ECA Review 2021-01-14

2 J anuary 14'21 Hanna/CORONATION/STETTLER, AB. ECA REVIEW
MORRIN COUNCIL
Morrin’s official administrator passes
2019 financial statement Dec. 16
Stu Salkeld
Local Journalism
Initiative reporter
ECA Review
The provincial government’s
appointee to Village of Morrin
council approved the audited
2019 financial statements at the
regular meeting Dec. 16. The
meeting was held via teleconference
to meet pandemic
guidelines.
Harold Johnsrude was
appointed by former Minister of
Municipal Affairs Tracy Allard
as the village’s official administrator
(OA) to act as village
council until the next municipal
election scheduled for Oct. 2021.
Lake rules discussed after
off-highway vehicle complaint
Stu Salkeld
Local Journalism
Initiative reporter
ECA Reporter
The Village of Alix will look
into formalizing rules for public
use of its namesake body of
water after councillors pondered
a complaint about
off-highway vehicle (OHV) use.
The decision was made at the
Jan. 6 regular meeting of
council, which was held via
Zoom to meet pandemic
guidelines.
Councillors read a report
from village Chief
Administrative Officer (CAO)
Michelle White regarding the
issue of OHVs and a public complaint
that vehicles could
damage the nature trail around
Alix Lake.
“In March, 2019 Ms. S. Fazer
wrote to council outlining concerns
for the sustainability of
Alix Lake and Nature Trail,”
Johnsrude noted the audited
financial statements had been
supplied to him by the village’s
official auditor Endeavour
Accounting and the statements
were dated July 29, 2020.
He noted the financial statements
were subsequently
presented to council in
September.
Johnsrude noted the auditor
stated the financial information
accurately represented the
financial situation of the village.
He moved and passed a
motion to approve the 2019
audited financial statements as
presented.
Johnsrude stated he was also
made aware of a letter to the
ALIX COUNCIL
stated White in her report. “Ms.
Fazer called the village office
on Oct. 16, 2020 to reiterate her
concerns, specifically as they
relate to the operation of offhighway
vehicles.
“Ms. Fazer stated that her
concerns are primarily to do
with the riparian area around
Alix Lake as well as with the
lake itself being harmed by
OHVs.”
Previously, councillors
instructed White to contact the
Alix Nature Trail Society
(ANTS) for feedback on the
issue.
White presented a written
response from ANTS’ Vice-
President Arlene Nelson-Dahl,
who stated, “Quads are not
encouraged on the nature trail
because of the destruction they
can cause if the rider is careless
or deliberately destructive. We
have found instances of both in
the past.
“At the ANTS meeting on
editor printed in a local newspaper
that went into
considerable detail as it listed
concerns with what the financial
statements contained and
how those results were arrived
at.
Johnsrude stated he was not
going to respond to the numbers
stated in the letter.
Johnsrude also stated, after
reviewing past council meeting
minutes, he was concerned that
there had been requests to see
past bank reconciliation information
and bank statements as
these statements don’t always
tell the whole financial story.
He also noted there had been
certain demands that the
Nov. 26, this subject was discussed.
The general consensus
was that there had been no
obvious damage done to the
trail in recent times by quads.
Those who walk the trail regularly
have stated that they have
not seen any machines on the
trail that should not be there.”
Both Coun. Barb Gilliat and
Vicki Soltermann stated a lake
management plan could
address the OHV concern, along
with others, such as docks jutting
into the lake in wintertime
and snowmobiles on the lake.
Coun. Tim Besuijen stated he
felt no motorized vehicles
should be on the hiking trail.
Coun. Soltermann made a
motion that village staff develop
a lake management plan to
address issues raised during
discussion. “No rush, but at
some point we need to do this,”
said Soltermann.
Councillors unanimously
passed the motion.
official village auditor work
independently, which
Johnsrude stated he felt was
unfair because the Village
of Morrin only has two staff.
Johnsrude stated the 2019
audited and approved financial
statement would be
posted publicly on the village
website, which is
currently a work in
progress.
As pandemic measures
continue and in-person
meetings aren’t possible, he
noted that he’d like to see
regular council meetings
conducted visually rather
than teleconference.
Chief Administrative
Officer (CAO) Annette
Plachner stated the village
website is being updated by
a local expert who has
agreed to help the village.
She said she’s hoping to
set up Zoom video meetings,
hopefully beginning in Jan.
2021.
