Pincher Creek Town Council notes from December 16, 2013 meeting

Toni Lucas, Pincher Creek Voice

• Oldman Watershed Council membership renewed
• First Committee of the Whole in 2014 Scheduled for January 8
• Canada Post restructuring to include banking and bill payments
• Minor adjustments to Town travel and entertainment expenses policy
• Minister of Municipal Affairs Update

Council for the Town of Pincher Creek met on the evening of Monday, December 16, 2013. In attendance were Mayor Don Anderberg and councillors Adrian Hartman, Wayne Elliott, Mark Barber, Tammy Rubbelke, Lorne Jackson, and Doug Thornton. CAO Laurie Wilgosh was also in attendance.


Replacement mural proposed by Communities in Bloom

John Hancock appeared as a delegation before council representing Pincher Creek Communities in Bloom (PCCIB) in regards to a proposed mural project. he said PCCIB would like the mural that was on the former drug store building at the corner of Main Street and Bev McLachlin Drive  to be redone on Town property. The mural was created by Art Driedger in 1997, and was demolished along with the building when Rexall was constructing a new building on the location in 2008.

The mural depicted a version of the story of how the town received the name Pincher Creek.  The recorded history is that a pair of farriers pincers for trimming horse hooves was lost in the area in 1868 and found in the creek in 1874 by Northwest Mounted Police officers that were here to start the horse ranch that was the foundation for this community.

"This was the very first mural that was put up. It really tells the story of the town, and how it got its name," said Hancock. He said the PCCIB committee has researched 10 areas around the Town of Pincher Creek and approached the Council for permission to use an approximately 15' X 10' area of stucco wall that is to the west of the Pincher Creek Municipal Library entrance as a site for a new mural. The original mural was approximately 20' X 50'.

Hancock said PCCIB considerations included weather that damage the painting, visibility on Main Street, and the associated costs to create, install and the maintain a new mural. He said their idea is that if it is on Town land the threat of the building being demolished would be minimized.

According to Hancock, the group has tried to contact Dreidger, who originally painted the mural, but he was not available. He explained they have found another artist to take on the project,  which would be started from scratch with a new vision, depicting the same story as the earlier mural.

PCCIB offered to take over the care and maintenance for all the murals in town, with the possible exception of the ones at the Legion. If the group gets permission to use the proposed site the cost of the new mural and to re-coat all the murals with a protective cover is currently estimated at $7,000.

Hancock said PCCIB will volunteer to do the fundraising for this project. He said it was recommended that the murals get a protective coat every 5 years.  "I believe it can be done by volunteers, cutting the costs down."

"I would like to involve the whole town," said Hancock about fundraising for the project.  He said he would ask for smaller donations, thereby involving more people in the project at a lower individual expense.

Council discussed the issue later in the meeting and some of the concerns that were raised included  visibility, the size of the mural, the possibility of vandalism, and the location.

Council voted to agree in principle to support the requested space to be used for the mural, and for this issue be referred to the Committee of the Whole.

Council accepts as information the SSRP concerns from Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative president

Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative (YYCI) President Karsten Heuer appeared as a delegation before Pincher Creek's Town Council during the regular council meeting of Monday evening, November 25, 2013. Heuer made a presentation regarding his concern of what he viewed as a small amount of change in protected areas represented in the Draft South Saskatchewan Regional land use Plan (SSRP).  He said he was there to inform the council about what stage the SSRP process was at.

Council accepted this report as information.

Related Link: Town council hears SSRP concerns from Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative president

Oldman Watershed Council membership renewed

Council agreed to renew membership with the Oldman Watershed Council from April 2014 until March, 2015.  The Town will contribute $1,085.70, equivalent to $0.30 per capita from the 2013 census record.

There was discussion around concerns that the group may be involved with eco-activism. "We have supported this group, but we have to have representation on this committee," said Mayor Don Anderberg. "I think we can support them, but we have to be there, and our representative has to tell us what's going on."  Councillor Wayne Elliott volunteered to be a member on the Oldman Watershed Council Board.

Canada Post restructuring to include banking and bill payments

Council agreed to review the Postal Service Charter and open it to public input.

The mandate of this charter is to improve this Canadian Postal Service Charter is to focus on revenue generating services including bill payments, insurance, and banking.

Minor adjustments made to Town travel and entertainment expenses policy

Council approved changes to the Travel and Entertainment Expense Policy 114-13. The primary changes include remuneration for committee meetings.   Remuneration for meetings over 4 hours will increase from $150.00 to $200.00 and remuneration for committee meetings under 4 hours will be increased from $75.00 to $100.00.  There were changes to some of the wording throughout the document to reflect current job titles and to allow for other organizations to pay for the expenses.

These changes are in effect from the retroactive date of November 1, 2013.

Minister of Municipal Affairs update

There were changes made to the Alberta government's cabinet in early December.  The previous Minister of Municipal Affairs Minister Doug Griffiths moved to the Service Alberta portfolio, and Minister Ken Hughes has taken his place.

The Town of Pincher Creek has two significant projects with  that are currently ongoing.  One is Crestview Lodge upgrade funding, and the other is the Emergency Services Commission.

To make sure that these issues are being responded to even though there has been a significant change in that office, Council directed administration to contact the appropriate personnel in the office of the Minister of Municipal Affairs and follow up on these two issues.

In camera

After the regular meeting the Council went in camera to discuss  Land - Abort sale of town owned lot,  Legal - Enel Alberta Wind Inc. Wind Farm Project, and  Labour - WCB rate issues.