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Home My WebLink About2003-07-15 Council MinutesCouncil Agenda Item # 6(b) To Reeve Hoppms Members of Council From. Gene Kiviaho Date- July 15, 2003 Issue Amendments to Animal Control Bylaw # 1467 to include horses Background Animal Control Bylaw # 1467 was approved at the June 24, 2003 Council meeting, subject to appropriate amendments to exclude horses The Bylaw Enforcement Officer Tamala Peters was requested to investigate liability concerns and possible options for Council consideration Discussion Typical clauses required in the Bylaw to insure, monitor, and control horses include 1 owner must submit proof of liability insurance (of not less than $1 million) 2 annual license fee ($250 00 per horse) 3 penalties a) unlicensed horse in a hamlet ($250.00) b) horse licensed but not accompanied by a person with the license($200.00) c) a horse or animal, which creates a disturbance by such noise, or a combination of noises, thereby disturbing the quiet and repose of any person ( $250.00) d) a horse or animal which causes damage to property ($100 00) e) failure of owner to remove horse defecation from property that is not the owner s property ($250.00) In addition the Bylaw would require various cosmetic and numbering changes It is my opinion that the inclusion of provisions in the Bylaw to license insure and control horses in hamlets is onerous and administratively unfeasible at this time It is my recommendation that horses not be included in the Animal Control Bylaw and that the Bylaw Enforcement Officer monitor the situation and report back to Council in six (6) months Recommendation 1) That Council not include horses in the current Animal Control Bylaw # 1467 2) That the Bylaw Enforcement Officer monitor the activity of horses in the hamlets and report to Council i six (6) months _QN, G Kiviaho, CAO Page 36 • • is Council Agenda Item #6(f) TO- Gene Kiviaho Reeve Hoppms Members of Council FROM. Bruce Sommerville DATE July 15, 2003 SUBJECT Grasshopper Update Issue Grasshopper infestation Background - By direction of Council the Agricultural Service Board staff has assisted the farmers in the control of grasshoppers by placing pesticide on County owned property since June 2, 2003 Budget allocation for this project was in the amount of $40 000 00 Discussion ASB staff has completed one application on all reported hot spots including County road allowances and cemeteries We have downsized to one staff and one applicator for a second application on a request basis for severe infestations Some farmers have applied up to four applications to maintain control of this pest We have not received Provincial approval for financial assistance for controlling grasshoppers to date On the first and complete application 964 miles were traveled, and on second application by request 58 miles were traveled Recommend that the ASB continues to apply pesticide on County property on a request basis, for severe infestations Financial Implications We have not received all invoices but estimate the cost to date for equipment, pesticide and labor at $20,000 00 Recommendation That Council receive this report as information Na : e Bruce Sommerville Title Agricultural Fieldman Page 45 El • 1�1 TO Gene Kiviaho Reeve Hoppins Members of Council FROM Bruce Sommerville DATE July 15 2003 SUBJECT BSE Issue. BSE or Mad Cow disease up date Council Agenda Item #6(g) Background On May 20, 2003 the Canadian border was closed to international markets, involving 35 Countries for the exporting of Canadian beef due to a report of one cow testing positive for BSE A total of 17 separate beef herds in Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan were quarantined as part of the trace back and trace forward investigations An additional 25 herds were scrutinized in the tracing out of single animals from the primary line of inquiry Over 2700 head of cattle were eradicated for testing, all test proved negative for BSE This has been verified by United States, Swiss and New Zealand experts Discussion. Our borders remain closed today to international export of beef products The United States has announced that Canadian beef is safe but is under pressure from Japan who has threatened to ban United States beef if they re open its market to Canadian Beef Mexico is ready to re open its borders but wants assurance from the United States there will be no repercussion if they do Government officials at both the Federal and Provincial levels are working hard to convince international counterparts to lift the ban on Canadian Beef exports Our cattle population in Kneehill County is approximately 100 000 head Fifty four percent of our farms are cattle operations and these producers are facing a crisis situation if international boarders do not open soon Even with government support the finished feeder industry is losing upward of $400 per head The feeder and calf market is only 2 months away with an undetermined market This one cow disaster not only affects cattle producers but our forage and feed grain producers as well as other support sectors of our agricultural community Financial Implications. At the beginning it was estimated 11 million dollars a day in Alberta was being lost This number has escalated as time passes due to secondary economic losses Page 46 • • • 0 through fobs, grain prices transportation and support programs Recommendation. 1) That Council declares Kneehill County an Economic Disaster Area and prepares a contingency plan to assist our producers 2) That Kneehill County alone or with urban partners advertise their support to our local cattle producers and encourage the local public for their support in any way possible Bruce Sommerville Title Agricultural Fieldman Page 47 v Council Agenda Item 47(e) To- Gene Kiviaho CAO Reeve Hoppms Members of Council From Barb Long Date July 15, 2003 Issue Alberta Provincial Rural Crime Watch Conference (January 16 18 2004) Background On June 24, 2003 a letter was received from the Olds Rural Crime Watch Association requesting Council consider supporting the 2004 AB Provincial Rural Crime Watch Conference being held at Olds College on January 16 18, 2004 Support in the form of a donation in the amount of $1,500 00 and a short presentation by the Reeve or designate was requested Discussion On December 16, 1999 Kneehill County Council passed a motion to donate $500 00 to both the Lousana Rural Crime Watch and the Olds Rural Crime Watch organizations, with these donations to be reviewed on an annual basis This donation was made under General Ledger 272 772 (Parks to Community Groups) but no further donations have been requested or forwarded to date Reeve Hoppins attended the Drumheller & District Crime Watch Association Provincial Crime Watch Workshop held on February 1, 2003 in Drumheller to welcome delegates to the workshop and 300 County pins were donated for this event The following Rural Crime Watch Organizations are located within or adjacent to the municipality of Kneehill County Drumheller & District Rural Crime Watch Association, Lousana Rural Crime Watch Association, Olds Rural Crime Watch Association and Beiseker Rural Crime Watch Association. These organizations are comprised of volunteer members working with the local RCMP detachments to try to reduce the growing amount of crime in rural areas Recommendation 1 That Council approve a donation to the 2004 Provincial Crime Watch conference, with the amount to be determined by Council 2 That the Reeve deliver an address to the Conference on Saturday, January 16 2004 Barb Long Executive Assistant