ECA Review 2018-11-29

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2 N o v e m b e r 2 9 ' 1 8 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 . E C A r e v i e w AUC turns down Garden Plain wind project request Terri Huxley ECA Review Garden Plain Wind Energy 1 Inc., a subsidiary of TransAlta Corporation, applied for an approval of 36 wind turbines to be located on private land 30 kilometres north of Hanna earlier this year. In their application to the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC), Garden Plain submitted 37 potential locations for the turbines and stated that it intended to confirm the final 36 turbine locations before final approval. In October, the energy company provided a response to the commission’s More turbines in application than what would be constructed, not allowed Hughenden School Grade 9 Hughenden Public School students, Zachary Rochon and Loren Mitchell work hard in the kitchen of the Wainwright McDonald’s on Wed. Nov. 14 for ‘Take A Child to Work Day’. ECA Review/Submitted Students in “Take A Child to Work Day” by Grace Oxamitny and Brenna Swanson The Grade nine class of Hughenden Public School left school grounds to shadow adults of their choice in their field of work for the day on Wed. Nov. 14. Jobs chosen to shadow varied from prenatal nursing to slaving behind the fryer at McDonalds. As a requirement in their health class, students were successful in completing tasks of the jobs and careers they got behind on Wednesday. “ Take your kids to work day gave students an opportunity to experience what it’s like to spend an entire day at work and explore possible future careers,” said Cathy Samson, the Grade nine health teacher. Students were required to create poster projects that included roles and information requests. In one of the responses, they requested approval for all 37 locations so they would have the ability to use an alternate location should one of the other sites fall through. Since then, the AUC has made a decision to turn down their request and overall final layout as it conflicts with rules set out in AUC policy. In other words, the additional turbine location has to be removed before a decision is made because issuing an approval with more turbines than what would be constructed is not allowed. An approval also pinpoints the turbine locations which would need to be responsibilities of the worker they were shadowing. These roles varied drastically as each job had many tasks and there were so many jobs experienced. Students were also required to state their likes and dislikes of the job. Looking at these statements of preference, you can really see the range of personalities among these young people. “I think ‘Take your kid to work day’ was a very educational way for us to organize our future and help us consider all the aspects of a career,” said Grade nine student Maja Congdon, to the agreement of her peers. ‘Take your kid to work day’ was liked by all students and was a great learning opportunity for them. On A Dime Lighting & Signs Business Directory DAVID’S TREE SERVICE Rent this space for as - tree pruning little as - tree $20/week. removal - height reducing - hedge shaping - disease diagnosis and management Call 403-578-4111 I.S.A. Certified 403.741.9635 Trochu and Kneehill reach agreement Submitted Kneehill County and the Town of Trochu have jointly worked together to come up with an appropriate Inter Collaborative Framework (ICF) after months of tension between the two municipalities. It was announced on Mon, Nov. 19, that the County and Town had come to an agreement after working through a mediated process. 3.75” wide version Quality • Integrity • Service the MOST out of your advertising dollars All your lighting and signage needs • Fully certified and insured 30+ years of industry experience • Family owned and operated Place your ad here Sign Mfg. & Installation, Lighting Maint., Exterior & Interior, AND 12345 province wide Vehicle Decaling, Parking-lot with Lighting a combined Maint., circulation Billboard & Sandwich boards, Picker truck & Skid of Steer over For 800,000 Hire, LED for Conversions only... & More... plus GST/HST 1-403-743-0001 • 1-844-344-DIME (3463) Value • onadimesigns@gmail.com Ad Network Alberta Weekly Newspapers Association 20058 Township Road 38-2, Stettler, Alberta value-ad-template.indt 1 Squeeze Squeeze Bill’s Waterwell Services Well Drilling Ltd. Pumps & Repairs Well 403-747-2120 Drilling drillerbill@xplornet.com Pumps & Repairs 403-747-2120 