County passes amendment to Agriculture Service Board Bylaw

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Wheatland County council passed third reading for bylaw 2024-38, being the Agriculture Service Board Bylaw during the Dec. 3, council meeting.

During the Nov. 12 regular meeting of council, a resolution directing administration to prepare and present for council’s consideration was a drafted revision of the Wheatland County Agricultural Service Board Bylaw 2024-28. 

Amendments were detailed regarding the appointment of members to the agriculture service board, as well as about the policy approval authority. 

As presented before council, section 5.11 reads: “Members at large shall be appointed for a term of up to three years, with their term expiring at the start of Wheatland County’s Organizational Meeting, held within the third year following their initial appointment. Members at large may be reappointed to the board upon expiration of their term.”

Section 8.1, Subsection F, now reads: “promote, develop, and hold the authority to approve agricultural policies and programs that address the needs of the municipality’s local agricultural sector.”

Coun. Shannon Laprise motioned for council to approve first reading of the Agriculture Service Board Bylaw. This motion was passed unanimously without discussion or debate. 

Coun. Donna Bigger motioned to approve second reading immediately following.

Prior to the vote, Laprise pointed out a clerical error present in section 10.2 which suggested board meeting minutes would be provided for council’s approval. Wheatland County council is not the body which approves those minutes and a minor amendment to the bylaw was required. 

The amendment made now states board minutes act as a board report to council and are provided for council information.

“10.2 was put into this bylaw for a reason. The Ag Service Board meets four times a year. If there is a timely motion, it can’t be acted upon until the minutes are amended, which is three months out. If it goes to the next council meeting, it is approved there and then it is going to be acted on,” said Coun. Glenn Koester. “If there is any budgetary or money spent, ASB does not have the authority to do any of that and that also has to go to council. When this bylaw was drafted, it was meant to say ‘for council approval’ for timeliness.”

He expressed opposition to that specific wording to be changed for the sake of efficiency.

Brian Henderson, speaking on behalf of county administration, clarified motions made by committees and boards are undertaken immediately by administration instead of waiting for following council meetings.

Second reading, permission for third, and third reading were passed by council following discussion. Ultimately none of the motions were objected to passing by council members.