County of St. Paul No 19

Council Meeting

AGENDA

Meeting #:
Date:
Time:
-
Location:
5015- 49 Avenue, St. Paul, AB T0A 3A4

At the December Meeting, Council passed a motion to enter into a one year agreement with the Town of St. Paul for recycling at the St. Paul Transfer Station, based on 13% usage by County ratepayers and that administration will bring the recycling agreement for Council approval .

The Transfer Station Committee is meeting tomorrow, February 9th and the Waste Recycling Agreement will be discussed at that time.  We reuqire a motion from Council to table this item to the March Council meeting.

At the January meeting, Council passed a motion to participate in a Regional Economic Advisory Board with the Town of St. Paul and Town of Elk Point and that administration work with the Towns on the terms of reference for the committee.

At the November, 2010 meeting, Council tabled the request to lease Lot 28ER, Block 2, Plan 8023220 pending clarification on whether or not we can lease Environmental Reserve land. 

At the January, 2011 meeting, Council was informed that in order to lease Environmental Reserve property, it must be done by bylaw.

Attached is Bylaw No. 1564 which is a bylaw authorizing the County to lease Lot 28ER, Block 2, Plan 8023220 to Gordon Scott for a three year period. 

Section 676(1)(c) of the M.G.A. allows Council to lease an environmental reserve property for a term of not more than 3 years.

This Bylaw must be advertised in accordance with Section 606 of the M.G.A. and a public hearing must be held in accordance with Section 230 of the M.G.A.

At the January meeting, Council discussed the reeve at large pay and what the base salary should include.  Council requested that Administration contact other municipalities that have a reeve elected at large to see how their pay schedule is set up. 

We are currently in contact with the municipalities and hope to have information to present to Council on Tuesday.

At the December meeting, Council tabled a decision on whether or not the County is interested in having representation on the Beaver River Watershed Alliance.  They BRWA is requesting a rural municipal representative and an alternate.

The BRWA has been in contact with the Reeve, asking him to have the County consider membership in the BRWA.  They will be holding their Annual General Meeting on April 19, 2011 at 4:00 p.m.  at Riverhurst Hall (just west of Cold Lake).  they are hoping to have all municipalities that are interested in membership to send a representative.  At this meeting the municipalities will choose the Designate and Alternate to attend the meetings - which occur every two months.  Their hope is to have all the municipalities to communicate via conference call prior to the BRWA meeting so that municipal concerns are brought forward by the municipal representative.  There is no fee to be a member of the BRWA.

Tim Latimer. President of 1393145 Alberta Ltd. has an appointment to address Council regarding the NW 2-57-9-W4 in an attempt to medicate further issues for all parties and to take on care and control of the property.

The following land leases are being presented for the year 2011: 

SW 18-56-3-W4 Lanni Bristow
PNE 8-56-4-W4 Canadian Sunday School Mission
SW 16-58-5-W4 Glen Ockerman
W 1/2 NE 24-60-10-W4 Raymond Amyotte

 

Section 61 of the M.G.A. allows a municipality to grant rights with respect to its property. 

The St. Paul Farmerettes have been hosing an annual bonspiel since 1962.  This year, their bonspiel will be held on March 26th and they are requesting a donation.

In 2009 and 2010 Council donated $100 for their bonspiel.

The Northeast Alberta Track Club has 6 athletes that have met the qualifications to compete in an international track meet in Pocatello Idaho.  This meet is the largest meet for high school students in the United States. There are extremely high requirements to qualify and compete with the twenty-five hundred  athletes attending   Lindsey McDonald, a County resident,  has qualified to compete in the meet.

Maureen Miller, President of the North East Alberta Track and Field Club, is requested if they would qualify for funding for their athletes to travel to this international competition. 

The St. Paul Senior Citizens Club is requesting a transportation grant to help cover traveling expenses.

Since 2006, the County has been providing the St. Paul Senior Citizens with a $1,000 grant.

The St. Paul & District Chamber of Commerce is asking, once again, for a financial contribution from the County to assist with operating expenses.

Since 2006, the County has provided the following funding to the local chamber of commerce groups:

$10,000 - St. Paul Chamber of Commerce  

$4,000 - Elk Point Chamber of Commerce

$1,500 - Mallaig Chamber of Commerces

 

 

In 2003, a Tax Penalty Bylaw was passed with the following penalty schedule:

3% on current taxes - July 1st

5% on current taxes - October 1st (except farmland properties & farm residences)

5% on current taxes -  November 1st (except farmland properties & farm residences)

5% on current taxes - December 1st on farmland properties and farm residences only

10% on the total taxes owning - March 1st.

