Pincher Creek Town Council notes from June 9, 2014 meeting

Golf Club Restaurant Manager's 5th wheel dilemma
More investigation on business sewer back-up issue
Sidewalk renovations partly funded for citizen
Lebel Mansion historical designation bylaw passed
Committee of the Whole meeting July 8
New Humane Society facility moving forward

Related stories (links) from this meeting:

RCMP Auxiliary Constable Mel Massini recognized for 35 years of service

Previous Town of Pincher Creek councillors and Mayor recognized for their service

Toni Lucas

Council for the Town of Pincher Creek met on the evening of June 9, 2014. In attendance were Mayor Don Anderberg and Councillors Adrian Hartman, Wayne Elliott, Mark Barber, Tammy Rubbelke, and Doug Thornton. Councillor Lorne Jackson was not in attendance.  CAO Laurie Wilgosh was also present.

RCMP Auxiliary Constable Mel Massini recognized for 35 years of service

Pincher Creek Town Council presented Auxiliary Constable Mel Massini with a plaque to honour his commitment of 35 Years of Service on Monday, June 9.

Previous Town councillors and Mayor recognized for their service

Council presented tokens of appreciation to members of the previous Pincher Creek Town Council on June 9, 2014.  Sahra Hancock was accompanied by her son Rowan.  They joined Murray Lauder, Wayne Oliver, and former Mayor Ernie Olsen as recipients.

Golf Club Restaurant Manager's 5th wheel dilemma

Pincher Creek Golf Course Restaurant Manager Joni MacArthur said she moved here with the understanding that she would be able to park her 5th wheel at the golf course, she has since been told that she will not be able to due to a local bylaw.  As an alternative she would like to use the Pincher Creek Memorial Campground but there is a 14 day limit there, and a higher overhead than she is prepared to pay.  MacArthur expressed that she has made a five year plan to run the restaurant.   She would like to work with the Town to either have a single spot in in the Memorial Campground for a reduced fee, or be able to park at the Golf Course.  Golf Club Director Dave Everts came to council with MacArthur and said that the club would like to have her stay at the golf course, as it offers additional security for the course in general.  Councillors asked MacArthur questions about her power water and sewer usage.  Council also let her know that the solutions that she proposed would either require a change to a bylaw or to a Town policy.

Mayor Don Anderberg thanked them for bringing this to their attention. He explained that there was no immediate solution, as council would be discussing the issue at a future meeting date.

More investigation on business sewer back-up issue

Local business Celestial Sweets had a sewage backup issue that occurred on October 28, 2013.  Owner Celeste Fouillard came to council on March  28, 2014 to request compensation, saying that she suffered $32,000 in damages.  Council reviewed information including a discussion about the situation with Town Director of Operations Al Roth on May 26 meeting of Council.   "I can't say for sure that it was or wasn't caused by a grease trap," said Roth when talking about grease in the lines, possibly from an inadequate grease trap from Celestial Sweets.   Roth has years of experience with sewer lines here and in other communities, and said that he has seen a variety of objects in a sewer line over that time period, including a toboggan.  "It's hard to say how these things get into the system, but they do.  I can't guarantee that something wasn't  displaced in here, or something happened, but we didn't find any evidence of anything other than grease." Roth said, "There was obviously some kind of blockage.  When we finally knocked what ever it was loose, it drained the system, and it was clean."

Based on what Roth said there is no conclusive proof either the Town of Pincher Creek or Celestial Sweets created the situation that caused the backup. "I believe that I would like to see some help for this citizen," said Councillor Doug Thornton.  Council instructed administration to follow up and contact the insurance company that is hired by the town for more information and to have the company reassess the claim.

Sidewalk renovations partly funded for citizen

Kevin Webster appeared before council on May 26 with sidewalk concerns.  He said that one area in front of his property was repaired poorly by a contractor for the  town a number of years ago. Webster said that the replaced section has deteriorated, and has caused cracking damage to an adjacent stretch of sidewalk.  He has planned to install a driveway over the adjacent area that is cracked, and is concerned that the repaired area will damaged the new sidewalk area.  He asked that the Town consider a cost sharing project and have the two sections replaced simultaneously.

Council discussed the issue, and unanimously voted to offer the home owner the cost of replacing the cracked sidewalk at what the town would pay to replace that section at regular monolithic sidewalk and curb concrete installation.  This comes to $2,400. The homeowner can use those funds to offset the cost of installing the driveway that he has planned.  "We will pay for that portion of the sidewalk, that has to be replaced," said Mayor Don Anderberg.

Related story:  Pincher Creek Town Council notes from May 26, 2014 meeting

Lebel Mansion historical designation bylaw passed

Second and third reading of Bylaw 1614-14 to designate Lebel Mansion at 696 Kettles Street a Municipal Historic Resource (MHR) passed unanimously.  The Lebel Mansion is currently home to the Allied Arts Council, and is owned by the Town of Pincher Creek.  This designation of MHR allows for more protection of historical buildings and additional funding options.

Related Story:  Bylaw to designate Lebel Mansion a Municipal Historic Resource passes first reading

Committee of the Whole meeting July 8

The July Committee of the whole meeting date was changed to Tuesday, July 8.  The original date of July 2 conflicts with the opening day of the Southern Alberta Summer Games.

New Humane Society facility moving forward

Council gave the Pincher Creek Humane Society the green light to proceed with the demolition of their current facilities and to construct a new animal shelter on the same site.  The area that this is located is Plan 1877, Block 7, Lot 2 and Plan 8310308, Block 7, Lot 4.  The total of demolition and construction costs are not to exceed $400,000, and the contract has been awarded to Sebring Construction Limited.  Administration has be asked to assist the Pincher Creek Humane Society to obtain all permits to facilitate the new animal shelter.

The projected date to complete the building project is November 1, 2014.  The Pincher Creek Humane Society have been given permission to use a portion of the main floor of the old RCMP building on Main Street to act as an interim space.

Many residents are used to this location being an area that they can bring materials such as grass cutting to for composting.  Council discussed the possibilities of moving that to another site.  "If we located it there, everybody is used to going there," said Mayor Don Anderberg.  Council directed administration to check into the acquisition of a roll off bin for the collection and hauling of the compost.

In-camera from May 26

The Pincher Creek Town council approved the expenditure of $5,000 for the production of concept drawings for the housing portion of the proposed ski events Athlete's Village for the 2019 Canada Winter Games.