HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994-05-05 Council Minutes�r
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EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REPORT MAY 5th, 1994
The Executive Committee of Richard A. Marz and Otto Hoff
met on Thursday, May 5th, 1994, at the M D of Kneehill office
in Three Hills, commencing at 8 15 A M
John C. Jeffery, Municipal Administrator was present and
Mrs. Jean Wilkinson, Assistant Administrator was present and
recorded the minutes
The following items were discussed
1 Seller, Carreau Lucyshyn Inc - Consultants re: WBC Claims
A firm working out of Sherwood Park has forwarded a brochure
outlining the service they can offer with regard to reducing
workers compensation claims and costs for municipalities
Mrs Deak had reviewed the information and indicated a
representative of the Workers Compensation Board has reviewed
the M D files and has made some recommendations to the M D
already
Executive Committee recommend to accept and file as information.
2 Kneehill Ambulance - 1994 Requisition
The Ambulance Board has set its 1994 requisition at $35,000
The M.D's share is $26,904 50 or 76 87%
Executive Committee recommend to accept the requisition
3 Village of Carbon - School Board Amalgamations
The Village of Carbon has sent the M D a copy of a letter they
sent to the School Board. They feel the school district should
pursue an amalgamation with the County of Wheatland
Executive Committee recommend to accept and file as information
4 Palliser Regional Planning Commission - Meeting with M L A
Palliser Regional has forwarded a report of the meeting held
with the Members of Legislative Assembly at Hanna on March 18th
The future of regional planning commission was discussed at
length. A copy of the report would be available to any
councillor who might wish one
Executive Committee recommend to accept and file as information
5 City of Drumheller - Possible Closure of the Court of
Queen's Bench District of Drumheller /Hanna
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EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REPORT MAY 5th, 1994
It has been suggested the Province may be considering closing
the Court of Queen's Bench in Hanna /Drumheller
Ann Wilton, Solicitor from Drumheller has asked all mayors and
reeves in the Judicial District to object to this closure as it
will deny equal access to justice by requiring people to travel
long distances to court It would also incur additional costs
because police and witnesses would have to travel further to
appear in Calgary
Executive Committee recommend the M.D add their support to the 1e�t�r
East Central Alberta Bar Association to try to stop this closure
6. Town of Trochu - Thanks
The Town of Trochu have sent a letter of thanks for the help
from the MD for the mutual aid response to the fire at their
waste disposal site
Executive Committee recommend to accept and file as information
7 AAMD & C - Senior Public Servants - Salaries
The Association has forwarded a summary of the salaries paid to
various provincial deputy ministers and heads of boards, etc.���
The salaries range from $110,100 down to $60,400
8 AAMD & C - School Amendment Act Summary
The Association has forwarded a summary of the School Amendment
Act. The act outlines how education will be funded, that the
School Foundation Program Fund is dissolved, the new
organizational structure, regionalization, and other matters 1P�
Executive Committee recommend to accept and file as information.
9 Minister of Health - New Hospital Regions
The Minister of Health has forwarded a map which outlines the
seventeen health regions which have been created and asking for
the boards and municipalities to put forth the names of people
to sit on the regional health authority boards The
appointments will be made in early June Initial term will be 2
years from June of 1994
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Executive Committee recommend to accept and file as information
10 Isaac Low Level Crossing - Removal
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EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REPORT MAY 5th, 1994
The Executive Committee reviewed the letter which had been
drafted to send to the School Division about the crossing
There was concern expressed about the potential for M D
liability if the crossing is not safe and is left in place.
Executive Committee recommend the letter not be sent at this
time and the road committee inspect the site and bring a report
back to council about the safety of the crossing and potential
for liability.
11. Dust Control Policy Amendment
The amendments made by council to the dust control policy last
meeting were reviewed The motion made reference to SB 90
However SB 90 is supplied by a different company than ARM
Does Council wish to get into organizing a dust control program
with two different companies?
Executive Committee recommend the M D policy
support the use of LS 2000 and Spec Crude on M
method of dust control and delete any reference
12 Farmers Advocate Annual Report
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13 -2 by amended to
D roads as a
to SB 90
Farmers Advocate has forwarded a copy of their 1993 annual
report They wish to know if the M D. wish to continue to
receive a copy of this report
Executive Committee recommend their office be advised the M D
wishes to continue to receive their annual report.