We are proposing to change the penalty schedule as indicated below because the current schedule is cumbersome for staff to administer:

5% on current taxes - July 1st

5% on current taxes - December 1st

10% on total taxes owing - March 1st

Attached is a comparison showing the amount of penalties collected with the current penalty schedule and the proposed schedule.  The proposed penalty schedule indicates a decrease of $932.52. 

Bylaw No. 1565 is now being presented to Council to set a a new penalty schedule for unpaid property taxes pursuant to Section 344 and 345 of the Municipal Government Act.  

If Bylaw No. 1565 is passed, Bylaw No. 1400 will be rescinded.

The manhole which is used by contractors to dump their sewage into the Ashmont lagoon is situated adjacent Lot 01MR, Block 1, Plan 8620943 located within SE 28-59-11-W4M .  In order to make the manhole more easily accessible by contractors, we need to do some brushing and create a turnaround on the municipal reserve property.

Section 671(2)  of the M.G.A. states that Municipal reserve property may only be used for a public park, a public recreation area or school authority purposes.

We have prepared a bylaw to remove the municipal reserve designation on this property so that we can start brushing the property and create the turnaround.

After first reading, the Bylaw must be advertised according to Section 606 of the M.G.A. and a public hearing held according to Section 230 of the M.G.A.  The adjacent landowners will also be notified of the proposed rezoning and the property will be posted. 

After the public hearing is held in March, Council will have to consider subdividing the property as only a portion of the property will be required for the turnaround.

The County of St. Paul and Town of St. Paul have had an existing Fire Services Agreement since January 2006.  This agreement expired at the end 2010.  Administration has reviewed the agreement and have made some minor amendments to the agreement to present to Council for consideration.  The changes contemplated in the new agreement are:

  • sharing 50/50 the cost of any Major Capital Expenses upon approval of each Council - previously the agreement dealt with the expansion of the fire hall.
  • committee representation - proposed (1) elected official from each municipality along with the CAO's, and Fire Chiefs - previously the committee included (2) elected officials from each municipality.
  • removal of the clause that required the committee to do an annual budget.  It was felt that each municipality does their own budget - any Major Capital Items would be considered by each municipality.
  • frequency of meetings was changed to on an "as required" basis from semi-annually.

Both agreements are being attached for you to review. 

The County Council met with the Town of Elk Point Council on January 4, 2011.  At the meeting the Town of Elk Point requested that the County and  Town commence work on an Intermunicipal Development Plan.  Both councils felt that it would be important to look for grant funding to help undertake this planning exercise.  The Planning Department at the County researched available grant programs.  We are making an application under Municipal Affairs Regional  Collaboration Grant.  This grant program will assist the municipalities by covering approximately 60% of the costs associated with the project.  Budget for the project is estimated at $61,900 and is attached in the grant application information.

Costs to each municipality are estimated at approximately $15,000 - this is not necessarily needed to be made up of cash contribution, it can be in-kind - facility rental, administration time, council per diems, etc.

The deadline for the grant application was January 31, 2011 - the application had been submitted.  Municipal Affairs is expecting our resolution to follow.

The Rural Utilities Safety Association Executive Meetings were held on January 27 & 28, 2011 in Red Deer.

Given the practice of municipalities joining together to complete aerial ortho projects over the past decade, the Province of Alberta has recognized that there is an opportunity to carry out these projects on a province wide basis, to provide ortho not only to municipalities, but to government departments,  and industry. 

An information meeting regarding a Provincial Ortho Project  will be held on February 18, 2011 in Red Deer.  The project will be a great opportunity for the municipalities, government and industry to partner regarding aerial ortho and set up a system where regular data can be collected and provided to us in a standard that we can all use and stretch the grant funding support of the government by ensuring that they have the data as well. 

The 2010 Trails of 1885 project ends March 31, 2011.  They will be holding an Input Conference from February 21 to 23, 2011 in Lloydminster.  They are looking for direction, viability and possibilities.  The registration fee for the Conference is $125.

 Councillor Dach has expressed interest in attending this conference.

The 26th Annual Municipal Law Seminar sponsored by Reynolds Mirth Richards & Farmer will be held Friday, March 4, 2011 in Edmonton.  A copy of the agenda is attached.

There is no registration fee.

The AAMD&C Trade Division has invited a representative from the County to Michelin's manufacturing and training facility in Greenville, South Carolina for a five day Safety Training & Cost of Ownership Tour from March 14-18, 2011.  The tour is hosted in partnership with Tirecraft and Michelin.

