Notes from Town Council meeting held Feb. 13

Chris Davis, Pincher Creek Voice

Pincher Creek's Town Council met on the evening of Monday, February 13.

Pincher Creek Emergency Services Commission to be formed
The Town of Pincher Creek Council voted unanimously to go forward with the forming of a Pincher Creek Emergency Services Commission in partnership with the Municipal District of Pincher Creek No. 9.


During discussions prior to voting on the issue, Councillor Don Anderberg raised concerns about equipment purchases and how expenses would be dealt with, while expressing his support for the commission.  "I don't like blank cheques," he said.

"We have an EMS committee," said Mayor Ernie Olsen. "It has been recommended to both councils from the EMS Committee that the commission is the way to go.  The particulars haven't really been discussed," he continued.  "My only concern is capital expenditures."  Olsen said that he was concerned that the Town might be liable for part of the expenditure for the proposed new Beaver Mines fire station. "In my mind I would say could we not leave it to the EMS Committee to iron out the particulars?"

The new Commission Board is expected to include two Town and two MD councillors.

EMS funding discrepancies discussed

Town Council discussed an increase in the proposed cost of a new fire truck, which is estimated to now be about $50,000 higher than originally estimated. The Town's share would be 50% of any such purchase according to their agreement with the MD of Pincher Creek No. 9 and Emergency Services.  "It seems to be a moving target," said Councillor Lorne Jackson.  Councillor Anderberg said this was a good example of why an Emergency Services Commission was required.  "This is still just an estimate," he said, reminding Council cost could be even higher, and therefore have to be discussed again.  "To me it's prudent that we would have reserves in place so that when the interval comes (for replacing fire equipment) we've got money for it," said Councillor Roy Smyth.  "Obviously something has gone wrong here."

Councillor Nodge agreed. "I think if you have a piece of equipment you should be putting in reserves every year so that when it's due for replacement you have a fully funded reserve for it," she said.  "A Commission would solve all of this, and we just voted on saying yes for a Commission, but in the meantime we have to deal with this," said Mayor Olsen. "You can take it out of your left pocket or your right pocket, it doesn't really matter, you're going to pay for it anyway," said Councillor Anderberg, referring to Council's previous decision to agree to fund half of the fire truck purchase.

Motions passed:  

• That the Council of the Town of Pincher Creek agree to maintain the operating grant of Pincher Creek Emergency Services at the approved amount of $113,515, and ask Pincher Creek Emergency Services to apply the additional $5,350 toward the requested additional $25000 for the purchase of the new engine.
• That the Council for the Town of Pincher Creek agree to increase their capital grant by $19,650 to be funded from the General Contingency Reserve account number 4000071000.

Procedural Bylaw #1596-12 passes second and third reading

As recommended by Archie Grover's Municipal Review, Council unanimously passed second and third reading of an update to Procedural Bylaw 1596-12.

One of the more significant amendments, 105.c), reads : "No person or group shall appear as a delegation to Council on the same or on a related subject until six months has passed since the date of the first presentation, unless specifically requested by a unanimous vote of Council."

Unscheduled Delegations have been removed from the Standard Council Meeting Agenda, to be replaced with a half-hour period prior to regularly scheduled Town Council Meetings, when residents are to have an opportunity to meet with available members of Council.

(Click here for the full draft text of the amendments to Procedural Bylaw #1596-12.  It appears about halfway through the included documents.)

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