Regular financial reports
Johnsrude read an agenda
item called “Financial
report as of Nov. 30, 2020,”
and stated it’s reasonable to
expect such reports should
be provided regularly to
council throughout the year.
The OA noted this report
was the first financial
update provided to Morrin
village council in 2020.
The OA also made a note
to mention that in a previous
council meeting a mistake
had been made by council
when they proposed a consultant
prepare the 2020
budget excluding CAO
Plachner from the process.
Johnsrude pointed out the
CAO must implement the
budget, and asking a CAO to
be responsible for a budget
she was left out of wasn’t
proper.
Inspection needed?
Johnsrude stated during
his regular report that when
he was appointed, a letter
from Minister Allard stated
a preliminary review would
be conducted into the
Village of Morrin’s
operations.
This means someone from
Municipal Affairs in
Edmonton would conduct
some local information gathering
and determine if an
official inspection is
required.
He further noted that all
Morrin residents should
have gotten a copy of this
letter and added that he can
be contacted through CAO
Plachner.
Town of Coronation
Arena Facility Study Survey
The Town of Coronation and their Regional partners are looking for
community input for the possibility of building a new Community Arena
for Skating and Curling.
The proposed project would include the Golf Club House, Baseball,
Soccer, and many other sports within the proposed building’s scope to
maximize the potential new building’s use.
Go to:
www.town.coronation.ab.ca
for the survey.
Tax roll accounts vary
Cont’d from Pg 1
(CAO) Yvette Cassidy stated that if
“Council stated in October 2020 that people know they are in financial difficulty
and know they’re going to have
they would consider offering the Nov.
1, 2020 tax penalty forgiveness to the trouble paying their taxes on time,
businesses and individuals in the they should contact the county office
municipality that are feeling the and talk to staff about the problem.
effects from COVID and the economic “If you need help, you have to ask,”
downturn experienced this year.” said Cassidy.
Larsen’s report stated the entire Coun. Les Stulberg noted the county’s
relief plan is intended to help those
amount of late fee revenue owed by
those who missed the Nov. 1 deadline suffering financial difficulties caused
was $4,361.40 and the entire amount of by the pandemic, not for those who are
unpaid tax from those 18 accounts simply behind in paying their tax bill.
totalled $41,120.89.
Larsen stated in her report county
Larsen also noted that all 18 ratepayers
requested the County of Stettler receiving all prescribed payments by
staff recommended “That upon
waive the late fees if their accounts are Jan. 29, 2021, the County of Stettler No.
paid by Jan. 29.
6 shall waive any penalties on the outstanding
taxes that would otherwise
During discussion, Larsen stated the
types of tax rolls ranged from farms accrue during the currency of this
and acreages to businesses.
agreement for rolls 855500, 430600,
Coun. James Nibourg wondered if 430601, 430602, 430602, 430606, 430607,
all County of Stettler ratepayers knew 430608, 430609, 430615, 444401, 789811,
they had this option open to them. 789812, 789813, 789814, 980100, 573101,
“Did we advertise this well enough?” 195000 and 864111.
Nibourg asked.
Councillors approved the
County Chief Administrative Officer recommendation.
Notice of application for approval to
renew the natural gas franchise agreement
between the Village of Amisk
and ATCO Gas and Pipelines Ltd.
The Alberta Utilities Commission expects to receive an application from ATCO Gas and Pipelines
Ltd. to renew its franchise agreement with the Village of Amisk, following the submission
deadline indicated below.
The franchise agreement will continue to allow ATCO Gas and Pipelines Ltd. the exclusive right to
deliver natural gas to the residents of the Village of Amisk for 10 years effective April 1, 2021.
The monthly franchise fee percentage will remain the same at 9.10 per cent. The franchise fee for
an average residential customer is forecast to remain the same at $4.56 per month. An average
residential customer uses about 115 gigajoules per year.
You may send your objections, concerns about, or support for the application in writing to the
Village of Amisk or ATCO Gas and Pipelines Ltd. on or before January 28, 2021 at: Village of
Amisk, 780-856-3980 or email, village@amisk.ca or ATCO Gas and Pipelines Ltd., Dianne Barker,
Franchise Coordinator, 13th Floor 10035 – 105 Street NW Edmonton, Alberta, phone: 780-420-
3978; email: dianne.barker@atco.com
Any submissions received, unless you request otherwise, will be part of the application
submitted and will become part of the public record.