ECA Review 2020-05-21

ECA REVIEW HANNA/CORONATION/STETTLER, AB May 21'20 3
We salute
Medical personnel:
doctors, nurses,
care aides,
cleaning staff,
social workers
403 854 4433
www.hanna.ca
McKenzie
Motors
Ted McKenzie
403-578-3866
Coronation
Hanna Legion Br. 25
2nd Ave. W
Castor Branch
5002-50 Avenue, Castor, AB
Phone 403-882-3950
Fax 403-882-3555
Blocksom
Financial Services
Terry Blocksom
Phone: 403-854-2136
Fax: 1-866-478-2519 • terry@ipchanna.ca
Super B Grain Hauling
& Gravel Hauling
Lamontagne & Son
Holdings Ltd.
403-575-5468
Coronation
882-3211 • Castor
www.countypaintearth.ca
ph. 403-882-3244
403-882-2334
fax. 403-882-2714
Fox Coulee solar park units reduced
Terri Huxley
ECA Review
Aura Power Renewables
Limited sent in a letter giving
an update on the solar park
located near Fox Coulee and
the airport, close to the
Drumheller Valley.
In the latter half of 2019, the
company finished an investigation
meant to optimize the
performance of the array.
“In general our conclusions
reveal that we are able to
increase the performance by
using panels that track the
movement of the sun.
Additionally, by using this
configuration we can
decrease the amount of glare
experienced by ground
observes,” noted the letter
signed by the company’s
development team.
This new method will allow
them to decrease the amount
of ground covered by solar
panels, while still producing
the same amount of electrical
power from the array.
The site chosen is still
expected to remain similar to
past presentations.
To date, they have completed
a number of inner
projects to make the solar
farm a success including
single direction panels which
replaced the tilt style panels
previously installed as well
as completion of wildlife
monitoring and follow up
studies as required by the
Alberta Environments and
Parks.
The number of inverter stations
have been reduced to 17
Cont’d from Pg 1
Cole stated at least opening
the campground would create
some optimism and the village
could monitor for
problems.
Councillors voted 3 to 2 in
favour of re-opening the
municipal campground on
June 12.
No discount after all
Councillors defeated, by a 3
to 2 vote, a bylaw that would
have offered a 10 per cent discount
to residents paying
their property taxes early
this summer.
Discussed at a prior
meeting, the effort was linked
to coronavirus measures
such as pushing back the
property tax deadline and
CAO White brought back a
STARLAND COUNTY
as a result of higher performance
units now becoming
available.
They anticipate these units
will give off the same or less
of the noise emissions given
under the previously proposed
designs.
Aura Power expects to be
ready to begin construction
in late summer or in the fall
of this year with the site
becoming operational as
early as November.
Lastly, the company is on
the hunt for trades people in
the local area including
labourers, accommodations,
construction equipment,
trucking and more is
required to make the project
possible.
Morrin letters
Two letters were received
by the Mayor of the Village of
Morrin, Howard Helton.
Council remained quiet
during the meeting,
accepting the letters as
information.
The letters addressed concerns
regarding Starland
County’s water operator Glen
Riep who has a side business
as an independent operator
that monitors Morrin’s water
treatment plant as well on his
own time.
Morrin council sent this
letter highlighting points that
were laid out in the Annual
Operations Review (AOR) as
miscommunication between
Riep and Morrin has resulted
in a back-and-forth match of
opinions and facts.
“... Keeping in mind that at
Alix in solid financial position
draft bylaw that would have
finalized the discount.
Coun. Vicki Soltermann
reiterated that she felt the discount
would encourage
people to pay early and get
cash flowing to the village
while helping those in
distress.
Coun. Gilliat stated she felt
the discount rewards people
who don’t really need help
and doesn’t help people who
are in financial difficulty.
White pointed out the
Village of Alix is in a solid
financial position and at least
one major taxpayer stated
they will pay on time so cash
flow shouldn’t be an issue
this summer.
Councillors defeated
Soltermann’s motion for first
reading, with Soltermann
no time did council intend to
alienate the two municipalities
but acted in good faith in
performing their duty as
elected officials to act in the
best interest of the municipality
and its citizens,” the
letter, dated March 25, stated.
Riep performs his water
operator duties for both
Starland County and Morrin
but has said he does Morrin’s
water treatment work on his
own time, keeping the work
separate from his daily duties
with the county.