drillerbill@xplornet.com Wecker PLUMBING & HEATING LTD. • Plumbing • Gas Fitting • Air Conditioning • Sheet Metal • Commercial Refrigeration “Both councils believe that working together is necessary and beneficial to both communities,” stated a press release on the matter. The first meetings will take place in December. The conversations will open the doors to collaboration and form a refreshed foundation for the ICF between the County and the Town. 3” wide version the MOST out of your advertising dollars Place your ad here AND province 12345 wide with a combined circulation of over 800,000 for only... $ 995 plus GST/HST Value Ad Network Alberta Weekly Newspapers Association 780-434-8746 x228 (toll free 1-800-282-6903) email classifieds@awna.com or stop by this community newspaper Serving the Big Country (403) 854-4774 Centre Street Hanna, AB $ 995 780-434-8746 x228 (toll free 1-800-282-6903) email classifieds@awna.com or stop by this community newspaper Castor Sheet Metal Plumbing Heating & A/C 4901-50 St Castor AB 403 882 3388 24 Hour On-Call Service: 403-740-2535 S. Barnes Trucking For Livestock Hauling Call Stan Barnes Res 403 578 3265 Cell 403 575 5264 7/22/11 11:36 AM amended if not all of the turbines are built. “In addition, approving a wind project with more turbine locations than required could cause unnecessary constraints on other potential projects in the area because Rule 012: Noise Control requires that an applicant accounts for any existing and approved, but not yet constructed, energy-related facilities,” said Giuseppa Bentivegna, Commission Counsel who forwarded the ruling on behalf of the AUC. The Commission has directed Garden Plain to file its final layout for 36 turbines and a noise impact assessment to accompany it. Each proposed wind turbine will have a height of 110 metres with a blade length of 67.2 metres and is rated at 3.6 megawatts. The project would also consist of an underground collector system, access roads and meteorological towers. It would be located 30 kilometres north of Hanna parallel with Sullivan Lake on approximately 6,100 hectares of privately-owned land in both the County of Paintearth and Special Area No. 2. The area will continue to be used for grazing and other agricultural purposes. Professional Directory Hanna Chiropractic Clinic Dr. Craig Larson, Dr. Carissa Kimpinski, Chad Brummund, Patrick May Hanna, Ab (Castor & Consort) (403) 854-2110 410 2nd Avenue West, Hanna, AB JEFF M.FAUPEL, CPA, CA MONICA N. FAUPEL, CPA, CA Three Hills - Tues. Coronation - Wed. Oyen - Mon. (by Appt) Canmore - Mon-Fri 800-267-5601 E.Roger Spady Professional Corporation Barrister & Solicitor Coronation Mall Coronation, AB 403-578-3131 Office Hours: Tuesday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Kendra Walgenbach, CPA, CA Chris Annand, CPA, CA Naomi Roth, CPA, CGA Big Country Construction & Building Supplies Ltd. • Custom New Homes •All Farm Buildings • Renovations • Windows and Doors • Overhead Doors & Service • Retail Sales Quality Customer Care 403-854-3585 AUTO BODY REPAIR LTD. Quality Collision Repair and Professional Service… Guaranteed! Find out more about us at: www.brennanautobody.com Phone: 403-742-3555 4109 - 48 Avenue, Stettler CORONATION VISION CLINIC Dr. Ward ZoBell Tues & Thurs 10 - 4 403-578-3221 HANNA VISION CENTRE Eye Health, Glasses Contacts Dr. Dennis A. Heimdahl Dr. Ward ZoBell Tues, Wed 9-5 Thurs, Fri 9-4 403-854-3003 DENTIST Dr.McIver In Coronation MONDAYS 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Call Anytime for Appointments 578-3811 Located in Coronation Mall Guy Chapman, CPA, CA, CFP Kamron Kossowan, CPA 4702 51 Ave, Stettler, AB 403-742-3438 chapmanandco.ca Service Wise - We Specialize 403-742-5237 Stettler, AB Kikel Meat Packers Government Inspected Abattoir RR #2 Bashaw, AB Ponoka County 424008 780 372 2178
