Town Council notes from March 10, 2014 meeting

Chris Davis

• Sgt. Dixon presents RCMP reports to Council
• Marijuana growing licencing discussed by Council
• Bylaw governing the billing of residents for fire services reviewed
• Council accepts Pincher Creek Emergency Services Budget for 2014 as information
• Council approved additional costs for 2014 strategic planning session

Council for the Town of Pincher Creek met on the evening of Monday, March 10, 2014. In attendance were Mayor Don Anderberg and Councillors Adrian Hartman, Wayne Elliott, Tammy Rubbelke, Doug Thornton and Lorne Jackson. CAO Laurie Wilgosh was also in attendance. Councillor Mark Barber was not in attendance.

Sgt. Dixon presents RCMP reports to Council
Pincher Creek RCMP Detachment Commander  Sgt. Randy Dixon made a presentation to council. Click here for that story.

Marijuana growing licencing discussed by Council

There was discussion about making an amendment to land use bylaw 1547, and to propose a new land use bylaw use definition 'Medical marihuana production facility'. This change could make the Town of Pincher Creek a community that can accommodate growers of marijuana licensed by the federal government.

As of April 1, 2014 all authorized licenses for marijuana personal use production licenses and designated-person production licenses will have expired for those that have been allowed to grow marijuana at home for personal use.  The growth, production and distribution of marijuana will only be allowed by federally licensed commercial producers.

"By Canadian statute, it is a well regulated business, on the surface, so if someone wanted to come along and set up a business here in Pincher Creek I really wouldn't have a problem with that." said Mayor Don Anderberg. "But we should have some direction here, so if somebody does happen to come along we're ready to deal with that."

Administration was directed to prepare an amendment to be presented to council for more discussion.

Bylaw governing the billing of residents for fire services reviewed

Council reviewed Fire Services billing bylaw #2010-08, and accepted the information as presented.

"We have had a couple of larger incidents, and there are times when insurance companies don't pay. This bylaw allows the town to be discretionary in their billing procedures," said Mayor Anderberg. "Each municipality, if there is a fire, is responsible for the bill, to be paid back to the commission,"

"We expect our citizens to be properly insured, so as to repay us for the costs that we collectively will find to fight a fire," said Councillor Doug Thornton. "In the Town of Pincher Creek your fire policy should have coverage for response."

"Our recommendation was actually prepared with the consideration in our EMS agreement, our commission agreement, it speaks to the fact that the Town and the MD could delegate the collection of the expenses back to the commission, if they so choose," explained CAO Laurie Wilgosh.

Council accepts Pincher Creek Emergency Services Budget for 2014 as information

Council unanimously voted to received the Pincher Creek Emergency Services Budget for 2014 as information. The Town of Pincher Creek contribution to the 2014 budget is $170,841.75. This sum is significantly less than the   178,102.00 previously approved by council.

Mayor Anderberg said that the MD of Pincher Creek is paying "a considerably higher portion than ours."

Council approved additional costs for 2014 strategic planning session

Council voted to approve the additional costs of $4,533.69 associated with the Strategic Planning Session of Council that was held February 21 and 22, 2014. Part of this additional cost is for the creation of an "action arrow" mural to be created from information gathered at the workshop facilitated by Positive Culture Company (PCC).

"Before I get too far into this, I want to know how much was spent before the $4,533.69 came along," asked Councillor Doug Thornton.

CAO Laurie Wilgosh said that PCC charged $6,890 plus expenses. "Normally, they just leave the documentation that they did on the weekend, and they don't provide a mural like this, an updated mural." She said that they mural itself is $1,750. She went on to explain that this was in the range that the same company charged in 2010. According to Wilgosh the additional cost covers the mural, expenses, and the balance of the workshop that was not covered when Council approved $5,000 that was budgeted for the weekend before deciding on and contacting the PCC. "The budget to have them come was lower than what their costs were."