Town Council meeting notes, August 27, 2012

Chris Davis, Pincher Creek Voice

Pincher Creek's Town Council met on the evening of August 27.  In physical attendance were Deputy Mayor Roy Smyth and Councillors Sahra Hancock, Murray Lauder, and Lorne Jackson.  Councillor Wayne Oliver attended via speakerphone.  Mayor Ernie Olsen and Councillor Don Anderberg were absent.

The meeting began with a special presentation to Economic Development Committee member Tom Holoboff, which you can read about by clicking here.

Emergency Management Agency Chair Bjorn Berg reported to Council, which you can read about by clicking here.

Humane Society Lease renewed

Councillor Hancock questioned why the Humane Society did not want the responsibility for payment of utilities to be included in their lease.  "I am in favour of its inclusion in its lease," she said, a sentiment echoed by Smyth and Jackson.

Hancock said she would like to see all operational costs represented "out front" so the Town could decide on funding those costs based upon "openness and clarity".

After some discussion, Council unanimously passed the lease agreement as proposed, with responsibility for utility payments resting on the Humane Society.

Rate reduction okayed for Senior Huskies

Senior Huskies representative Jeff Kaupp appeared before Council on March 13, 2012 and again on July 24, 2012 to ask for the reduction for the Ranchland Hockey League team's first season. He told council the team would have about 10 home games during the 2012-2013 season, and that the team was willing to pay the $110/hr fee for games.  He said the team expected to practice about 3 hours a week, later in the evenings.

The Peigan Cowboys Senior Hockey Team are not in the RHL this year.  Formerly they called the Pincher Creek MCC Arena home and paid $135 an hour for games.  They booked no practice time at the arena.

"Our cost for operating this is between 110 and 165 dollars, depending on calculations, per hour for that," said Councillor Hancock.  " I think that the reduced fee for the Minor Hockey is good for the kids, however I think that we should try and have a full rate recovery for this," Hancock continued.

"I'd just like to remind Council of Jeff's presentation," said Councillor Oliver.  "They're a brand new start-up hockey team.  There are lots of costs, and the request to reduce the rate was just a one-year request so I wonder if we needed to go and change the Fees and Charges bylaw or if this can be a single-time request as we've done with other requests for fees to be lowered."

"The other thought is, the Cowboys aren't playing," continued Oliver, "and the arena has lost all the revenue that the Cowboys used to generate," suggesting having some revenue was better than no revenue.  Councillors Jackson and Lauder agreed with that sentiment.

Council agreed to reduce the rental rate of the MCC Arena for the Pincher Creek Senior Huskies to $65 an hour, down from the regular minor league rate of $110 an hour, with Councillor Hancock opposed.  The reduction will require a Fees and Charges bylaw amendment, which will be brought back to Council for approval.

EMS Regional Collaboration Project survey funding approved

Council unanimously agreed that of $17,000 of $87,000 approved for the EMS Regional Collaboration Project be allocated for a Fire Underwriters survey, which is planned to be completed by early November.

Council also unanimously approved the appointment of Fire Chief Dave Cox as Acting Director of the Emergency Management Agency "until such time as a new Director is appointed".

Assessment Service Contract awarded

Council unanimously agreed to award the Assessment Services contract to Benchmark Assessment Consultants Ltd., the only bidder, for a five year term and a total amount of $240,685.00.

Joe's Weight Club renovations approved

Council unanimously agreed to allow Joe's Weight Club to undertake a leasehold improvement project, which involves the removal of a non load-bearing wall to accommodate expansion.