Town Council notes June 25, 2012

Toni Lucas, Pincher Creek Voice

Pincher Creek's Town Council held a meeting on the evening of June 25, 2012. In attendance were Mayor Ernie Olsen, Councillors Don Anderberg, Sahra Hancock, Lorne Jackson, Roy Smyth, Wayne Oliver, and Murray Lauder, with CAO Laurie Wilgosh also in attendance.

A slippery problem

Council heard from citizen Barbara Doepke, a woman with a slippery problem involving snow removal, property lines, and property tax billing.  Doepke made a request for the council to remove charges she said were inequitable from her property tax bill.

Doepke brought a number of documents with her to help her state her position.  "I have a receipt that my 2011 taxes were paid, in full. My bill for 2012 says that there are arrears from 2011," she said.  "I'm just asking for correction, I need a corrected statement for my property taxes."  It was said by Doepke that the charges appear to arise from snow removal done in 2009. "It's a survey correction line,"  Doepke said adding that the property is adjacent to her property but is not part of the title of her property.  When asked if the snow removal charges from 2009 were on the 2010 or 2011 property tax bill, Doepke said that "it showed up on the 2012."  When asked if the snow removal was from the area that Doepke said belongs to the town, or from a sidewalk that is part of her property, Doepke seemed unclear in her answers.

Councillor Sahra Hancock said to Doepke that "normally how we proceed with things is once we hear from somebody we have the opportunity for administration to compile all of the documentation from all of this."  Hancock indicated that this has been an issue that is ongoing over a number of years, and now has a variety of secondary issues that will have to be addressed.  She said that there will be further discussion on a future date where all interested parties will be welcome to attend.  "It sounds like there is a lot of details that need to be sorted out, and have to be presented."

Golf Club hoping to expand maintenance shed
The Golf Club is requesting to construct an addition to an existing maintenance shed to create a heated workspace and staff lunchroom and staff washrooms.  Councillor Wayne Oliver wanted the clarification that "we are not an authority granting body."  Council passed a motion that gave permission to the golf course to construct the addition, with a friendly amendment.


Children's World Daycare to hold a Merchandise Charity Bingo
The funds that are raised at this event will be used toward the building of a new playground to help children develop healthy fitness habits.  For the bingo itself the Town of Pincher Creek will find an appropriate prize donation towards the cause of health and fitness.  Councillor Hancock suggested a swim pass.

Council also directed administration to advise Children's World Daycare Society to bring their request for funding for the playground to the Joint Funding Committee for consideration.

Finishing touches to be applied to drainage swale 
An area that suffered from water erosion at the south end of Police Avenue is going to go through a beauty treatment.  The area suffered damage from excess water and was repaired approximately six years ago. Although an inspection deemed that it functions in the capacity that it was constructed for it, has an unfinished look to it.

That had a local citizen write a letter to air their concerns to Town Council, MLA Pat Stier, and Minister of Municipal Affairs Doug Griffiths.  Six photographs were presented showing the area in question.  In the photos rocks are on, but do not cover and hide black filter cloth that is used in landscaping the area.

Councillor Wayne Oliver said that he would "like to see something happen here, to tidy it up, as it were." Based on his background in construction he made a number of suggestions on ways to approach the cosmetic aspects of this swale, and raised some concerns as well.  He mentioned that as it was in a park, boulders may present a hazard for children.  Councillor Roy Smyth brought up concerns of smaller rocks being washed away with excess water.  Council decided that it should be included in the next budget discussion.

Administration was directed to look into the cost of covering the filter cloth with suitable aggregate material to be presented at the next budget meeting.