Town Council Notes, February 11 meeting, 2013

Toni Lucas, Pincher Creek Voice

Pincher Creek's Town Council met on the evening of Monday, February 1l.  In attendance were Mayor Ernie Olsen, Councillors Don Anderberg, Sahra Hancock, Lorne Jackson, Wayne Oliver, and Murray Lauder.  CAO Laurie Wilgosh, Director of Operations Al Roth, and Finance Officer Wendy Catonio were also present.

Town to look at the snow removal process around local schools

On January 28, 2013 a delegation of parents who have children that attend Canyon School approached council to express concerns regarding snow removal around the school.

Council looked at both St. Michael's School and Canyon School to investigate the complaint. The Town does plow in the areas, but it does not currently remove accumulated snow.  This results in a plow ridge that creates challenges at crosswalks and a restricted width in the street.  Another concern the parents raised is safety for buses and parents parking to drop off and pick up children.


Councillor Don Anderberg said he went see the situation for himself, and clarified (during the council meeting) with Director of Operations Al Roth that the Town's plowing was at least partially responsible for the snow buildup the parents were talking about.

Anderberg said he would like to investigate creating a safe loading/unloading zone for buses on the west end of the building where old staff parking used to be.

Councillor Wayne Oliver said that snow removal is not the only issue,  saying traffic congestion is a challenge both schools face.  He said that Matthew Halton School has designated bus loading and unloading zones that are offset from the roadway.  Oliver suggested curb to curb snow removal until a long term solution is in place,

Councilor Lorne Jackson expressed concern about the safety of the children using these school zones.  "They're not quite as aware as older kids can be, and it's kind of difficult for them to climb over a snowbank to cross at a cross walk "  

"I'm never in favour of changing the snow removal policy, especially at this time of year, but I do think the crosswalks in the school zones are important and they should be in a passable state," said Councillor Sahra Hancock.  She suggested having the snow removed from the crosswalks during high snow events.

Mayor Olsen suggested meeting with the Principals and concerned parents of both schools to "throw some ideas around," and find a long term solution.

The Town is going to invite the Principals of the schools and members of the delegation to the Committee of the Whole Meeting for March 7, and administration will look over at the financial implications of removing snow at school zone cross walks.

Garbage Removal

Garbage Utilities Bylaw 1605-09A was reviewed and put to first reading.  The bylaw is being updated to accommodate changes because of the new garbage collection system and bins.  Councillor Hancock requested that some of the terms be used consistently throughout the bylaw, and requested that the actual metric volume sizes of the bins be named in the paperwork.

Tax Bylaw Amendment 1611-12-A

This bylaw pertains to lands that directly benefit from the Hunter Street and Freebairn Avenue 2012 local improvement project. The amendment is being adopted as the first numbers in Bylaw 1611-12 were based on estimates, and it is now being adjusted to reflect actual costs of the improvements.

According to CAO Laurie Wilgosh citizens affected by this amendment will be notified by Town administration . The amendment reflects a cost savings on the project that will be passed on to the rate payers.  The amendment passed third and final reading.

Alberta Health Services Ambulance Agreement Extension

Council agreed on behalf of the Town of Pincher Creek to extend the current contract with Alberta Health Services to continue running the ground emergency services ambulance services to cover the time period of April 1, 2013 until June 30, 2013.  Contract negotiations are ongoing and may extend past the date the current contract runs until which is March 31, 2013.

Councillor Sahra Hancock, Councillor Don Anderberg, and Fire Chief Dave Cox will attend a negotiation meeting on February 14 in Lethbridge.  It is anticipated that MD Reeve Bjorn Berg, who is also the Emergency Management Agency Chair  will also attend. Hancock and Anderberg also sit on the Emergency Management board.

Town declines SAEWA membership

At a meeting of the board of the Crowsnest/Pincher Creek Landfill Association (CNPCLA) held on November 21 the board rejected renewing their membership with The Southern Alberta Energy from Waste Association (SAEWA).  Each  municipality can continue with a membership through their own administrations.  This includes the MD of Crowsnest Pass, MD of Pincher Creek, Town of Pincher Creek, and the Village of Cowley.  Previously this membership was paid by the CNPPCLA on behalf of all four communities.

Council decided to reject membership with SAEWA.

Creekside Condos are to pay for additional waste bins

A request from Creekside Condos  that the fees for an additional solid waste collection bin be waived was been denied by Council.


Pincher Creek Emergency services and Pincher Creek Emergency Management to receive more funding

Pincher Creek Emergency Services (PCEMS) and Pincher Creek Emergency Management Agency (PCEMA) will receive and increase by a total of $35,000 to help accommodate higher wage costs due to increase in staffing.  This funding will come from the with $20,375 to go to PCEMS and $14,625 to go to PCEMA.

"If we were in a more stable space in the emergency services arena, we wouldn't be doing a budget adjustment here," said Councillor Hancock. "But, as we are in a transition year with merging Emergency Services and the Emergency Management Agency, and  moving into the Emergency Services Commission, we didn't fully have the EMS budget scoped out properly when we were doing  budget deliberations last fall."

Councillor Don Anderberg said there was additional funds put aside for this eventuality with the money already set aside in the Fire Reserve Account.

The motion was passed to allot the requested funds.

Diamond Jubilee recipients

There are still some members of the public that have been nominated for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Award that have not yet received them. It has been requested that the Town hold a special presentation for them.

Mayor Ernie Olsen said "We gave out one medal here, to a gentleman by the name of Bob Westrop.  It was done right here, at a council meeting.  It is an honour to get it, but there was no hoopla."  Olsen explained that each agency that applied for the award was responsible for giving out the medals, and for what they did for recognition of the individual .  "For us to spend taxpayers dollars, I would rather see recognition for all the recipients (happen) at our Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon."

Councillor Don Anderberg concurred. "Most of the people that received this medal are volunteers for the community."

Councillor Sahra Hancock said that the medals are to be handed out before a deadline of the end of February, and that the Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon will be after that deadline.

After much discussion Council unanimously decided that  local recipients of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee winners will be recognized at the Town of Pincher Creek Volunteer Luncheon.  These recipients have already been given their Diamond Jubilee Awards.

The Town will defer to the MD of Pincher Creek in regards to the awards that still have to be given out, as MD is governing body that applied for the medals that are remaining to be given out.

Following the public meeting

Council went in-camera to discuss labor, land and legal issues.

Municipal Development Plan Update

Council for the Town of Pincher Creek is updating the Town's Municipal Development Plan and has allowed for public feedback.  More details, including a draft of the plan and ways to submit comments, can be found on the Town's website (click here).