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 2 9 ' 1 8 3 Morrin Council CAO RRSP payments questioned J. Webster ECA Review Morrin Village Council motioned for Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Annette Plachner to provide a breakdown for all monies received by her since 2005, at the Nov. 21 regular Morrin meeting. The report needs to go back to 2005 when the CAO started receiving RRSP contributions to present day, with the breakdown including the CAO’s base wage, bonuses, payment for extra meetings, mileage, Canada Revenue deductions, holiday pay and janitorial services. John Siemens told council he had discovered that the CAO had overpaid her RRSP contribution by $100 in both 2016 and 2017; followed up by the CAO discovering she was underpaid by $100 in 2014 and $50 in 2008. When questioned by Coun. Bob Graham what this accomplishes, Siemens responded, “It matters because when council decided on a wage increase, they need to know that the increase is on the base wage and not on the lump amount that has RRSPs, janitorial pay, and others included.” “The increase could be a difference of $2,351 if it’s taken on lump amounts rather than the increase to be only on the base wage,” added Siemens. Siemens had requested in his letter that accountants be hired and provided with minutes so that accurate auditing could take place. Coun. Graham asked what was to be expected for this audit. He responded by saying “The breakdown should be something that adds up to the total of what Endeavour has at the end of the year as her total salary – how it was arrived at.” Accountability and transparency Joyce Webster, publisher of the ECA Review, made a request that the CAO provide the entire council package prior to the Morrin council meetings to the media as per the Municipal Affairs Act and further that the CAO answer phone calls and email requests from the media. All of the documents included in a council package aside from closed session (formerly called in-camera) matters is public information. Webster cited the wording in the Municipal Government Act (MGA) that states, “The CAO must relate to the public directly and indirectly and must be a professional manager whose actions are governed by high ethical standards.” The MGA further states “To the press, the CAO is the source for local news or background information”. “You do have the package,” Plachner pointed out. “I’m talking about all the information, budgets, financial statements, letters, reports, everything that is tabled at the meetings,” continued Webster. “Now that the office has a new scanner you can scan, for example, those 82 pages [Municipal Accountability Review Report] and in a manner of a click, I have it in my email.” When addressing the two days of constant phone calls, phone messages and emails made by Webster, the CAO responded saying she was away at meetings and was dealing with a water break in the office . . . and emails sometimes go to spam. However, the letter from Webster went on to explain that the occurrences were happening as far back as 2016, including ignoring registered letters sent requesting public documents, not answering the phone or emails and even hanging up on Webster. “So will we have a problem with that?” Mayor Helton questioned Plachner. “I guess not,” answered Plachner. “Do we need to make a formal resolution?” asked Coun. Edwards. Mayor Helton responded, “I don’t think so, she said she could provide that.” Retirement/layoff/severance package policy Council motioned to have Coun. Graham return with information regarding a retirement/payoff layoff/ severance package policy to the December meeting after adding this item to the agenda at the beginning of the meeting. Coun. Graham urged council to develop this policy stating that the information he had collected so far ranges from six weeks for every year served to two weeks for every year served depending on the financial size of the municipality. “Some places they wait until they retire and then negotiate,” stated Mayor Helton. CAO Plachner questioned how many week’s notice would council require if retirement were to take place. Water plant information Morrin Water Plant information for a generator installation and upgrades was provided to council showing the $72,900 which is half the cost of the $145,800 total for the GenSet generator. Starland County will be picking up the other half of the tab. An additional $20,000 is needed to upgrade the gas service and piping from the meter, trenching, electrical in the building and control commissioning, council learned. “I keep seeing just the GenSet. Having the GenSet we have water supply but we still don’t have a real fire pump,” stated Mayor Helton. “It’s an engine driving it now but we need a motor.” CAO Plachner confirmed that $50,000 had been set aside for the project. Helton expressed frustration that this problem has been ongoing for over a year and directed CAO Plachner to “follow up with that [engine] for sure, sooner than later”. No Request For Decision (RFD) was put forward to council to approve the expenditure for the project. Municipal Accountability Review Report Council received an 82-page Municipal