Landowner requests bylaw change to allow for storage
Willow Valley School Centennial celebrations discussed
CALUA addresses council with wind farm/transmission line concerns
Patton Park proposal reviewed
April financial statement discussed
Grazing School for Women to have coffee on Council
Request made for improvements to Yarrow Creek area road
Crowsnest/Pincher Creek Landfill incinerator discussed
Roadside dumping discussed
Flood recovery projects discussed
Toni Lucas, Pincher Creek Voice
Council for the MD of Pincher Creek No. 9 met in Council chambers on the afternoon of Tuesday May 27. In attendance was Reeve Brian Hammond, Deputy Reeve Terry Yagos, Councillor Fred Schoening and Councillor Garry Marchuk.
Landowner requests bylaw change to allow for storage
The regular meeting of Council was preceded with a public hearing for Bylaw 1251-14.
Development Officer Roland Milligan explained the bylaw, which would rezone a portion of land southwest of 10729 west of 4th, which is currently a gravel pit. Milligan told council the landowner would like to rezone 15 acres to Multi-lot Heavy Rural Industrial to allow for a storage area, which the owner plans to us for wind turbine and transmission line equipment storage, and possibly for a 'rig'.
"When I purchased the land, I was under obligation to do a lot of reclamation," said property owner Earl Higginbotham. "All the westerly area we eventually have taken through reclamation." Talking about the area he would like to rezone Higginbotham said " It was under the suggestion of Alberta Environment that I do this, the area, as you can see, is a mostly gravelled, level area." Currently it is being used as a lay-down and storage area for transmission and wind power equipment. "It's their suggestion (Alberta Environment) that it be re-zoned to continue using it for what it is being used for now, actually. Nothing is going to change."
""We are hoping that area can be used for storage for quite some time."
Councillors asked Higginbotham about traffic usage, dust, and road conditions. "For the last 6 months, there has been an unbelievable amount of traffic going in and out of there," he said, adding that this had not raised dust issues because of the amount of gravel down in the area. Higginbotham believes that the area in question was an aggregate storage area when the gravel pit was fully functional.
Oldman River Regional Services Commission Planning Adviser Gavin Scott also addressed council. "What Multi-lot Heavy Rural Industrial encompasses if you look at the district, there are a number of committed and discretionary uses listed there, so the change to this district would allow for the consideration forbidden for these other uses."
"One of the landowners' concerns in this letter is it does open the door for these other uses, you should be aware of that," said Scott. Reclamation was another issue that Scott wanted to address. "I voice my concern over that," he said. "Until such time as it is reclaimed another use could still happen there, but we would still like to see reclamation happen at some point down the line."
"I hope that the plan for reclamation remains in place and at some future date when the lay-down yard is no longer viable or necessary the reclamation can come in and finish it's job for the entire site."
Two letters of objection were submitted to council for consideration The first was from Allison Brock and Martyn Hill.
""Rezoning from agriculture to heavy rural industrial in an area that has a fair number of country residential properties is a very tight line. We are concerned that there will be more rezoning and that this particular case will be the crack that opens the door, so to speak."
"Country residential properties will not hold any value if surrounded by heavy industrial zones and since they were not zoned that way when the properties were purchased there is a reasonable expectation that the zoning will remain compatible." Excerpted from Brock/Hill letter.
Don and Maureen Murray submitted a letter that expressed concerns about heavy machinery, increased traffic, and noise. Maureen expressed curiosity about a sign she says is on the property identifying is as a wildlife sanctuary.
Willow Valley School Centennial celebrations discussed
Chair of the Centennial Committee of the Livingstone Range Park Society (LRPS) Willow Valley School Centennial Celebrations Pat Nowlin and Shona Sekella appeared before council to discuss the upcoming celebration of Willow Valley School's centennial. The events are scheduled to occur on September 5-7 2014, including opening ceremonies, dedications, a silent auction, a picnic lunch, a book launch, music, a play, children's activities, dinner, a brunch, and a time capsule. The committee has submitted several requests. They would like permission to install a bench and sign. Members of council were invited to attend, and they asked that the Reeve to attend and speak at the centennial.
Nowlin said that the committee is looking for funding for a brunch after cowboy church service, as one aspect of the three day celebration. The projected cost of the one meal is $8.50, with 175 people expected to participate, for a total cost of $1,487.50.
"Congratulations on your celebrations, we are going to try to send the Reeve to that," said Councillor Gary Marchuck.
The Society had previously requested permission to put up a plaque. "I want to be clear that council is fine if we change from a plaque to a much more aggressive, a bigger sign," said Nowlin.
