ECA Review Newspaper - 2017-11-08

E C A r e v i e w H A N N A / C o r o n a t i o n / S t e t t l e r , A b N o v e m b e r 9 ' 1 7 3
big valley council
New council gets right to work
Linda Stillinger,
ECA Review Reporter
Big Valley’s newly elected councillors
took the oath of office on Thurs.,
Oct. 26.
Dwayne Grover and Harry Nibourg
joined incumbent Sandra Schell to
form the new council for the next fouryear
term.
Following the official swearing in,
Sandra Schell was acclaimed as mayor
and Dwayne Grover will serve as
deputy mayor.
These positions are revisited each
year during the annual organizational
meeting.
Committee representatives and
board appointments were then determined
to represent the interests of the
village.
Remuneration, meeting and travel
allowances were reviewed and debated
with council electing to maintain current
compensation levels.
The annual fee for all councillors is
$1,250. The full day rate (over four
hours) for meeting attendance is $90,
the half day rate (up to four hours) is
$60 and mileage reimbursement is at
$.50 per kilometer.
RCMP report
Sgt. Phil Penny of the Stettler
detachment came to introduce himself
to the new council at the regular
meeting and discussed RCMP presence
in the village.
Over the past two years, Sgt. Penny
has assigned each constable a turn in
Big Valley while the tourist train was
in the village.
The result has been the building of a
very strong relationship between the
Stettler detachment, village council,
staff and the community.
According to Penny, property crimes
remain a concern for law enforcement.
“We don’t see a lot of crime in Big
Valley,” states Penny “but Red Deer is
the third largest city in Alberta and
that will have an effect in Big Valley.
The area is right on the cusp on how
far the criminals are willing to drive.”
While small communities may seem
an easy target, Penny maintains that
public education is the most effective
way to reduce property crimes.
FCSS
Three FCSS grant applications were
reviewed by council.
The Friends of the Big Valley
Library on behalf of the Big Valley
Ukulele Group and the Big Valley
Painting Group applied for FCSS
funding for instructional workshops.
Council approved $500 dollars for
each group.
An application for support of the
Métis Hivernant Rendezvous was also
eligible for funding under the FCSS
mandate but $500 was already given in
January of this year for the 2017
Rendezvous.
Following CAO White’s recommendation,
council tabled this application
until the 2018 year and will review it at
that time.
Council allocated $1600 toward the
annual Christmas in the Village event.
Last year’s expansion of this annual
‘Not just your customers...
we are your neighbours’
Cont’d from Pg 1
“We all understand that this tragedy
was not intentional; however, people
expect ATCO to be a good corporate
citizen and communicate with the MD
of Acadia, its residents, and especially
with those who lost so much through
the failing of ATCO infrastructure.
“We are not just your customers or
your collateral damage; we are your
neighbours.
“With regards to the curtness of the
statement, it provides practically no
information on the investigation that
ATCO performed.
“We believe that people deserve to
have a conversation and to have some
questions answered, such as:
• What were the other findings of
ATCO’s investigation?
• What is the age of these transmission
poles?
• What type of maintenance
schedule does ATCO follow for them?
• What is weather rating for this
infrastructure, as the pole at the
origin of the fire failed when the wind
speed was not yet at its peak?
• How can we work together to prevent
this from happening again?
“ATCO’s lack of communication
since this event on Oct. 17 is unfortunate;
as is the complete absence of
meaningful contact with the community,
or with the affected property
owners, or with the dozens of firstresponders
that risked their lives
trying to battle a wildfire that ATCO’s
infrastructure played a role in
igniting.
“We deserve better than this, and
we know that ATCO can do better.”
celebration was very well received by
the whole community and council is
committed to maintaining this excellent
family event.
There is currently $10,202.51
remaining in the FCSS budget for this
year. Funds must be used within the
FCSS mandate and cannot be carried
over from year to year.
It should be noted that the majority
of programs usually funded have not
submitted applications for this year as
of yet.
Schulmeister
the new reeve
Stan Schulmeister of Castor, Ab. is
Paintearth County’s new reeve following
a vote between Schulmeister
and George Glazier at the organizational
meeting on Oct. 24.
Doreen Blumhagen was elected
Deputy Reeve over Diane Elliott.
Elections were also held for committees.
Agricultural Service Board
chairman is Maurice Wiart and
Schulmeister was elected over Tyrrill
Hewitt for vice chair.
All councillors will sit on the audit,
budget review, capital projects, legislative
review, municipal, policy review
and transportation committees.
Council moved to maintain council
17111AX0
Big Valley illustrated map
The previous council approved the
development of an illustrated map of
Big Valley to be put up on a large
community message board in order
help tourists locate the many attractions
in the village and keep locals
updated on various community
events.
The latest draft of the map was
reviewed by the new council and
sent on to the next stage of
development.
PAINTEARTH COUNTY
remuneration at last year’s rates
which include $220 per day/$110 half
day meeting and convention rates and
$.50 per kilometre mileage.
The reeve allowance will be $800/
month, Deputy reeve $600/month and
the councillor allowance is $400/
month.
The remuneration also addresses
meal costs, parking costs and $10 per
night for incidentals while away from
home.
Meetings are scheduled for first and
third Tuesdays of every month, with
the meetings being held on
Wednesday following a holiday
Monday.
More Grandpa time. Less “Mom-the-screen’s-frozen-again” time.
Stettler
Superfluity
announces the opening of their
Christmas Shop
Open downstairs during
regular store hours:
10 – 4pm Mon.- Sat.
Come and check us out!
Norwegian Laft Hus
CRAFT & BAKE SALE
Nov. 18 9am-4pm
Nov. 19 12pm-4pm
4402-47 Ave.
Red Deer, AB
(403) 347-2055
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