1Z Keivers Lake Water Levels
Mr Cunningham reviewed with the Executive Committee the report
regarding water levels at Keivers Lake He determines the
water level by measuring the difference between the top of the
well head and the surface of the water in the lake On May 2nd,
1994 the difference was 83 inches and on May 6th, 1993 is was 81
inches This represents a loss of 2 inches of water in one
year The pump is now only able to pump 80 gallons a minute
and in previous years was pumping 120 gallons The annual rate
of evaporation from the lake is very high - about 100 gallons a
minute The pumping has not keeping up with the rate of
evaporation Any increase which has recorded likely came from
an increased rainfall or snow melt
Executive Committee recommend the pump be shut off and left off
until October of 1994 to see how much the water level drops with
out pumping, Mr Cunningham is to measure the level of the
water in the lake on a monthly basis and the matter be discussed
again in October, 1994
14 Alta Mun Affairs - Disclosure of Stalary and Benefits
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EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REPORT MAY 5th, 1994
Municipal Affairs has forwarded information about how the
province is disclosing salaries and benefit packages for its
employees It is likely there will be some change to the
municipality's financial statement to record this information
Deputy Minister John McGowan commended the M D for taking the
initiative to disclose this information to its ratepayers
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Executive Committee recommend to accept and file at this time
15 Minutes - Mayors and Reeve Meeting - March 24th, 1994
The Mayors and Reeve Marz met at Acme on Thursday, March 24th
A copy of the minutes from this meeting have been received
Next meeting is scheduled for July 7th, 1994 at Torrington
There was good discussion on a variety of issues
Need.
Executive Committee recommend to accept and file as information
and any councillor who wishes may obtain a copy of the minutes
16 Palliser Planning - Submission re Alberta Planning Act
Changes
Palliser Planning has prepared a reply to the Provincial
discussion paper on the future of planning commissions and
possible changes to the Planning Act The Commission would be
prepared to help any municipality put together their response to
the discussion paper
Executive Committee recommend this report be referred to the
Municipal Planning commission for their review and comments
17 Battle Creek Developments Ltd
The president of Battle Creek Developments has responded to a
letter sent to him by Mr Jeffery Battle Creek was concerned
about the amount of their tax bill as compared to the services
they receive Mr Jeffery had provided him with considerable
information about the M D and the services provided, tax
levies, etc Battle Creek was concerned about a possible shift
of taxes from farm taxes over to their industry He also felt
the M D should review its administration and if not required
should be looking at reduction of staff immediately not waiting
for people to retire He was concerned that the M.D. collected
so much money for other areas and the municipalities should be
looking at merging to be more efficient Also felt road
maintenance might have been cut back too far He would be
prepared to meet with Mr. Jeffery to discuss his concerns
Executive Committee recommend the Reeve draft up a response to
this letter and bring the draft to council for review.
18 Town of Three Hills - Gravel
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EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REPORT MAY 5th, 1994
The Town Foreman had asked what the M D would sell the town
gravel for A price was worked out at $7 05 per yard
The town then apparently requested bids from local contractors
to supply them with gravel The Town now wish to purchase 500
yards of gravel from the M D and will purchase the remaining
gravel they require from Bauer Brothers Trucking for $8 00 a
yard Their letter appears to indicate the town had requested
bids for provision of the gravel. The M D had in no way
submitted a bid The town was advised of the price for supply
of the gravel but the M D was not submitting it as a bid
against local contractors.
Executive Committee recommend the town be sent a letter
indicating the M D was not submitting a bid to supply gravel to
the town, and their price was not to be construed as a bid price.
The M D had established a policy whereby it would provide a
service to an urban center at a price but were not tendering for
any work or supply of material
19 1994 Fuel Bids
The problems which arose with the fuel bid this year was
discussed The School Division require access to service
station pumps and supply of propane, the M D does not
This did create some problems with the bids received
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Executive Committee recommend next year the M D and the School
Division jointly tender only for supply of bulk fuel, and the
School Division get prices for access to service stations and
for supply of propane itself
20 M D Picnic
Administration had asked if Council wish to hold the annual
picnic this year
Executive Committee recommend the M.D. host the annual steak "rte
picnic at Keivers lake on June 3rd and the costs for same be
covered by the M.D.