"We will discuss this further," said Reeve Brian Hammond. "If we have any concerns, we will inform you. If not, you can assume we probably don't."
"That same weekend, we are hoping to reveal this bench, and put it on Willow Valley School property," said Shona Sekella. She explained it would be a heavy duty maintenance-free bench mounted solidly to the ground (Editor's note: It gets a bit breezy in Willow Valley).
"Last year, the Sekella family celebrated 100 years of homesteading in the Willow Valley." The bench is in honour of Steve and Rosy (Nee Navratil) Sekella. Shona said that she has gone to meetings in the area and talked to committee members. "Everybody out there is in favour of having the bench out there, if you are okay with it being situated on that property."
Reeve Brian Hammond asked where the family wanted to put the bench, and said that it will be discussed by council.
CALUA addresses council with wind farm/transmission line concerns
Chinook Area Land Users Association (CALUA) Vice President Stephan Blum spoke to council on behalf of the association. "I'm representing about 200 individuals and roughly 80% of the land owners in Division 1 and 2 of Pincher Creek. It is our request to find a way to declare the area south of Highway 3 and west of Highway 810 as an area free of wind farm development and high voltage transmission lines." According to a previous Pincher Creek Voice article*, at their May 8, 2013 AGM area landowners were presented with a "Statement of Intent and Direction" which mirrors that request.
"On a per energy basis oil is four times more expensive than natural gas. That will have an effect on oil development in northern Alberta, said Blum. "Energy efficiency of wind farms is only 25 - 30%. Everything has to be 4 times oversized, and they have a massive footprint 2,000 times larger than gas plants. And gas plants are what's going to come, due to the low gas prices."
"Fossil back up is always required. There are no CO2 benefits, so the green credits that the government wants to get are actually not there."
Blum said wind energy was uncertain and risky, adding that large scale infrastructure projects cannot be built on uncertainty. He reiterated CALUA'S concerns about the potential for long term destruction of the majesty of the area.
Division One Councillor Fred Schoening said, "We have to glean this as information, and try to sort through what is the best way to do it."
Related link:
*CALUA holds AGM, reaffirms opposition to transmission lines in Twin Butte area
Patton Park proposal reviewed
Lundbreck citizen Dennis Olson appeared before council for the MD of Pincher Creek at their May 13 meeting to inform them about and to seek their support for a proposed revitalization of Patton Park, located at the west end of Lundbreck. During the meeting on May 27 council discussed the proposal.
"Because we have water from the wells, we have water for the park," said Councillor Terry Yagos. "There is no blueprint, they just want to get a group together to decide 'What could we do to make the park better?' Let the community make the plan."
"They need community involvement. They have to help maintain and care for that park," said Councillor Garry Marchuck. "We need something here that if we spend money here, that it does last and is looked after."
Yagos said it is not that easy, as the MD has expressed issues with having residents working in a park.
"If a committee is formed of the citizens and the users of the park, and they come forth with a plan, then it is very easy for us to either say yea or nay as to what expenses or costs may be taken on by the MD," said Councillor Fred Schoening. "Do we need a motion to invite them to strike a committee to present plans and ideas to council?"
"I think they are waiting for that," said Yagos. "In the past we have sent the message they can't do anything to the park, without our permission. Only the MD can cut the grass. Only the MD can do the maintenance..."
"Until we know what the community wants, why would we get involved in a bunch of rules and stuff?" asked Reeve Brian Hammond.
Tara Cryderman read the proposed motion: "That letter from Denis Olsen dated May 6, 2014 regarding Patton Park be received, and that council encourages the formation of a committee for the future of Patton Park and that council requests the submission of the plan from that committee detailing the proposals for Patton Park."
"I think Lundbreck should get together as one committee," said Marchuk. "One committee to look after the Lundbreck Gardeners, one committee for everything. Instead of one committee for this, and one committee for that and one committee for every thing else. It's a small community. Get together come to us once for funding, and away you go."
The motion passed, with Councillor Marchuk opposed.
Related story:
Council for MD of Pincher Creek asked to ponder Patton Park proposal
April financial statement discussed
"As of the end of April, our bank statement balance was overdrawn 721,967.68," said Director of Finance and Administration Mat Bonertz at the start of his detailed explanation of the month end statement for April, 2014.
"Why were we overdrawn?" said Councillor Garry Marchuk.
"Because we elected to leave our long term investments in place, rather than cash them in to prevent us from being in an overdrawn position," said Bonertz, who said that the fees for being overdrawn were less than the money lost from pulling long term investments out early.
"How long will we stay in this overdrawn way?" asked Marchuck. "Probably by the 15th, I would say, we will no longer be overdrawn," said Bonertz.
