Kneehill County

Regular Meeting of Council

Minutes

Tuesday, October 24, 2023 at 8:30 A.m. - 12:30 P.m.

1600 2nd Street NE

Three Hills, AB T0M 2A0

Council Present:

• Faye McGhee, Councillor
• Debbie Penner, Councillor
• Jerry Wittstock, Deputy Reeve
• Carrie Fobes, Councillor
• Laura Lee Machell-Cunningham, Councillor
• Wade Christie, Councillor
• Kenneth King, Reeve

Staff Present:

• Mike Haugen, Chief Administrative Officer
• Mike Ziehr, Director of Infrastructure
• Kevin Gannon, Director of Community Services
• Kinza Barney, Director of Corporate Services
• Debra Grosfield, Manager of Protective Services
• Barb Hazelton, Manager of Planning and Development
• Jenna Kester, Economic Development Intern
• Carolyn Van der Kuil, Legislative Services Coordinator
• Rajeana Nyman, Property Tax Clerk

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1.

Call Meeting to Order

Reeve King called the meeting to order at 10:25 a.m.

1.1

Agenda

1.1.1

Additions to the Agenda

Additions under Infrastructure
4.1 Integrated Facility Condition and Asset Retirement Assessment Update
4.2 Bridge Hwy 587

Additions under Legislative Services
7.2 AUC Engagement Session Webinar

Additions under Council & Committee Reports
9.4 Harvest for Kids
9.5 Flapjack Fiesta

Additions under Closed Session
11.2 Third Party Business (Section 16- FOIP)

1.1.2

Adoption of the Agenda

• Resolution: 381/23
  Moved by: Councillor Christie

  That Council approve the agenda as amended.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

2.

Approval of Minutes

2.1

Regular Council Meeting Minutes of October 10, 2023

• Resolution: 382/23
  Moved by: Councillor McGhee

  That Council approves the adoption of the minutes of the October 10, 2023, Regular Meeting of Council, as presented.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

4.

Infrastructure- Roads/Bridges/Water/Wastewater/Environment

4.1

Integrated Facility Condition and Asset Retirement Assessment Update- Addition to Agenda

• Resolution: 383/23
  Moved by: Councillor McGhee

  That Council approve the ‘Integrated Facility Condition and Asset Retirement Assessment Project' with an allocated budget of $325,000 to be distributed over the next three years, with an immediate commencement, to be funded from the Contingency Reserve.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

4.2

Bridge- Hwy 587

The bridge on Highway 587 has been successfully completed and repaired. In light of this accomplishment, Council intends to express their gratitude by sending a thank-you letter to the Minister of Transportation. This decision comes following Council's meeting with the Minister of Transportation during the RMA Spring Conference, where they discussed the urgent need for the bridge's repair.

5.

Community Services

5.1

Planning

5.1.1

Bylaw 1889 Public Hearing Postponement

• Resolution: 384/23
  Moved by: Councillor Fobes

  That this meeting goes into closed session at 10:45 a.m. for the following reason(s):

  • Advice from Officials (Section 24-FOIP)
  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
• Resolution: 385/23
  Moved by: Councillor Fobes

  That Council return to open meeting at 10:59 a.m.

  CARRIED

  11:00 a.m. - meeting recessed to allow return of public.
  11:00 a.m. - meeting resumed.

  
  
• Resolution: 386/23
  Moved by: Deputy Reeve Wittstock

  That Council move to reschedule the public hearing for Bylaw 1889 to the December 12, 2023, Council meeting to be held at 10:00 a.m.

  CARRIED

5.3

Protective Services

5.3.1

Trochu Fire Truck Repairs

• Resolution: 387/23
  Moved by: Councillor Penner

  That Council accept the Trochu Fire Truck Repair report for information and authorize the transfer of up to $55,000 from the Contingency Reserve to the Protective Services budget.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

5.4

Economic Development

5.4.1

Economic Development Survey

• Resolution: 388/23
  Moved by: Councillor McGhee

  That Council request its members to complete the Economic Development Survey.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

6.

