ECA Review 2020-04-16

ECA REVIEW HANNA/CORONATION/STETTLER, AB April 16'20 7
Morrin council meets for budget deliberations
J. Webster
ECA Review
Morrin council held a special
meeting to continue working through
their 2020 budget on April 8.
Frustration on the part of all parties
ran rampant.
“I didn’t get this [budget] before
today. Is this the same on what we
looked over on our January [budget]
meeting? asked Mayor Helton.
“I think so, ya, I couldn’t find my
notes from the January meeting,”
stated CAO Annette Plachner. “It’s an
estimate from last year and kind of
partially of this year for what I know.”
“So it’s basically back to having no
figures to really determine our budget?
asked Helton. Are they [estimates]
going to be in for our budget?”
CAO Plachner informed council she
was not able to acquire the necessary
estimates as all the businesses are
closed due to the coronavirus.
Mayor Helton suggested that quotes
would still be attainable especially if
those giving quotes who have been
here before.
Council questioned the costing on
the bulk water and whether it was
really a village expense.
“How many villagers use the bulk
water?” asked Mayor Helton.
“Under 10 per cent I would say.
I’ve never seen anybody that lives in
the actual village accessing that
[bulk water],” commented Coun.
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Melissa Wilton.
“We are here as a council to look at
things like that [expenses] and make
decisions and the status quo is not necessarily
the status quo,” stated Helton.
“I’m not here to be a disturber, I’m
here to look at things that have been
going on for a long time that perhaps
needs a spotlight to see if they can’t be
changed a little bit.”
“He [Riep] is here trying to help the
village and that water plant needs a
quarter million dollars of work,” stated
CAO Plachner “and he is doing it piece
by piece because he knows the village
can’t afford to do a whole big bunch all
at once.”
Glen Riep, of Pier Enterprises ,
Certified Operator of the village water
Community fund including Youngstown
Terri Huxley
ECA Review
A representative of the
Prairie Crocus Community
Fund based out of Medicine
Hat was on the phone with
Youngstown councillors at
their meeting on Mon. April
6 in replacement of an inperson
delegation.
An overarching group
known as the Community
Foundation of Southern
Alberta has taken action
during this global pandemic,
establishing a fund
for the southeast region ‘to
address the medium to long
term impacts that the pandemic
will have across our
region.’
They are working closely
with municipalities, community
partners, and
funders within Special
Areas 2, 3 as well as the MD
of Acadia to ensure that the
greatest needs are being
addressed within these
areas.
Donations from the
Prairie Crocus region will
be distributed to local charities
providing crucial
services.
Council felt the organization
was a good partner to
work with since it recently
started up.
Increase in
membership fees
Coun. Debbie Laughlin
started off the reports
saying that the Cactus
Corridor Economic
Development Corporation
will be asking for an
increase in membership
fees in 2021 which was about
$500.
Mark Nikota, economic
development manager for
the corporation, is currently
working on a new grant
application as well which
focuses on getting energy
businesses like solar into
the area.
“He was wondering if we
had any cost amounts or
talked to anybody about
costs related to a solar
project,” said Coun.
Laughlin.
“Solar would be a worthwhile
thing for us,” said
Mayor Robert Blagen.
The other couple of things
he was looking at on top of
this was updating signage
for the village by
rebranding but “seeing how
mad Hanna got” over their
rebranding, council was
inclined to stay away from
that idea as well as the
Affordable Living Project
upgrading.
The Corridor focuses on
economic development for
Special Areas No. 2
including the Town of
Hanna, Village of
Youngstown and the Hanna
Learning Centre.
Curling rink compressor
Coun. Ken Johnson noted
the changes of the season
when it comes winter facilities
now closed like the
curling rink.
He has found the curling
rink to have an ice plant
that is ‘on its last legs’ as it is
upwards of 35-years-old so
they are looking at pricing
out a new compressor.
Johnson noted the pressures
were higher than he’d
ever seen them and the
higher the pressure the
more energy is used which
increases other bills.
For the concession, the
grills and table were
removed with new ones
replacing them this
summer.
One issue he finds is how
often the grill is power
washed by an outside company
as washing is required
on an annual basis for at
least $1,500.
Since the facility does not
get used that often, sometimes
once or twice in a
whole year, this year being
higher at seven times,
council felt they could
potentially try to save
money rather than spend it
when it’s not necessary.
“That one year we hadn’t
used it at all and still had to
pay for them to come out
and clean, so I don’t know
what the solution is,” said
Laughlin.
Johnson mentioned they
may be able to bring this
issue to the attention of
MLA Nate Horner.
Tax mill rates
According to Chief
Administrative Officer
(CAO) Emma Garlock, the
tax mill rate for education
that was originally going to
be set for 2020 has now been
changed due to provincial
ruling.
The province has chosen
to keep this rate the same as
it was in 2019 due to the
coronavirus.
The CAO felt more comfortable
once more
information is released
before council passes any
motions to move forward
which was agreed to at the
table.
“I don’t want to change
this until I have something
in writing,” said CAO
Garlock.
She mentioned that
almost all of the other mill
rates within the village will
be close to last year as well
so ‘it won’t be a big shock’
for residents.