Accountability Review Report done by Municipal Affairs in August as part of the government’s Municipal Accountability Program. Mayor Helton provided a two-page synopsis of the findings that were positive followed by the specific areas that require action to achieve compliance. Areas requiring action include establishment of CAO position, a CAO evaluation, closed meetings, voting, council meeting minutes, operating and capital budgets, municipal accounts, auditor, audited financial statements, auditor report, salary and benefits, assessment roll, content of tax notices, tax arrears list, tax sale, ballot count and disposition of election material. Bylaws that required attention included the Code of Conduct, Assessment Review Board, Bylaw Enforcement Officer and Procedural bylaws. CAO Plachner agreed to work through the areas required by the report and bring some back to council for approval at each meeting until the village is compliant with all the legislative gaps. The public can request a copy of the 82-page report and the three-page overview that Mayor Helton had tabled at the meeting by contacting the village office. Christmas decorations Christmas decorations for the light poles in the village are scheduled to be delivered Friday, reported CAO Plachner. “We chose without knowing any prices,” said Coun. Edwards who had volunteered to make the choices. Council had made a motion to proceed at the October meeting despite having no prices available so the decorations could be delivered on time for this year. “If I’d known the wreath was that expensive I might not have chosen it,” she added. Council motioned to pay $4,335 for the Christmas decorations. Cannabis and Employee Code of Conduct bylaws After previewing samples of cannabis usage and land use bylaws, council moved to have CAO Plachner provide a bylaw for each at the December regular meeting. “We’ve been kicking it down the road for quite awhile,” said Helton. Council approved the 12-page Employee Code of Conduct Policy in an unanimous vote that is “the standard of behaviour and actions for Village of Morrin employees to ensure the highest public confidence in, and respect for local government, to ensure effective leadership in, and through, the employees, and to ensure that employees act with the highest level of integrity and ethical behaviour.” Besides integrity and ethical behaviour, the policy also addresses interaction with administration and the public, expenditures, bias, pecuniary interest, conflict of interest, confidentiality, dispute resolution and disciplinary procedures. Need the perfect gift? Pre-order a copy of Forestburg’s New History Book for pick up August 2 - 4, 2019 at the Centennial Celebration. Call or text Amber 780-678-0022 or amberprehn@hotmail.com Follow on for more details. Notice of AltaGas Utilities Inc. Franchise Fee Rate Change Summer Village of Rochon Sands Please be advised that on November 13, 2018 at a Regular Meeting of Summer Village of Rochon Sands Council, a motion was passed to increase the AltaGas Utilities Inc. Franchise Fee from 0% to 5%, effective February 1, 2019. In accordance with Alberta Energy and Utilities Board Order U2004-292, the municipality has the authority to amend the franchise fee rate. The effect on an average residential customer is approximately $39.40 per year. Please contact Jason Olson-Chief Administrative Officer, Summer Village of Rochon Sands, should you have any questions at 403-742-4717 or email info@rochonsands.net Dated at Summer Village of Rochon Sands, Alberta, this 16 day of November 2018. 3” wide version Married in 2018 ? 3.75” wide version If you were married in 2018, take part in our 2018 Wedding Album Published in the December 20, 2018 ECA Review. Deadline, Monday, December 17. No Charge. Makes a great keepsake of your special day! Newly Weds Names: Date of Wedding: Location of Wedding: (Please include maiden name) Currently Residing: Please email, mail or drop off your photo: office@ECAreview.com East Central Alberta Review, Box 70, Coronation, AB, T0C 1C0 4921 Victoria Ave., Coronation, AB To ensure good reproduction, good quality colour or black & white photos only. • Close-ups will work the best. • Be sure to write your name on the back of your photo. • Photo will be returned if you include a self-addressed envelope OR indicate that you will pick up photo after December 30 FREE
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ECA Review 2018-11-29

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