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