21 Brian Penner - Concern re Linden Church Road Project
Mr Penner was concerned about the landscaping of the ditch in
front of his residence on the Linden Church Road. He felt the
M.D should slope the ditch back more so he could mow the ditch
Mr McCook advises Mr. Penner's trees are very close to property
line and he could not backslope the ditch any more without
taking about the trees. He had done the best he could with the
room he had
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EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REPORT MAY 5th, 1994
Executive committee recommend the Road Committee have a look at
the site and bring a recommendation to council
22 Minutes - April 26th Meeting
Executive Committee reviewed the minutes and agreed on items to
be deleted prior to publication.
23 Tax Reform Commission Report - AAMD & C
The Association has reviewed the tax reform commission report
A number of concerns have been raised The Association would
like a response from the municipalities about these concerns
The concerns are
1 Machinery and equipment assessment for municipal purposes
should be phased out and replaced with a new property tax
system
Mr. Dunay indicated the impact would seriously affect the M D
Total M & E assessment is $49,434,990 and this assessment would
have to be incorporated into the building assessment He feels
the M D is not over assessing machinery and equipment and there
is depreciation The tax money has to be raised somehow
Executive Committee recommend this information be provided to
the association
2 Machinery and equipment should be phased out for education
Answer Who will pay this additional tax?
3. Split mill rates should be tightly controlled to prevent
loading up taxes on the business sector Also number of mill
rates should be reduced.
Answer. M D does not use split mill rates and agree there
should not be a split mill rate
4 Existing busines taxes should be eliminated and integrated
with non - resident property assessment
Answer. Yes
5 All property should be assessed on the basis of market value
- based on the current use of the property
No response provided for this question
6. An independent provincial assessment corporation should be
established
Answer* Yes - or establish a government agency to provide
assessment manuals, etc whichever is the most efficient
7 Assessment of farm buildings should be related to the
production value of the buildings
How could you make this fair and attain equality between
livestock, hogs, poultry and other operations
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EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REPORT MAY 5th, 1994
8 The number of municipalities should be reduced using
legislation if necessary
Answer. Feel rural areas are large enough now, but could be
amalgamating with smaller urban centers
9 Municipalities should attempt to restrict their activities
to setting policy and direction and reduce service delivery to
only essential services.
Answer This is what the M D. does now
10 The definition of reserves should be reviewed
Answer M D. feel its reserves covers less than one year's
anticipated borrowing - feel it is sufficient
11 The fuel tax exemption should be limited to unlicensed
vehicles only
Answer, No.
Executive Committee recommend these answers be forwarded to the
association
24. M D procedurial by -law
The Executive Committee reviewed the M D procedurial by -law
They recommended the following changes.
Page 1 - Part Two - General Rules Subsection 2.
Regular meetings of council shall commence at 8.30 A M. (not
8:00 A M or 9.00 A M ) and adjourn at 4.30 P M (not 5:00 P M )
Page 2 - Add Item #15 - If a motion on any subject is defeated 3
times the matter may not be discussed again at that meeting and
is automatically be tabled to the next meeting of Council
Page 3 - Proceedings at Meetings,
Paragraph 1 Subsection A) - Copies of all reports,
communications or items to be dealt with at the next meeting of
council shall be available at the Administration Office no later
than the Thursday morning prior to the council meeting
Paragraph 1 Subsection B) - The agenda prepared for each meeting
shall be approved as the second order of business
Delete - requests may be made to add items to the agenda and the
amended agenda must be approved by a majority vote
Insert - A request received after the Thursday morning deadline
to add an item to the agenda must be approved by the Reeve prior
to commencement of the meeting. Council may decide by motion
if any of these added items are a priority Failing this
agreement such late items will only be dealt with if time
permits
Page 3 - Part Three Proceedings - Paragraph 2 - Subdivision A
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EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REPORT MAY 5th, 1994
Change time from 5.00 P M to 4.30 P.M. -- on the Wednesday
immediately preceeding the meeting - -- for receipt of a letter
from a person, representative or any delegation or group of
persons
If the amendments are approved, copies of the revised by -law
will be provided for each councillor and the Administrator
and same should be available for their information at the
meetings
Executive Committee recommend council consider passing a by -law
to amend the procedurial by -law accordingly
s Jean Wilkinson, Assistant Administrator
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