Operations report
Grazing School for Women to have coffee on Council
The Agricultural Service Board requested that the MD of Pincher Creek sponsor coffee breaks, up to $500, for the Southern Alberta Grazing School for Women, an event to be held in Pincher Creek July 23 and 24. They additionally asked that an Assistant Agricultural Fieldman assist in the organizing committee as an in kind contribution.
Council unanimously agreed to the requests.
The Agricultural Service Board requested that the MD of Pincher Creek sponsor coffee breaks, up to $500, for the Southern Alberta Grazing School for Women, an event to be held in Pincher Creek July 23 and 24. They additionally asked that an Assistant Agricultural Fieldman assist in the organizing committee as an in kind contribution.
Council unanimously agreed to the requests.
Request made for improvements to Yarrow Creek area road
MD citizen Blane Marr has requested improvements to access to SE 16-30-3-W4M. The statutory road right of way east of the property runs through the alluvial plain of the Yarrow Creek and up a steep embankment through a spring. On the west side of the road right of way is an electrified 6' buffalo fence.
According to Reedyk, who said he toured the site with Marr, the road right of way there is soft ground and does have tree obstruction that may cause some problems for cattle. Marr has requested the Municipal District take action to improve the right of way for approximately 65 meters.
Reedyk said that Alberta Environment has a kiosk at the end of the road where trail information is distributed. Marr requested the road right of way be improved to allow him to access the forest reserve where he has traditionally grazed cattle. Marr indicated that previously he has crossed the south half of 21-30-3-W4M to gain access to the grazing area, but the owner of that land is currently denying him access to cross. Marr has indicated that he is willing to help in clearing some of the encrouching poplar trees out of the road right of way.
"In conjunction with Mr. Marr, I would like to see our administration pursue talks with SRD to see if they can come up with a viable solution that has no legal implications to the MD," said Councillor Schoening.
Administration was directed to contact all involved parties including SRD, Marr, and MD operations to investigate solutions and obtain possible costs.
Crowsnest/Pincher Creek Landfill incinerator discussed
The Crowsnest Pincher Creek Landfill Association (CPCLA) has been looking at an incinerator as a means of disposing of materials coming to the Landfill and has been looking at options to minimize the volume of materials put into the facility.
An incinerator would turn batches of material into ash reducing the volume of material put into the landfill's cells. This would extended period of time to fill the current and future landfill cells.
The CPCLA is currently looking into the costs and grants available for an incinerator that would be able to handle between 10 to 20 tonnes of Municipal solid waste (MSW) waste per batch per day including plastic waste. They are also considering an operation that could incinerate large animal carcasses.
"The landfill has been unable to take cattle carcasses as they are unable to destroy potential (Bovine spongiform encephalopathy) BSE prions. An incinerator could effectively destroy the prions in beef carcasses, reduce other carcasses including road kill as well as deal with other agricultural waste including plastic feed wraps. Currently there are no recycle options for most agricultural plastics as they are dirty and contain small amounts of feed stock and non-recyclable material" according to part of the written report submitted by the landfill association.
The Agricultural Service Board (ASB) have expressed an interest in the landfill incinerator project, and support in principle. The ASB have offered member Tony Bruder to be a representative on a committee if required.
Council members voted to accept the information that was presented be received, support the formation of a Crowsnest Pincher Creek Landfill Association Incinerator Project Subcommittee, with agricultural producer Tony Bruder being a member of the committee.
Roadside dumping discussed
Councillor Fred Schoening asked Leo Reedyk if the MD will pick up waste if it has been dumped roadside in the MD area. "In fact, we prefer people do not do that, we regularly find bags of garbage and we will go through them to find out if there is something in there to tell us who the owner of said garbage is," said Reedyk. He added that he believes the fine for dumping in unapproved areas carries a minimum $250 fine.
Flood recovery projects discussed
"We are looking to design this bridge to have 3,000 cubic metres/second flow through the opening, which is the same as the Summerview Bridge downstream, and the dam fully open," said Director of Operations Leo Reedyk. The Cottonwood Bridge was 2,000 cubic metres per second, so it is a 50% increase to the capacity."
"Interesting of note, heavy rock rip rap class 3 at $255 per cubic metre. That price has doubled in the last six months with all the heavy rock rip rap that is going into flood projects around southern Alberta. It's a huge increase in price."
Reeve Hammond asked for clarification on what the price was last year. "When all the projects were estimated, heavy rip rap was put in at $115/cubic metre," said Reedyk. "Disaster recovery, noticing this across all of their projects has indicated that projects that go over as a result of heavy rip rap the projects go over and they will still go ahead, and other extenuating circumstances, they will review."
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