Corporate Services

6.1

Tax Cancellation- Industrial Accounts

• Resolution: 389/23
  Moved by: Councillor McGhee

  That Council approve the cancellation of taxes on Municipal Tax Rolls that have been turned over to the Orphan Well Association and are affiliated with Manitok Energy Inc., Trident Exploration (Alberta), Lexin Resources Ltd., Arrow Point Oil & Gas Ltd., and Canyon Oil and Gas Corporation, totaling $75,545.07.

  Those being Tax Rolls 34222431300, 32231020410, 33221831100, 29261041600, 32221020400, 28213431201, 34213240900, 32220642100, 33221710800, 29261010800, 33242220400, 28211231101, 34213231300, 31222510100, 33220210100, 29260341600, 32233420400, 28201820501, 33233010100, 30251931200, 29253332100, 29260310700, 32232731300, 28200740900, 33232410800, 30251910700, 33222910700, 29261420300, 32232320600, 31231231100, 33231310100, 30251410110, 33221910700, 29261410700, 30231141500; and

  That Council approve the cancellation of taxes that have been deemed uncollectable, affiliated with Pocahontas Petroleum Ltd and Crimson Energy Ltd., for a total of $13,723.65; and

  That Council direct Administration to submit an application under the Provincial Education Requisition Credit (PERC) for the uncollectable Education Requisition (NR) and Industrial Property Requisition (DIP).

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

6.2

Preliminary Reserve Strategy

• Resolution: 390/23
  Moved by: Deputy Reeve Wittstock

  That Council accept the report on a ‘Preliminary Reserve Strategy’ for information, as presented.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

7.

Legislative Services

The Chair called for a recess at 11:52 a.m. and called the meeting back to order at 12:52 p.m. with all previously mentioned members present.

7.1

Community Grants to Non-Profit Organizations Policy #15-3, Round Two

• Resolution: 391/23
  Moved by: Councillor Fobes

  That Council approve the allocation of Round Two Community Grants to the following Non-Profit Organizations with funding to come from the Community Grant Program and Century Farm Award program budgets:

  • Three Hills Skating Club $1,170.00;
  • Huxley Community Association $1,250.00;
  • Acme Playschool Association $490.00;
  • Three Hills Arts Academy $5,000.00;
  • Three Hills Golf Club $3,800.00; and,
  • Torrington Tourism Action Society $5,000.00.
  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

7.2

AUC Webinar

• Resolution: 392/23
  Moved by: Councillor McGhee

  That Council direct Administration to register Kneehill County for the November 14th, AUC Engagement Webinar.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

9.

Council and Committee Reports

• Resolution: 393/23
  Moved by: Deputy Reeve Wittstock

  That Council accepts for information the Council & Committee Report, as presented.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

9.1

Kneehill Housing

Councillor Cunningham provided a report on the meeting Councillor Fobes and herself attended on October 2, 2023. 

9.2

Central Alberta Economic Partnership

Councillor McGhee provided a report on the meeting she attended on October 19, 2023.

9.3

Division 1 Councillor Report

Councillor McGhee provided a report on the some of the meetings she has attended.  

9.4

Harvest for Kids

Councillor Cunningham provided a verbal report on the event she attended. 

9.5

Flapjack Fiesta

A verbal report was provided by the Council members who attended the Kneehill Regional FCSS Flap Jack Fiesta.

10.

Council Follow-Up Action List

• Resolution: 394/23
  Moved by: Councillor McGhee

  That Council receive for information the Council Follow-Up Action List as presented.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

11.

Closed Session

• Resolution: 395/23
  Moved by: Councillor Cunningham

  That this meeting goes into closed session at 1:18 p.m. for the following reason(s):

  • Intergovernmental Relations (Section 21-FOIP)
  • Third Party Business (Section 16-FOIP)
  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
• Resolution: 396/23
  Moved by: Deputy Reeve Wittstock

  That Council return to open meeting at 1:39 p.m.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

  1:39 p.m. - meeting recessed to allow return of public.
  1:40 p.m. - meeting resumed.

  
  

13.

Adjourn

The meeting adjourned at 1:40 p.m.