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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994-05-05 Council Minutes�r r� 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 ?'led ✓ PG�.b�c e k-*e r sew- x� rr. rt H 4c�,e, r- IN '4r IN 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 ci- Executive Committee recommend to accept and file as information 10 Isaac Low Level Crossing - Removal 2 /Wlv� N IN C7 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 O (Yrc�c -c� 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 3 1"4alvIv Iq M 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 Z, \e8 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 4 F1"/ Me c : LT r Eq 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 sc T his 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 5 lvll� A M 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 0 //I/� 11 IN E 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 7 /P� w ti� C� U I+ S A N 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 E T-j w. \1