Regional SDAB
coming together
An intermunicipal agreement
with Palliser about
agreeing to be a part of a
regional Subdivision and
Development Appeal Board
(SDAB).
Since these types of board
meetings are so rare, the
area felt it was easier and
cheaper to create a single
SDAB for people to be apart
of.
Council passed all three
readings needed to be a part
of the establishment of this
new regional board.
Another motion was made
and carried to rescind an
older bylaw requiring the
village to have their own
personal SDAB
Year end audit
completed
CAO Garlock was happy
to announce the completion
of the village’s 2019 financial
audit, saying Youngstown
has come out ahead with a
small surplus of $17,464.
“Once again, it went
really well,” said CAO
Garlock.
Council approved two
transfers including $5,769 to
a Capital Recreation
Reserve which is a pot of
money used to look after
existing facilities and their
maintenance.
She highlighted the excellent
communication
between herself and the current
auditor but did note
that the auditor was possibly
moving away.
Because of this, Garlock is
hoping to maintain the relationship,
as although this
person will be farther away,
most of their communication
is done by phone, email
and mail already and the
thought of training a new
person was going to be a
challenge.
“It sounded like she might
keep the village. It depends
on how much work she
wants,” said Garlock.
Read complete story online at
www.ECAreview.com
Town of Coronation
Development Office
Notice of Decision
Notice is hereby given of the following decisions in
accordance with the Municipal Government Act, RSA
2000, Chapter M-26, and Bylaw No. 2009-559 and
amendments thereto, of the Town of Coronation:
Permit Application: 2020-002
Date of Decision: Apr 6, 2020
Building application: Commercial/ Residential
Owner: Shelley Creasy
Property Subdivision Location: Lot: Plan: 1826AT
Any person affected by this decision may appeal to the
TOWN OF CORONATION, Box 219, Coronation, Alberta,
T0C 1C0. Such an appeal to the Subdivision and
Development Appeal Board shall be in writing
containing a statement of the grounds of appeal
including an Appeal Fee of $40.00 and shall be
delivered either in person or by registered mail so as to
reach the Secretary no later than fourteen (14) days
following the date of publication of this notice.
Appeals on these listed developments may be filed up
until closing at the CORONATION office on Apr 27, 2020.
TOWN OF CORONATION
Development Officer
Quinton Flint, CAO.
(403)578-3679
Town of Coronation
3” wide version 3.75” wide version
RhPAP-COVID-THANKYOU.pdf 2 2020-04-07 9:21:29 AM
We know you are giving 110 per cent, and we are
truly grateful. You truly are health-care heroes.
On behalf of RhPAP Board and Staff, wishing
you and your families stay healthy during this
challenging time.
Linda Humphreys, Interim Chair, RhPAP Board of Directors
plant had presented council with a
quote from JC Industries to replace the
coin-operated receptacles at the bulk
water station with a PIN system as the
loader has experienced interruptions
in service and is most likely in need of
updating.
Council as well was looking for a
second quote as that is a policy in
effect for the village projects.
Riep had also asked council to
include a budget item of $12,000 for
cleaning of the reservoirs.
“I’m going to do this budget and estimate
it how I think it should be done,”
stated CAO Plachner. “I will set the
mill rate and that’s going to be done.”
Now that council has the actuals for
operational expenses they are still
looking for accurate cost breakdowns
and two quotes for projects.
“Did we not learn very fast with the
estimate with the water pump,” asked
Helton. “There was a miscommunication
simply because somebody was
throwing out a figure and said there,”
with no itemized project costs.
We need to work hard at it and make
real special effort so that we don’t run
into those kind of situations again,”
concluded Mayor Helton.
The meeting was reported on from a
recording due to the coronavirus.
Development Office
Notice of Decision
Notice is hereby given of the following decisions in
accordance with the Municipal Government Act, RSA
2000, Chapter M-26, and Bylaw No. 2009-559 and
amendments thereto, of the Town of Coronation:
Permit Application: 2020-003
RhPAP-COVID-THANKYOU.pdf 1 2020-04-07 9:21:2
Date C of Decision: Apr 8, 2020
Building application: Custom garage package that
M
will be approximately 30’x40’x10’ , will
include Y utilities to the building.
Owner: Dan Steele
CM
Property Subdivision Location: Lot: Plan: 8149AH
Any MY person affected by this decision may appeal to the
TOWN OF CORONATION, Box 219, Coronation, Alberta,
CY
T0C 1C0. Such an appeal to the Subdivision and
Development Appeal Board shall be in writing
CMY
containing a statement of the grounds of appeal
including
K
an We Appeal know Fee you of $40.00 are giving and 110 shall per be cent, and we
delivered either grateful. in person You or by truly registered are mail health-care so as to heroes.
reach the Secretary
On behalf
no later
of
than
RhPAP
fourteen
Board
(14)
and
days
Staff, wishing
following the date your of families publication stay of this healthy notice. Appeals during this challeng
on these listed developments may be filed up until
Linda Humphreys, Interim Chair, RhPAP Board of Director
closing at the CORONATION office on Apr 29, 2020.
TOWN OF CORONATION
Development Officer
Quinton Flint, CAO.
(403)578-3679