“In the spirit of the
Intermunicipal Collaboration
Framework I would like to
see only the employees of
Starland and the village
involved.
As stated earlier by Mr.
Riep, the village had no
option other than to engage
Pier Enterprises [at the time].
This was never an issue with
me. However, the situation
has now changed and there
are employee operators available
as indicated by Mr.
Riep.”
Back in Dec. 2017, Morrin
council met with Riep in the
old Starland building to
acquaint themselves with the
water plant operations.
This was the first time
there was discussion about
pursuing a replacement
emergency pump gas engine
with electric motor.
With the goal of eventually
replacing the whole system
by implementing new pumps,
all at the meeting agreed they
can look into but as a first
step could start with
Non-residential property tax
Terri Huxley
ECA Review
Elnora councillors and
Chief Administrative Officer
met via teleconference video
on Tues. May 12 for their regular
monthly meeting.
The non-residential property
tax deferral topic was
tabled from the April 14
meeting but after discussion
this time around, council was
able to come to an agreement,
ELNORA COUNCIL
making a draft bylaw to
amend the 2020 penalty date
to October 1 and six per cent.
For utility accounts, the
village invoices utilities once
a year with accounts being
due December 31.
If the account is outstanding
at that date, it is
transferred to the tax account
and subject to an 18 per cent
penalty in the past.
A motion made by Dep.
Mayor Nelson was approved
to allow a 15 per cent credit
for commercial utility
accounts for this year with a
possible additional credit pursuant
to an approved
application.
Services that run under
this category include the
churches, the school, the
community hall and agricultural
building, as well as the
Legion and drop-in centre.
Turn to Pumphouse, Pg 9
and Besuijen voting in favour,
Gilliat, Fehr and Cole
opposing.
Tax recovery
Councillors heard an
unusual report about a land
sale to recover unpaid taxes.
White reported that the
property located at 4705 45th
Ave. had been sold to recover
unpaid taxes owed to the village,
and a mobile home had
been disposed of as a hazard.
White reported that after
paying expenses the land sale
netted the village $17,491.36
which was not enough to
cover the debt owed, which is
rather unusual. The village
still was owed $1,906.78.
Councillors unanimously
agreed to waive $1,906.78
from the applicable tax roll.
replacing the outdated engine pump
driver.
A quote for the pump driver was
received. Later on, council asked Chief
Administrative Officer (CAO) Annette
Plachner for a more detailed quote to
be brought back.
On Jan. 22, 2019, Riep gave council
the detailed report outlining how
replacing the old fire pump was
needed as its age and hand controlled
operation of the unit.
He noted that the unit can still do
what it needs to but must be started by
hand and attended to during
operation.
By Jan. 29, it was decided to go
ahead and purchase as deadlines for
receiving the Genset they require was
closing.
In talking with the contractor,
Collicutt Energy, they found that a 30
horsepower motor was needed. Photos
and measurements were taken at this
time as well.
The mayor requested a new quote be
given with the additional costs as
much of their water works was run out
of the same building.
It was at this time the mayor asked if
the county would be interested in
sharing this cost.
Ripe explained that the county’s
budget was already set for the year
with only the GenSet included so if
any additional costs were needed, the
village would have to foot the bill.
By April 17, a new quote from
Collicutt Energy was received.
Council accepted this figure and
directed the CAO to inform the county
of their decision.
It was here that miscommunication
unfolded as council ‘assumed’ that
Riep was working on the project and
was aware of the decision to move forward
with the replacement on top of
the additional costs presented by
Collicutt.
Riep thought the additional costs
outside of the generator and transfer
switch were then trying to be given to
Starland County instead.
“I would point out to Mr. Riep that at
no time did any councillor act on their
own to change the project, stated
Mayor Helton. “The only action of a
councillor, who was me, was to request
Collicutt Energy to submit a quote and
as stated earlier Mr. Riep was well
aware of that.
“Subsequently, council received said
quote and made the decision to accept
the project,” said Mayor Helton.
In closing, Helton added, “In my
opinion, the Village of Morrin council
has been elected to keep informed of
the operations of the village and
expects that all employees and contractors
will understand their roles as
well and make an effort to keep said
council well informed and provide any
and all information that is requested
of them.”
More online at www.ECAreview.com
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