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Saturday, October 19, 2013

MD of Pincher Creek council notes, October 8, 2013 meeting

Chris Davis, Pincher Creek Voice

Council for the MD of Pincher Creek Number 8 held a regular meeting on Tuesday afternoon, October 8, the last such meeting prior to the upcoming October 21 election.

  • Pincher Seed Cleaning Co-op delegation
  • Burmis Lundbreck Corridor Area Structure Plan passes third reading
  • Regional water update
  • 60 day notice waived for Conservation Easement
  • Road Closure Resolutions passed
  • 2014 FCSS Funding Agreement approved, unchanged from 2013
  • Borrowing Bylaw to buy property from Cowley for new water plant passes first reading
  • Humane Society/SPCA asks for reserve to be set aside for construction of new facility
  • North Burmis Road upgrades creates concerns for citizen
  • Minister of Transportation clarifies Lundbreck rail crossing responsibilities
  • Beaver Mines asks for funding for funds to repair basketball court
  • Council agrees to be a sponsor of Chamber of Commerce awards
  • Removal of trees at proposed Beaver Mines fire hall site results in backlash (click here for full story)

Pincher Seed Cleaning Co-op delegation

Pincher Seed Cleaning Co-op Chairman Leonard McGlynn appeared before council as a delegation. "At one time council had two, then one, members on our board," said McGlynn, expressing the co-op's wish that the council consider having a councillor sit on the board again. 

McGlynn said the seed cleaning plant "is continuing to be viable", adding that is makes money every year and has never lost money. According to McGlynn one of the big challenges for the co-op is to enlist new members to help with its administration and governance. "We're struggling to get anyone on our board," McGlynn said, adding that only board members were attending the co-op's annual general meetings, despite the fact that they are open to the public.

McGlynn presented council with a letter as well, which begins "At the Seed Cleaning Plants Association of Albera annual convention in 2013 it was brought to my attention that many MDs and counties give their local plant an annual grant. The reason being that seed cleaning plants are a benefit to the whole area by controlling weeds in crops," said the letter in part.  "$50,000 is what a lot of other municipalities are giving," said McGlynn during his presentation to council. "The board would appreciate a grant each year conforming to other MDs and counties in Alberta. A Figure of $10,000 was suggested by the board," the letter concludes.
According to McGlynn there are about 65 producers using the plant at present. After several extra meetings the board decided a new color sorter was 'not viable at this time", but did decide to hire someone to handle their payroll.

On July 1 of this year the Pincher Seed Cleaning Co-op increased the cleaning rate from 52¢ to 65¢ a bushel.

Burmis Lundbreck Corridor Area Structure Plan passes third reading

The amended Burmis Lundbreck Corridor Area Structure Plan passed third and final reading.

Regional water update

Director of Operations Leo Reedyk reported to council that the regional water project is well underway. According to Reedyk: Underground services and piping for the treatment plant is almost completed and construction of the building has started. Underground piping is complete for the Lundbreck tie in, the metering vault is installed, road construction is complete, and the reservoir is under construction. The contractor has started to strip topsoil and lay pipe for the regional pipeline. The Contractor is significantly completed the relocation of the road at the Summerview Road intersection, and fencing, guardrail and signage are underway.

60 day notice waived for Conservation Easement

Council unanimously agreed to waive a 60 day notice for a conservation easement affecting land described as the SE quarter of  Section 20 - 7 - 2 - W5M containing 160 acres more or less, which is intended to protect, conserve, and enhance the natural habitat in that area.

Road Closure Resolutions passed

Three Road Closure Resolutions passed unanimously. The first two were related to an agreement with a landowner regarding work done on the Bonertz Bridge over the Drywood River. As part of that agreement, the MD will close and transfer to the landowner portions of Road Plan No. 4245 HZ that are no longer in use. The third resolution closed and cancelled a portion of unused and undeveloped Road Plan No. 1759 BM within the NE 33-2-29 W4M, deemed no longer required for public travel.

2014 FCSS Funding Agreement approved, unchanged from 2013 

Council agreed to fund $22,252 of the Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) budget for 2014. The Province will fund $89,009 for a total allocation to the FCSS program of $111,261 in 2014. That budget is unchanged from the 2013 MD and Province allocations to FCSS.

