MD of Pincher Creek Council notes, October 23, 2012 meeting

Chris Davis, Pincher Creek Voice

Council for the Municipal District of Pincher Creek No.9 held a meeting on the afternoon of October 23, 2012.  The biggest item on the agenda was an organizational meeting.  It was a full meeting of council, with interim Reeve Terry Yagos, interim Deputy Reeve Bjorn Berg, and Councillors Helen Cyr, Rod Cyr, and Garry Marchuk in attendance.

Organizational meeting: Preamble to election of Reeve and Deputy Reeve

With the resignation of Rod Zielinski on August 7 of this year, who was Reeve at the time, councillor Terry Yagos was elected interim Reeve and councillor Bjorn Berg was elected interim Deputy Reeve on August 7 of this year, until a byelection could be held to replace Zielinski in the Division 3 chair.  With the swearing-in of Garry Marchuk for Division 3 at the last regular meeting of MD council, elections for a permanent Reeve and Deputy Reeve were scheduled to be held at this meeting.  Prior to the ballot all members of council had a chance to speak to what they thought were the important issues facing them going forward.

Interim Reeve Yagos said he had learned a lot in his short time as Reeve, joking "I finally wore a suit, and lost 12 pounds."

Interim Deputy Reeve Berg said he thought it was important that council set a standard for what they wanted to achieve in the final year of their mandate.

"I'm really proud of our achievements, specially the kinds of policies we've initiated and taken over from previous councils" he said, citing the Animal Control policy and the Texas Gates policy.  "The Joint Funding initiative with the Town has proven very successful," he continued. "That 's been the source of a great deal of pride for me."  Berg said a similar arrangement with Emergency Services was also important.  "We've managed to change the land use bylaw, we now have an area structure plan."  He said an ongoing issue for council has been the development of energy, and particularly transmission lines, in the area.

"I can see that one of the biggest issues that we have is our financial reporting and our fiscal statements.  That should be an initiative that we engage in fully.  I can see some major policies coming.  He touched on the Regional Water initiative, saying it would support our communities for decades.  "Councillor (Rod) Cyr and I initiated that in 2008.  Now the water study is complete and agreements are ready to sign between Cowley and us."

He said pavement from the ski hill took three years to get on the provincial agenda.

"All of us can take great pride in these accomplishments."

Councillor Helen Cyr said the new administration building project was a carry-over form previous councils, and an important initiative.  "We felt it was financially feasible to do it, and doable."

Councillor Rod Cyr echoed Berg on the water issue.  "In southern Alberta water is going to become a short commodity eventually."

"Eventually we'll have water going to every farmstead in the community."

"The new building is important, but I don't think it's the most important by a long ways.  The community may value it in the future, but it doesn't now.

Councillor Marchuk declined to comment, saying he was too new to council.

Organizational meeting: Election of Reeve and Deputy Reeve

Helen Cyr nominated Terry Yagos for Reeve, and Yagos accepted the nomination.  Rod Cyr nominated Bjorn Berg for Reeve, and Berg accepted the nomination.

A secret ballot was conducted, resulting in the election of Bjorn Berg as Reeve.

Helen Cyr nominated Terry Yagos for Deputy Reeve and he accepted the nomination.  Bjorn Berg nominated Rod Cyr for Deputy Reeve and he accepted the nomination.

Another secret ballot was conducted, resulting in the election of Rod Cyr as Deputy Reeve.

As a side note, Berg served as Deputy Reeve and Rod Cyr as Reeve for a year, beginning on October 26, 2010.  Reeves and Deputy Reeves serve for a one-year term.

Deputy Reeve Rod Cyr and Reeve Bjorn Berg
C. Davis photo

Statement of Reeve elect Bjorn Berg

"I'm surprised, Berg said after the election was concluded.   "What I can see for the future year here is... Certainly I think transmission lines are going to be a big big part of what is going on in this community.  Transmission lines, where they go, what their value is for our larger society and our community here."

