Off road vehicle bylaw
Sharon McLeay
Times Contributor
Chief Administrative Officer Alan Parkin requested council grant more time for peace officers to complete the off-road vehicle use bylaw amendment. They were researching this issue and making comparisons to bylaws used by other counties.
Members of the public were present and requested more information on the process involved. They asked whether the public would have input. Discussions over private snow clearing in villages and hamlets were one of the concerns.
Reeve Koester advised the matter would be handled through the normal procedure.
The bylaw amendment comes before council for first reading. If passed, the matter goes to public hearing. Residents are notified through letters, and advertisement in the local papers, and on the website, of the date of the meeting. It is held in County Council chambers. Letters directed to council on matters pertaining to the bylaw will be addressed at that time. Decisions by councillors can only be based on the information presented to them in council at the public meeting, not in outside private discussions or based on news reports. Council can choose to reject, accept, change or amend the bylaw.
“The public can have their say. What is presented here is what we use to decide on how we vote for the bylaw approval,” said Koester.
Council indicated that the public hearing would probably be held two weeks after the April 12 council meeting, and the bylaw would be in place by June, pending no mitigating circumstances.
NAMAKA RAIL CONVERTS TO NATURAL RESERVE
Land that was formerly part of the decommissioned Namaka rail line will be preserved as municipal reserve, with the intentions it be kept in its natural state.
“It is a good wildlife habitat and it is currently not necessary for any other purpose. It is not as easy to maintain as some of the regular county reserve land,” said Councillor Ken Sauve. “I propose that these be designated so future councils can ensure they are kept as reserves and not put up for resale.”
There were four small pieces of land near Gleichen and Stobbart Lake. A few were landlocked and had been offered to farmers, but there was no interest. Two were along the lake. Council directed staff to draft bylaws to initiate the process.
FEE WAIVER FOR DALUM FIRE
Dalum Fire approached council to waive the development fee for ground breaking at the new fire hall. They are preparing to begin stripping and grading the property. Council agreed to waive the $100 fee, but stipulated to the development staff that the waiver only applied to the groundwork, as approval for the building had not yet been approved.
GIS/MAPPING CONTRACT
Council approved the continued GIS/Mapping contract be retained by Accurate Assessment until 2016, when the contract will again be put out to public tender.
“They have been doing a very good job for us and we recommend that they be able to continue until the contract comes up for RFP,” said Mike Ziehr, Assistant Manager of Transportation and Infrastructure.
The company provides the county mapping and addressing services for properties in the county. The information is used for the county map, placed on the website and utilized by emergency response services.
2013 FINAL BUDGET
The accounting sheets are done and the budget was approved for the 2013.
“Staff worked hard to get the evaluation to fall in line, so you could get the biggest bang for your buck,” said James Laslo, Administrative Services Manager. “The proposal maintains the priorities outlined by council and accommodates the wishes, changes and additions presented to us. This document reflects all the changes that have been made.”
Two motions were made and approval was given to the 2013 capital budget and the operating budget.
FORD OR CHEVY
More equipment was purchased for the Ag Service board and public works, with an assessment process that ruled out the traditional Ford vs. Chevy, Kubota vs. John Deere debate. The purchases are evaluated as to cost, usage, whether they supply requested requirements and consideration for staff needs.
The purchases were as follows:
• 2 ¾ ton 4X4 provided by Shaganappi Chevy and Edmonton Motors, coming in under the $40,000 budget
• 1 ton 4X4 by Universal Ford, in at under $40,000
• 1 ton Chevy Heavy Duty 4X4, by Edmonton Motors, to be confirmed at less than the $40,000
• Kubota Mulcher at significantly under the $100,000 budget as John Deere had no hydraulic remote option
• 2 Manac end dump trailers, both under $40,000, as they came in with the highest evaluative score and lowest price
• Manac Belly Dump Trailer w/ diamond added, significantly less than the $140,000 budget, not the lowest bid, but MANAK had the highest evaluative points, best parts source inventory, and crews were familiar with the equipment.
TELECOMMUTE OPTIONS FOR COUNCIL
Council will consider whether technology that allows councillors to be physically away from council chambers, but technologically present from another location, useful and acceptable. Councillor Ken Suave gave several suggestions why it could be beneficial:
• it may be a good option for days when road travel is hazardous,
• councillors have health or disability restrictions,
• time constrictions interfere, due to council activities away from the county,
• or, when a councillor chooses to take leave in the winter months.
CAO Alan Parkin suggested the information could be included in the package of new technology upgrades being investigated for the council chambers. He said that regulations stipulate that if councillors don’t attend meetings within an eight week period, there were ramifications and penalties. However, other councils that he had previously worked with had utilized various technology options and it was considered legal.
“I would not want for this type of attendance to become the norm,” said Councillor Alice Booth. “When we ran for office, we agreed to the ratepayers that we would be present, so I would not want to see the practise abused.”
Parkin suggested many municipalities were going to televised council meetings, and that Wheatland Council had the option of stipulating what technologies would be used in what context, when the package comes before them for consideration. Council requested staff look into the various telecommuting options and bring them back for consideration.