Council looking for citizens to serve on Boards and Committees
Click here for more information

Borrowing Bylaw to buy property from Cowley for new water plant passes first reading

Council has an agreement with the Village of Cowley to purchase for the sum of 1,400,000 the title to the property where the Village of Cowley water treatment facilities are located, which will also be the site of the new regional water treatment plant. To this end council decided on a 10 year repayment plan, and a resolution to that effect passed first reading.

Humane Society/SPCA asks for reserve to be set aside for construction of new facility

In a letter sent to council the Board of Directors of the Pincher Creek Humane Society/SPCA ask that council "consider placing an

additional $50,000.00 in reserve toward the construction of a new Humane Society facility in Pincher Creek during Council's budget deliberations for 2014." According to the letter construction of the new facility is expected to start in the spring of 2014.

North Burmis Road upgrades creates concerns for citizen

Council received a letter from Allan Michalsky that outlined his concerns related to the North Burmis Road upgrades done over the last two summers. In his letter he says the water supply to his dugout coming from springs along the road and ditch has been compromised. In addition, his gates are "36 foot wide gates when I asked for gates no wider than 20 feet."

"The fences do not tie into the existing fencing, wire has been left behind in the fields and in general a very strange job was done and now I am going to have to rebuild it when cattle are turned in".

Michalsky said he had a hard time trying to deal with the contractor, a concern that was supported by Councillor Terry Yagos during discussion of the letter. Yagos said he believed the contractor did not work well with affected residents and "If they want a small gate, give them a smaller gate". Reeve Bjorn Berg concurred, saying that changing the gate size should be an easy job. He suggested another look at the area next year after it has had a chance to settle. 

Director of Operations Leo Reedyk said "Water will go where water will go," in reference to the dugout problem, also explaining that Alberta Transportation neglected to put in a culvert, which was rectified by the MD. He also said the dugout should stay full all summer once regrowth happens and that it has now been cleared of silt. He was apparently in agreement that fencing issues were legitimate. "What contractor ties a fence to a tree?" he asked rhetorically at one point in the discussion.

Minister of Transportation clarifies Lundbreck rail crossing responsibilities

Council received a letter from Alberta Minister of Transportation Ric McIver responding to council's request for clarification as to who is responsible for the CPR railway crossing near the Hamlet of Lundbreck.

McIver's letter reads in part:
"Alberta Transportation has reviewed the information enclosed in your letter, as well as the Board of Transport Commissioners for Canada Order No. 125465. I can confirm that based on the Order, Canadian Pacific Railway is indeed responsible for the railway crossing. The board order was an application by the Department of Highways (Alberta Transportation) made on behalf of the Municipal District of Pincher Creek No. 9 for authority to relocate the crossing.
Clause 4 of the board order states:
"The cost of construction of the relocated crossing at mileage 72. 72 Crowsnest Subdivision, and the cost of closing the existing crossing at mileage 72.51 Crowsnest Subdivision shall be paid by the Applicant, and the cost of maintenance of the said relocated crossing at mileage 72.72 Crowsnest Subdivision shall be borne and paid by the Canadian Pacific Railway Company." 
There is also a subsequent board order for the installation of automatic protection at the crossing, being Board Order No. R-915...
Clause 4 of the board order states: "The cost of maintenance and operation of the said protection shall be borne and paid fifty per cent by the Canadian Pacific Railway and fifty per cent by the Municipal District of Pincher Creek No. 9." 
However, in the interest of good will, Alberta Transportation has provided assistance with the ongoing maintenance of this crossing. This includes the electrical costs for operation of the automatic protection. We will continue to do so until a major upgrade of the crossing is scheduled. At that time, any costs should be negotiated between the Canadian Pacific Railway and the Municipal District of Pincher Creek No. 9 as the appropriate stakeholders."
Beaver Mines asks for funding for funds to repair basketball court

A letter was received from the Beaver Mines Community Association asking that council consider funding repairs to the basketball poles and backboard at the Beaver Mines tennis court in their 2014 budget deliberations.

Council agrees to be a sponsor of Chamber of Commerce awards

Council agreed to be a "Gold Level" ($250) sponsor of the annual Pincher Creek and District Chamber of Commerce awards.

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