"Emergency Services... We need to hire a new and permanent Emergency Services Director.  It's a work in progress and we will probably hear about it on a weekly basss."

He touched on the Community Values Assessment released last spring (which you can read about in more detail by clicking here).

"Seeing the results of the Community Values Assessment solidified what I thought I already knew," he said.  "We will have to incorporate it into policy documents, and come up with some firmer ideas for where to take this.  It has as much merit for determining policy in Alberta as anything I've ever seen."

He suggested there might be possible changes to the new building plan, "Perhaps
a lot more public bearing on it and public activity in the future."

He held up the draft of an Agricultural Master Plan for Rocky View County that he said actually originated in discussions held off-the-cuff here back in 2007.  "We need to explore ways we can enhance and create more opportunity for agricultural products and sustainability."

Council for the MD of Pincher Creek No.9
C. Davis photo

Organizational meeting: Appointment of signing authorities

Councillor Terry Yagos moved that Reeve Berg and Deputy Reeve Rod Cyr be appointed as signing authorities, which was unanimously approved.

Organizational meeting: Appointment of Auditors

Young, Parkin, and McNab LLP were unanimously reappointed as auditors.

Organizational Meeting: Committees

All councillors are sitting members of the following Committees, Boards, and Commissions:

• AAMDC
• Finance and Budget Committee
• Foothills Little Bow
• Joint Town and MD Council Meetings
• Joint Funding Meetings
• Municipal Planning Commission
• Regional COuncil Meetings
• Regional Water Joint Council - MD/Village of Cowley
• Statutes, Bylaws, and Plans Committee
• Subdivision Authority

The following appointments were made to Committees and Boards:

• Agricultural Service Board: Helen Cyr, Bjor Berg as alternate.
• Oldman River Regional Services Commission (ORRSC):  Garry Marchuk, Helen Cyr as alternate.
• Pincher Creek Foundation:  Bjorn Berg and Terry Yagos, Helen Cyr as alternate. 
• Pincher Creek Emergency Services:  Bjorn Berg,  Garry Marchuk as alternate.
• Family and Community Support Services (FCSS): Helen Cyr, Rod Cyr as alternate.
• Library Board/Chinook Arch: Bjorn Berg, Helen Cyr as alternate.
• Alberta SouthWest Regional Alliance:  Bjorn Berg, Garry Marchuk as alternate.
• Crowsnest Pincher Creek Landfill Association:  Terry Yagos, Rod Cyr as alternate
• Intermunicipal Development Committee: Garry Marchuk and Rod Cyr, Helen Cyr as alternate.
• Castle Mountain Resort: Garry Marchuk, Rod Cyr as alternate.
• Cemetery Committee: Helen Cyr, Bjorn Berg as alternate.
• Recycling Management and Solid Waste Committee: Helen Cyr, Garry Marchuk as alternate.
• Lundbreck Citizens Council: Terry Yagos
• Beaver Mines Community Association: Garry Marchuk

Councillor Terry Yagos moved to accept the above appointments, which met with unanimous agreement.  With that the Organizational Meeting was adjourned.

~

Regular meeting of Council:

Curling Club request for financial aid

A request for financial assistance by the Pincher Creek Curling Club was deferred until more information from the Town and a formal request were provided, at the suggestion of Councillor Helen Cyr.
 

Lundbreck grader shelter upgrade

A decision regarding a proposed upgrade to the Lundbreck grader shelter with the addition of a concrete floor was unanimously deferred at the suggestion of Councillor Marchuk until a clear estimate of costs could be provided to base a decision on.

Final Mile Rural Connection Initiative  

Council decided to go ahead with phase one of the Final Mile Rural Connection Initiative, with Reeve Berg the lone dissenter.  The MD will partner with local internet service provider Tough Country on the initiative.  The next step is a grant application.  If the application is accepted, 75% of the project's cost would be reimbursed by the province.  The application itself is expected to cost $32,000, of which $25,000 would be reimbursed if the project is approved by the province. Reeve Berg objected based on not knowing where the funding for the project would be allocated from.

(For more information about this subject click here)