ECA Review 2020-08-06

ECA REVIEW HANNA/CORONATION/STETTLER, AB August 6'20 3
Kneehill County moving ahead with
Horseshoe Canyon focus group
Stu Salkeld
Local Journalism Initiative reporter
ECA Review
One of the largest tourist attractions
in the region will get a boost from
Kneehill County after councillors
approved a terms of reference for a
focus group at their regular meeting
July 21.
Councillors read a memo from
Bowen Clausen, manager of parks and
agriculture services, describing the
proposed Horseshoe Canyon focus
Group.
“At the June 22, 2020 regular
meeting, council directed administration
to develop a terms of reference for
consideration, to form a Horseshoe
Canyon focus group to review the
Stettler County protests
at Alberta Legislature
Stu Salkeld
Local Journalism Initiative reporter
ECA Review
Dozens of rural municipalities,
including the County of Stettler, sent a
message to the provincial government
July 30 by protesting at the Alberta
Legislature.
The counties are frustrated about
what they see as too many tax breaks
too quickly for the province’s oil and
gas industry.
The latest problem comes from a
provincial committee set-up to look at
what amounts to more tax breaks for
large oil and gas corporations.
County of Stettler Reeve Larry
Clarke attended the protest with four
more councillors and three senior staff
and said 34 of 68 rural municipalities
were represented.
“We had a pretty good showing,”
said Clarke by phone July 31, as he prepared
to go baling on his tractor.
Calgary MLA and Minister of
Community and Social Services Rajan
Sawhney came out to listen to locallyelected
officials concerns.
Clarke stated the minister stated she
would take the rural representative’s
concerns back to the government.
The reeve stated the provincial government’s
committee reviewing
assessment has offered four options for
discussion, and the big energy companies
seem to prefer the fourth option,
which is a further 20 per cent drop in
their tax bills on top of over 35 per cent
they were already given.
“It’s serious,” said Clarke. “It’s
Horseshoe Canyon masterplan and
make recommendations to council as
to next steps,” stated Clausen in his
report.
“The recommended committee
makeup is shown in the ToR, however
administration would like direction
from council, in regards to the
appointment of members at large and
how council would like to do this.
“It is recommended that members
be appointed for their potential and
insightful contributions, as well as
those that will actively participate and
share productive viewpoints which
look at what is best for Horseshoe
Canyon and also for Kneehill County
and the region.
“It is recommended to use a thirdparty
facilitator that has experience
County of Stettler councillors and staff attended a protest at the Alberta Legislature July 30 to
show their mounting concern with the provincial government’s apparent plan to shift the tax
burden away from large oil and gas corporations and onto rural residents.
ECA Review/Submitted
riding on the backs of the rural communities,”
he said, noting he looks at
the region as one large community,
including town, county, hamlets and
lake properties.
He also noted small to medium sized
energy companies could even see their
tax bills go up as their assessment
increases.
“Next year I just don’t know where
we’re going to go,” said Clarke. “We’re
going to have to look at every tax
expense we have.”
The reeve noted Stettler County
could see $3 million to $4 million less
in revenue on top of a $4 million loss in
2019 and stated council is already wondering
how this could be absorbed:
doubling taxes for some ratepayers or
cutting services even further.
The reeve stated he understands the
difficulties the provincial government
and energy industry are under, but is
concerned that it appears too many
cuts are being made too quickly with
rural municipalities absorbing too
much of the costs.
He suggested a tiered approach
making changes slowly over time, with
more stakeholders, including the cities,
absorbing costs.
Clarke stated he hopes Premier
Jason Kenney understands the importance
of so many rural people
travelling to Edmonton to protest, as
it’s rather rare to see.
“This is the first time,” said the
reeve, noting he’s not aware of rural
municipalities ever organizing a protest
like this.
with recreational sites, but also to lead
the sessions from and with a neutral
and objective process that allows open,
productive and nonjudgmental or
reactive dialogue to occur.
“Facilitators have the experience
and capacity to work through difficult
or tense conversations and find
common ground from which all parties
can move forward in an agreeable
form.”
In the draft terms of reference
included for councillors, it was stated
under the heading “mandate,” “In
order to fulfill its purpose, the
Committee will play a vital role in:
Developing an understanding of the
current situation; Assisting in prioritizing
next steps and future initiative
and/or projects, etc. to Kneehill
County Council and; To engage stakeholder
opinions regarding
opportunities and concerns related to
initiatives in or around the Canyon.”
Clausen said possible members of
the focus group might include the
Nature Conservancy, the Royal Tyrell
Museum, the campground, Travel
Alberta and possibly a few others. He
pointed out that none of these groups
have been approached yet.
Clausen stated the 2020 budget
includes funding for this project.
Councillors approved the terms of
reference as presented in a 6 - 1 vote.
Road closure
Councillors approved the initial step
in closing a road near Horseshoe
Canyon at the July 21 meeting.
Barb Hazelton, manager of planning
and development, presented council
with a report on the proposed road
closure.
“Currently Kneehill County holds a
3.56-acre title to an area directly south
of Horseshoe Canyon that has been
fragmented by road plan 834 LK.
“This parcel contains portions of
the parking lot
and a small portion
of the canyon
itself. The
existing outhouses
are on the
boundary of the
road allowance.
The portion of
the undeveloped
township road
runs through the
parking lot, the
turn around, a
portion of the
canyon and some
of the enhanced
trail down to the
base.
“Administration
is proposing that
this portion of
Twp. Rd 28-4 be
closed and consolidated
into
descriptive plan
091 0342, Block 1,
Lot 2 that was
created following
the realignment
of the highway.
“We are also
proposing to close
road plan 834 LK
which completely
fragments the
current title. This
will also be consolidated
into
descriptive plan
091 0342, Block 1,
Lot 2.”
Councillors
approved first
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reading of the bylaw to close the road.
It will now be publicly advertised and
go to a public hearing.
Hazelton stated a closure like this
usually takes a year to complete.
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: 2020-006
Date of Decision: Jul 31, 2020
Building application:
Owner: Brenda Hillis and Russell Hillis
Property Subdivision Location: Lot: Plan:
8149AH.
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
Aug 21, 2020.
TOWN OF CORONATION
Development Officer
Quinton Flint, CAO.
(403)578-3679
PUBLIC NOTICE
Circle Square Ranch Waterworks System
Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act
NOTICE OF CANCELLATION
INFORMATION ONLY
Intervarsity Circle Square Ranch Halkirk has applied to
the Director to cancel the following registration under the
Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act, RSA 2000,
ch. E-12 as amended, (EPEA):
• Circle Square Ranch old water treatment plant
no. 18646-01-00.
The Ranch’s water piping system has been connected to the
Shirley McClellan Regional Waterworks System since 2012;
the Ranch’s water treatment plant has ceased operation and
reclaimed since the connection.
In accordance with EPEA and the regulations, the Director has
cancelled EPEA registration no. 18646-01-00.