers to decide Do not know what it will cost for coverage Cannot afford a cost of $10 00 to $15 00 per acre with $2 94 wheat Mr Schumacher This program will allow you to ensure a price Mrs Osterman This program will likely be in a deficit position also Lawrence Bauer, Town of Three HIlls Seminars will be held in the area to discuss this program Discussion about the program - will not replace crop insurance it will an add on g) RCMP policiing costs Mrs Osterman No contact with Federal Government as yet It will cost the Province more and the local municipalities more Ross Dean, Village of Linden RCMP is cutting staff, degree of service is being pulled backed, and likely looking at further reductions Louis Perrault, Town of Three Hills RCMP contract for 2500 population costs $125,000 00, under that population the Province pays Ray Romanetz City of Drumheller Costs will increase by $300,000 over next 3 years for the city Hope this increase will be phased in as city cannot absorb that much increase in one year Mrs Osterman Discussed provincial budget - noted the Province will pay over 1 billion dollars in interest this year on an accumulated debt of ten billion dollars Province is trying not to add to this debt in 1991 Other provinces have the same kind of problems B C has reduced their deficit by cutting out programs Discussion re passing costs down to the local municipalities and the need for everyone to balance budgets and practice fiscal restraint There must not be give aways in an election year Discussion re Provincial de- centralization moves to Stettler constituency, state of Highway 56 and other matters Brenda Dormer, Town of Three Hills Discussed problem Kneehill Foundation is having with G S T - lodge h s been classed so it cannot get any G S T rebates Mrs 0s�rman noted the Lodge will have to change their status in C; 3 C CW LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS COMBINED MEETING FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8TH, 1991 s u c h a manner as to be e l i g i b l e to apply for and get G S T rebates Lodge should discuss the matter with their M P and get a written decision J Finlay Code, M D Kneehill What is the government doing regarding constituion amendments Mr Schumacher Government Task Force set up to try to generate interest in the matter No interest so it will be converted into a legislative committee to look into the situation Will consult Albertans regarding changes Public hearings will be held and the Government will produce a position paper for debate in the legislature Discussion about the elected senator and his attendance in the Senate Mr Schumacher noted Mr Waters was there for the votes but had other business to attend to and did not feel it necessary to sit in the Senate during those times names on petitions were being read Date for the next meeting was then discussed Agreed next meeting would be Friday, February 7th, 1992 at the M D of Kneehill Office in Three Hi is Reeve Hoff thanked Mrs Osterman and Mr Schumacher for attending Mrs Osterman thanked the M D for holding the meeting as it was very valuable to her The meeting then adjourned Mrs i i on Assi t Admi strator 6 M'02 1