MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 11, 2011 REGULAR MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF KNEEHILL COUNTY AT THE KNEEHILL COUNTY OFFICE, 232 MAIN STREET, THREE HILLS, ALBERTA.
PRESENT: Div. 2 - Carol Calhoun, Reeve; Div. 5 - Bob Long, Deputy Reeve; Councillors: Div. 1 - Brian Holsworth, Div. 3 - Jerry Wittstock, Div. 4 - Glen Keiver, Div. 6 - Ken Hoppins, Div. 7 - Bobby Painter.
ADMINISTRATION PRESENT: CAO Kevin Miner; Assistant CAO Laurie Watt; Recording Secretary Barbara Long.
Reeve Calhoun called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m.
Adoption of Agenda -Committee Reports: Community Futures Wild Rose, Covenant Health, Farewell Tea - Kneehill Housing Commission CAO & Manager.
Clr. Wittstock moved approval of the agenda as amended. CARRIED
Clr. Holsworth moved approval of the September 27, 2011 minutes. CARRIED
Business Arising from Previous Minutes: Bylaw 1633 - Rescinding the Borrowing Bylaw 1621(First Reading on August 30, 2011)
Clr. Long moved that Council give second reading to Bylaw 1633. CARRIED
Clr. Hoppins moved that Council give third reading to Bylaw 1633. CARRIED
Scholarship Policy 15-5 Review - Reeve Calhoun moved that Council table this item until the November 8, 2011 meeting. CARRIED
Sale of Mobile Home (Kneehill County Acquired by Tax Auction) - Clr. Hoppins moved that Council authorize the selling of the mobile home (1994 Fleetwood Model 2663K) to a resident of Kneehill County as per his offer of $1500.00 with payment to be received in full within thirty days. CARRIED
Clr. Long moved that Council direct Administration to complete the Discussion Guide on Traffic Fine Revenue Distribution. CARRIED
Debi Moon, Reporter for The Capital, entered the meeting at 8:53 a.m.
Clr. Hoppins moved that the Council set the reserve bids for the 2011 Tax Sale Properties, as per the Assessorís recommendations. CARRIED
Clr. Wittstock moved that Council set the terms of the sale as per previous years, that being 10% payable by certified cheque, cash or money order with the offer to purchase and the balance (90%) to be received within thirty (30) days. CARRIED
Clr. Holsworth moved that Council confirm, as per policy, the closure of the Kneehill County operations (office and shop) from 4:00 p.m. on Friday, December 23 re-opening on Monday, January 2, 2012. CARRIED
Pete McRae, Operations Director, and Brandy Hay Evans, Operations Executive Assistant entered the meeting at 8:58 a.m.
The meeting recessed from 8:58 a.m. until 9:05 a.m.
Pete McRae presented the Operations Report comprised of Transportation (Roads), Water and Miscellaneous updates. The following additional items were discussed:
- Operations asked Council for direction regarding a request from a ratepayer to connect to the Sunnyslope Water Service Area prior to the entire system being commissioned.
Reeve Calhoun moved that Council approve the ratepayer request, as recommended by Administration, to connect to the Sunnyslope Water Service Area prior to the entire system being commissioned. CARRIED
Bruce Rowe, Wildrose Candidate for the Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills Constituency, entered the meeting at 9:25 a.m.
Clr. Painter moved that Council receive the Operations Summary Report. CARRIED
Delegation - Bruce Rowe - Wildrose Alliance Party: Bruce Rowe provided Council with his background information, relevant experience and attributes that he would bring to the position of MLA. Mr. Rowe mentioned that he has always been a Conservative at heart but felt the Conservative Party has lost the faith and trust of the people and the Wildrose Party will provide transparency and accountability. He noted the following issues of importance: Health care; Education; Alberta Property Rights; Democratic Reform; Fiscal Responsibility and Municipal Funding.
On behalf of Council, Reeve Calhoun thanked Mr. Rowe for putting his name forward and for taking the time to meet with Council and wished him good luck in the upcoming election.
Bruce Rowe left the meeting at 9:45 a.m.
Water Modeling Application - Patrick Unruh - Selkirk WSA
Clr. Wittstock moved that Council approve the connection recommendation as presented. CARRIED
Gravel Stockpile Leases - Policy 13-6-7
Clr. Holsworth moved that Council approve the increase of the Gravel Stockpile Lease location payment to $450.00 per acre, with a minimum payable of one acre and increase the General Land Damages to $450.00 per acre, with the minimal payable being $450.00 and direct Administration to amend Policy 13-6-7 accordingly. CARRIED
Request for Disposal of Dog Tired Inn at Kneehill County Transfer Station at Torrington
Clr. Hoppins moved that Council approve the contractorís request to dispose of the Dog Tired Inn rubble at the Kneehill County Transfer Station by Torrington with a $250.00 per load charge. CARRIED
Pete McRae, Brandy Hay Evans and Debi Moon left the meeting at 10:00 a.m.
The meeting recessed from 10:00 a.m. until 10:10 a.m.
Frank Grills and Adele Johnston, Assessment Department, were present when the meeting reconvened.
Assessment Department Overview: Frank Grills, Assessor, presented an overview of the Assessment Department to Council. The overview provided information on the assessment process and the regulated valuation from self reported data. Currently Kneehill County has 9,188 active assessment accounts, 80 of which are for the provincially prepared assessments and 9,108 are the responsibility of the Assessment Department. There are 5,933 licensed oil and/or gas wells. Comparisons of assessment growth by tax year and well activity were presented along with a breakdown by category of the 2010 assessment and the Provinceís future plans for a single all inclusive value for well sites having machinery and equipment.
Frank Grills and Adele Johnston left the meeting at 10:25 a.m.
Council and Committee Reports
Community Futures Wild Rose - verbal report by Clr. Long and Clr. Holsworth on the October 6 meeting held in Strathmore. Clr. Long also reported on the Community Futures Conference he had attended in Edmonton.
- Reassessing initiatives ñ proposed a renewal committee with each of their areas of the Province providing four members.
- Discussed reducing from 27 to 10 Community Futures areas, which would mean amalgamating with larger centres. As Community Futures are based on rural development, concern was expressed regarding how the small communities would be able to compete.
Mike Morton, Finance Director, entered the meeting at 10:30 a.m.
Covenant Health - Verbal report by Clr. Painter on the Covenant Health meeting he had attended with Trochu Mayor Kletke on October 5th in Edmonton. Other than as an opportunity to show support for the proposed Assisted Living Facility for the Town of Trochu it was felt not to be of any benefit.
Kneehill Housing Commission - Farewell Tea: Reeve Calhoun reported on the successful Farewell Tea she had attended in honour of former CAO Bob King and Facility Manager, Heather Gillespie.
Clr. Long moved that Council receive the Council and Committee Reports as presented.
Clr. Wittstock moved that Council receive the Correspondence Report as presented. CARRIED
Clr. Holsworth moved that Council receive the Business Pending and Summary reports. CARRIED
Clr. Holsworth moved the meeting go in camera at 10:40 a.m. CARRIED
Mike Morton left the meeting at 11:20 a.m.
Clr. Long moved the meeting back in regular session at 11:23 a.m.
Motions from In Camera
Clr. Wittstock moved that Council approve the proposed agreement with the Village of Linden for the provision of Peace Officer/Bylaw Officer Services. CARRIED
Clr. Hoppins moved that a Committee of the Whole meeting be scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Monday, October 24, 2011 to further discuss the 2012 Draft Operating Budget. CARRIED
The meeting adjourned at 11:28 a.m.
