Town of Pincher Creek Council notes May 28, 2012

Toni Lucas, Pincher

Pincher Creek's Town Council met on Monday evening, May 28.  In attendance were Mayor Ernie Olsen, Councillors Sahra Hancock, Lorne Jackson, Don Anderberg, Wayne Oliver, Roy Smyth, and Murray Lauder.

Clara Yagos spoke to Council on behalf of the Pincher Creek Humane Society.  Click here for that story.

Veterans Memorial Campground request to waive sewer dumping fees passed
On December 12, 2011 a $5.00 fee for sewer dumping was implemented in the Veteran's Memorial Campground for non-registered units.  Councilor Hancock believes that "This is an area that is specific to a narrow portion of our population and their should be some user pay for that."   Councillor Don Anderberg expressed opposition to the fee.

Wayne Oliver asked "Don, you have always been a proponent of pay as you go," "whats the biggest driver that you see to campers shouldn't pay, at this particular thing?"  Councillor Anderberg said that "In all my camping time, I have never seen a $5.00 charge for sewer dumping."  After some discussion Council decided unanimously to waive the fee.


Councillor Anderberg requests more budget detail
Councillor Anderberg expressed a desire to have more of an explanation about individual line items in the Town's budget.  "If we look at a budget, if we had a little bit better breakdown, a little more explanation, then we're going to raise a few more questions. I think that's important, because the bigger part of this budget is Operations, and since I've been on Council, nobody wants to talk about Operations."

After some discussion, Councillor Wayne Oliver suggested "Maybe we've got to take an hour out of Committee of the Whole and identify, as Roy said, maybe the top five things that we want to look at for delivery of service." Mayor Ernie Olsen suggested that councillors that have budget questions should submit them to administration for answers.

Local Improvement Tax Bylaw 1611-12 passed second and third readings.  This tax pertains to lands that directly benefit from the Hunter Street and Freebairn Avenue 2012 local improvement project.

Mayor's Caucus to be held in Calgary
Council approved the attendance of Mayor Ernie Olsen and CAO Laurie Wilgosh at the Mayor's Caucus to be held in Calgary on June 14, 2012, to be funded through the Town legislative services training and travel budget.