This tour is the first of many that will be offered to member MDs and Counties in an effort to promote continuous development of tire safety and product knowledge.  It will feature in-depth training of the Michelin tire products, and an up-close look of the manufacturing facilities.  The objective is to promote the importance of tire safety and high quality product knowledge, which can be immediately implemented in the public works department.

This trip is sponsored by AAMD&C and there will be no cost to the County.

The 2011 AAMD&C Municipal Spring Convention will be held March 21 to 23, 2011 in Edmonton at the Shaw Conference Centre.  Rooms have been booked at the Fairmont Hotel MacDonald.   Early Bird registration, before February 11th, is $341.25.

A draft copy of the agenda is attached.

The Commanding Officer, his Management Team and representatives of the Solicitor General Public Safety will be available to meet with municipalities at the AAMD&C Spring Convention.

Council to decide if they want to set up a meeting with the RCMP.  If so, we need to submit the issues to the Eastern Alberta District office and they will schedule a meeting time.

 

The 11th Annual Growing Rural Tourism Conference will be held April 4-6, 2011 in Camrose.  The sessions at this conference are specific to Engaging Communities, the Rural Experience and Taking Care of Business.

Registration for this Conference is $275, before March 4, 2011.

Councillor Dach has expressed interest in attending this conference.

The Municipal Administration Leadership Workshop will be held May 17-20, 2011 in Kananaskis.

Registration fee for the workshop is $499.

The FCM Annual Conference and Municipal Expo will be held June 3-6, 2011 in Halifax.

Early Bird registration, before March 31st is $699.

The conference agenda can be viewed at www.fcm.ca.  A summary of the conference streams is attached.

Councillor Dach has expressed interest in attending this conference.

 

Section 418 of the M.G.A. requires Council to offer for sale at a public auction any parcel of land shown on its tax arrears list if the tax arrears are not paid.  

Section 421(1)(a) of the M.G.A. states that the properties must be advertised for sale in the Alberta Gazette not less than 40 days and not more than 90 days prior to the date on which the public auction is to be held.

The date for the Public Auction of Lands for 2011 should be set for May 10, 2010 at 1:30 p.m.

We require a motion from Council to set a date for the Budget Meeting prior to the April Council meeting.

The date of the regularly scheduled Public Works Meeting conflicts with the 2011 Spring Convention.

Section 193(3) authorizes Council to change the date of a regularly scheduled meeting.

At the AAMDC Zone 5 Meeting on January 31, 2011, the AAMDC Board invited the Zone to submit nominations for individuals to sit on Standing Issues Committees.  Attached is the Member Bulletin and Terms of Reference for the Committees.  As well they have included a Nomination Form for elected officials that are interested in serving on these committees representing the Zone. 

The consensus at the Zone meeting was that not all elected officials were able to be in attendance at the Zone.  Nominees would need the support of their respective councils, therefore each council needed to take that information back to their own Council meetings for discussion and resolution to put names forward.

Each Council member needs to consider if they are interested in serving on one of these committees.  If so please complete the nomination form (will be emailed to you separately for completion).  A resolution will be considered at the meeting if there is interest of Council members to have their names put forward.

Please note that according to the Member Bulletin, final approvals for membership on the Standing Committees will be made at the AAMDC Board level.

The Vermilion River Watershed Management Project has prepared a survey to assess municipal priorities and activities related to watershed management.  The intent of the survey is to determine the need for and use of watershed-related environmental information, tools and planning processes by municipalities in the Vermilion River watershed.  The results of the survey will help the VRWMP steering committee develop a watershed management plan that provides realistic strategies to address the needs and priorities across the watershed.

Dennis Bergheim and Krystle Fedoretz have completed the survey.  Council to review their answers and decide if they wish to make any changes.

Survey results, information and maps will be shared at a Vermilion River workshop in Vegreville on Friday, March 4th.  The development and implementation of a watershed plan for Vermilion River will also be discussed at the workshop.

The Province of Alberta has been working on a Municipal Sustainability Strategy.  This strategy was presented to Rural Elected Officials at the Fall AAMDC Convention for comment and review.  We have been reminded from Municipal Affairs that the deadline for comments is February 28, 2011.  Councils members could submit comments individually through the Municipal Affairs website or collectively as a council.  The Municipal Sustainability Strategy Report is available on-line at:  www.municipalaffairs.alberta.ca/1330.cfm.  You also may have picked up a copy at the Fall AAMDC Convention.

If it is Council's wish to submit comments collectively, then Administration will need those comments at the February 8, 2011 Council meeting.  If you have any comments or suggestions you would like to have sent, please bring to the Council Meeting.

