Pincher Creek Town Council notes from September 23, 2013 meeting

• Stardust Motel to be rezoned to C-2 Manufactured/Mobile Home 
• Municipal Development Plan passes second reading 
• Spray park proposal to go to Recreation Board 
• Town of Pincher Creek to acknowledge Environmental Public Health Week
• Alta Gas franchise fee to remain unchanged in 2014
• Fortis Alberta franchise fee  to remain unchanged in 2014
  

Toni Lucas, Pincher Creek Voice

Pincher Creek's Town Council met on the evening of Monday, September 23.  In attendance were Mayor Ernie Olsen and Councillors Don Anderberg, Sahra Hancock, Lorne Jackson, Wayne Oliver, and Murray Lauder.  CAO Laurie Wilgosh, and Oldman River Regional Services Commission (ORRSC) Senior Planner Mike Burla were also in attendance.

Before the meeting started Mayor Ernie Olsen congratulated acclaimed Town Councillors that were in attendance, incumbent Councillor Lorne Jackson and future Councillor Doug Thornton.

Related story:  2013 Election candidates and acclamations

He thanked the current Councillors are not returning after the upcoming election, and wished DOn Anderberg, his opponent for the position of Mayor,  good luck in the upcoming election.

Stardust Motel to be rezoned to C-2 Manufactured/Mobile Home

The regular council meeting was preceded by two scheduled public hearings.  One was in regards to amending the land use bylaw for the Stardust Motel, as per Bylaw 1547-S.  Currently designated as R-2 Manufactured/Mobile Home the change would place it into the designation of C-2 Highway Drive-In Commercial.  This affects Plan 1112158, Block 2, Lot 1.

Oldman River Regional Services Commission (ORRSC) Senior Planner Mike Burla gave his report and said that he was in favor of this change in designation.  CAO Laurie Wilgosh gave her report which included information to the effect that the Bylaw Department, Director of Operations Al Roth, and Chief of Emergency Services Dave Cox found no conflicts or issues regarding this matter, although Cox requested that administration look into the possibility of better distinction of the individual motel units for dispatch purposes.

Doug Thornton was in the public gallery and added some information as to why the this lot may have the designation that  was originally given.

"The motel that's there is actually mobile homes, originally brought to Pincher Creek in approximately 1960 as part of a Gulf Service station on the south side of Pincher Station."  Thornton believed that the units were moved to the current location in approximately 1970, upon the closure of the Gulf Service Station.  Thornton said he was just adding information about the earlier designation.

Later in the same meeting land use bylaw 1547-S in regards to the Stardust Motel, went through a second and third final reading to be re-zoned to C-2 Manufactured/Mobile Home.

Related story:  Pincher Creek Town Council Notes August 26, 2013 meeting 


Municipal Development Plan passes second reading

The second of two scheduled public hearings at this meeting involved Municipal Development Plan Bylaw 1518-13 to adopt a revised comprehensive planning document.  This is to guide the long range growth, change and development within the community pursuant to the provisions outlined in the Municipal Government Act.

Oldman River Regional Services Commission (ORRSC) Senior Planner Mike Burla gave his report.

"This is a document that has been in the works for a number of years," he said as he addressed Council. As part of his report Burla said that he did get a response from the Municipal District (MD) of Pincher Creek. The MD raised a number of questions, including: environmental reserve easements, land use that was not designated in the study.
Burla explained the reasons that these were issues to the MD, and why things were as they were in the Development Plan to the satisfaction of Council.  Burla offered to write a letter of explanation for the Town administration look at before it gets forwarded to the MD.

CAO Laurie Wilgosh gave her report which included that the Department of Transportation had been made aware of the Development Plan and had accepted it as information.

Municipal Development Plan Bylaw 1518-13 passed second reading later in the meeting.

Related story:  Pincher Creek Town Council Notes August 26, 2013 meeting 


Spray park proposal to go to Recreation Board

On September 9, 2013 Jennifer Draper appeared in Council to propose and act as an advocate for a spray park in Pincher Creek.

The members of Town Council agreed to refer the proposal for a splash park in the Town of Pincher Creek to the Recreation Advisory Committee.

Related story:  Pincher Creek Town Council notes from September 9, 2013 meeting


Town of Pincher Creek to acknowledge Environmental Public Health Week

Council voted to recognize  Environmental Public Health Week that runs September 23 - 29.  Within this week is World Environmental Health Day, to be celebrated on September 26, 2013.

Part of the document that was received in regards to this issue read:  "The basic cornerstone of a healthy population is the protection of the public from environmental hazards.  This includes the provision of safe food, safe water, safe housing, and clean air."


Alta Gas franchise fee to remain unchanged in 2014

Council members agreed that the natural gas distribution franchise fee percentage was to remain unchanged at the current 20% for the year 2014.


Fortis Alberta franchise fee  to remain unchanged in 2014

Council members agreed that the electric distribution franchise fee percentage was to remain unchanged at the current 8% for the year 2014.


Reports notes:

Mayor Ernie Olsen and Councillors Sahra Hancock, Lorne Jackson, Don Anderberg and Murray Lauder and CAO Laurie Wilgosh  went to an Elected Officials Meeting in Fernie on September 10.  Elected officials from the Kootenay area, Fernie, Crowsnest Pass were represented.  Those on Council that attended expressed that it was a valuable experience.

After the public meeting Council met to discuss in camera:  Land-Development proposal.