Town Council Notes, November 13, 2012

Toni Lucas

Pincher Creek's Town Council met on the evening of November 13.  In attendance were Mayor Ernie Olsen, Councillors Don Anderberg, Sahra Hancock, Lorne Jackson, Murray Lauder, and Wayne Oliver attended via telephone.  CAO Laurie Wilgosh and Finance Officer Wendy Catonio were also present.


Appointments

An Organizational Meeting of Council took place on October 22:

Councillors Sahra Hancock and Murray Lauder
T. Lucas photo

Deputy Mayor Appointments - Councillor Murray Lauder is appointed Deputy Mayor from November 1, 2012 to April 30, 2013, and Councillor Sahra Hancock is appointed Deputy Mayor from May 1, 2013 to October 21, 2013.

• Alberta Southwest Regional Alliance - Ernie Olsen
• Assessment Review Board - (unknown)
• Cemetery Committee - Wayne Oliver
• Economic Development Committee - Lorne Jackson
• Emergency Services Operational Committee - Sahra Hancock, Don Anderberg
• Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) - Murray Lauder
• Finance and Budget Committee - All of Council
• Highway 3 Association -  Ernie Olsen
• Intermunicipal Development Committee - Lorne Jackson, Don Anderberg
• Library Board and Chinook Arch - Lorne Jackson
• Mayors and Reeves of Southwest Alberta - Ernie Olsen and Deputy Mayor or available Councillors
• Municipal Development and Subdivision Authority (MDSA) - Sahra Hancock, Roy Smyth, Ernie Olsen
• Community Emergency Management Agency -
• Don Anderberg, Sahra Hancock
• Municipal Subdivision and Development Appeal Board (MSDAB) - Lorne Jackson
• Oldman River Regional Services Commission (ORRSC) - Don Anderberg, Wayne Oliver (alternate)
• Pincher Creek Foundation Board - Ernie Olsen, Roy Smyth
• Policy Review Committee - All Council
• Property Review Committee - Sahra Hancock, Murray Lauder
• Recreation Advisory Board - Wayne Oliver
• Recycle Committee - Wayne Oliver
• Regional Landfill (Arms Length Organization of Town, MD, Cowley, Crowsnest Pass) - Roy Smyth, Lorne Jackson as possible alternative, subject to Landfill Board approval.
• Waste Management Committee - Wayne Oliver
• Community Safety Committee - Don Anderberg

Huddlestun windows to be repaired

Huddlestun windows have been assessed and found to be in need of repair.  Repairs to the existing windows were estimated to cost under $2000.  According to CAO Laurie Wilgosh, Director of Operations Al Roth indicated that there was enough in the operating budget for this year to cover that expense and fix the windows, using the budget for maintenance.

Social Media Policy

The Social Media Policy was reviewed along with the Information Contact Person Policy at the November 1 Committee of the Whole in preparation of the launch of changes to the Town of Pincher Creek website. Councillor Sahra Hancock had raised issues regarding the policy during the Ocober 22 meeting (Click here for more information). Hancock again expressed a concern regarding the policy, but said "I think it is better right now to have something as a guide."  The  Social Media Policy was passed unanimously.

First reading given to bylaw to allow road for new development

First reading was given to repeal Bylaw #1239-A.  If successfully repealed this will open up the road allowance that runs in an east-west direction connecting the north east corner of Bev McLachlin Drive (adjacent to the hospital) and Waterton Avenue. Council originally repealed Bylaw #1239 (no "-A") in July of this year, passing #Bylaw 1609-12 to reopen a road allowance, and then was informed by the GIS staff at ORRSC that bylaw #1239-A covers the road allowance to the east.  An applicant has asked that the road allowance be opened to facilitate the construction of an office building.  The applicant recently removed old structures from the property in question toward that purpose.   Some of those removed structures were relocated to Kootenai Brown Pioneer Village.

Oldman Watershed Council

The Oldman Watershed Council has requested each municipality within the Oldman Watershed contribute $0.30 per resident, for a total of $1,114 for the Town of Pincher Creek.  These funds are to be used for continuing raising awareness about watershed issues, research and monitoring solutions.  They also requested all municipalities to renew their annual membership, the new membership to run from April 1, 2013 to March 31, 2014, and assign a delegate to vote at their Annual General Meeting.  Council agreed to participate, and Councillor Sahra Hancock volunteered for the delegate position.

Report highlights

During reports Hancock said that at an October 29th MDSAB meeting a basement development in the flood fringe was approved.

An Emergency Services meeting with Alberta Health Service on October 29 was attended by Councillors Hancock and Anderberg, and Councillor Jackson came as an interested observer.  The upcoming contract is a 5 year contract with two options to renew for two years each, making it a potential 9 year contract.  Hancock said "I am hoping that we can maintain our invisible extra ambulance that right now offers emergency coverage to our community.  Because it's outside the contract we can ensure that it's always located inside Pincher Creek to  serve this community, and have a bit more discretion on whether or not it leaves the community for transfers, or any other purpose."

Mayor Olsen said that on November 6 he met with the Chamber of Commerce to get them more involved with various parades and trade fairs that are going on in the area.  "I think it was a very fruitful meeting."

Following the public meeting Council went in-camera with labour, personnel, land lease agreements, and the Cowley Water Treatment Plant agreement on the agenda.