Following the 2010 Municipal Election whereby a candidate was not allowed on the ballot and then ordered to be put on the ballot from a Court Ruling which included an award of costs, Council made a resolution to send a letter to Municipal Affairs requesting consideration of reimbursement of legal fees associated with this issue.  On January 25, 2011 the County received a letter from Minister of Municipal Affairs Hector Goudreau indicating that they have denied our request for reimbursement.  See the letter attached.

On January 31, 2011 the CAO spoke with Bob Barrs, President of the AAMDC and he recommended that if Council wanted to pursue having the AAMDC advocate on our behalf regarding the reimbursement of funds, the Council should present an emergent resolution for consideration at the Spring AAMDC Convention regarding the reimbursement.  He also indicated that the County may want to consider bringing forth a resolution to the next Zone 5 meeting which would call for amendments to the Local Authorities Elections Act relating to nomination forms requirements.

Attached also is the letter sent to Municipal Affairs requesting costs of $13,355,27.

The Province has developed a new permit issuing system called TRAVIS MJ that will bring local municipalities into the new system and require them to maintain data and provide permit approval through the TRAVIS MJ system.  Roadata Services will provide the services to transition the County data into TRAVIS M.J.  After the transition, Roadata will maintain data and provide permit approval services.  The province will provide funding for the transition.

We have received a contract from Roadata related to the transition into TRAVIS MJ and ongoing service after implementation.

Bryan Bespalko received 2 quotes for Radar Speed Directors to record and log speeds and do traffic counts.  He compared the specs on the radar speed directors and they are basically the same.  The quotes are as follows:

$10,914.75 - Alberta Traffic Supply Ltd. (new unit)

$25,039.00 - Hi Signs (new unit)

$19,414.00 - Hi Signs (lightly used unit)

At the January 13 ASB Meeting, the board was presented with the following quotes for the construction of a 24 x 30 foot chemical building:

- $45,268.65 - RR Construction Ltd.

- $53,340.00 - Piquette Holdings Ltd.

The chemical building was included in the 2011 Strategic Plan.

We have received the Partnerships Certificate of Recognition (CoR) which is valid until September 21, 2013.

In order to maintain the CoR, an internal audit must be conducted and pass quality assurance review by Alberta Municipal Health and Safety Association in each of the next two years.   In 3 years, an external audit must be conducted and pass quality assurance review and score at least 80% on the audit in order to renew the the CoR

In 2010, the County partnered with the Town of St. Paul and the DMO for booths at the Fort McMurray and Sherwood Park Trade Shows.  Alberta's Lakeland is requesting if the County is interested in sharing a booth at these trade shows again this year.  They will be held in April and May and the cost would be as indicated below:

Sherwood Park – 249.63 plus GST

Fort McMurray – 244.80 plus GST 

We require a motion from Council to cancel the penalties on roll numbers 10134100, 10134101 and 10135500 in the amount of $222.05.

The ratepayer paid his property taxes in June through online banking.  We did not receive a report from the bank indicating that the funds were deposited into our account.  The funds were deposited into the County's bank account and the entry appeared on our bank statement, however the entry was recorded at deposit received but not receipted.  Unfortunately it was not followed up the subsequent month and only discovered when the resident complained that he received a notice regarding unpaid taxes and penalties.

A concern has been raised by Councillor Fodness regarding the practice of Evergreen Waste Management Commission and their charge for dry waste in excess of 1000 kg.  She has received complaints regarding the costs associated with bringing dry waste - especially where land owners own more than 1 parcel of land.

In discussion with Evergreen Waste Management staff, it appears that this issue affects less than 100 residents in the County.  Of those approximately 100 residents only 24 residents in 2009 and 16 residents in 2010 actually received an additional charge for bringing in excess of 1000 kg of dry waste. Revenues obtained from the additional charge were approximately $1,000 in each year.  The information received from Evergreen is attached.

The County received a letter from the Onion Lake Cree Nation - attached - requesting/informing the County of what they feel is our duty to Consult with them.  This issue was discussed briefly at the AAMDC Zone 5 Meeting where the CAO provided information received from our legal counsel - advise attached.  Currently the Province of Alberta is reviewing their policy regarding Aboriginal Consultation.  They are receiving input from AAMDC -Councillor Ockerman is a member on that committee.   

The County of Vermilion River and the County of Two Hills have also received the same letter from Onion Lake Cree Nation.

 

Items to be presented at the meeting.

A SDAB Workshop will be held March 25 from 9:00 - 4:00 p.m. in Vermilion.

To be presented to Council at the meeting.