Cypress County Council meeting briefs from May 22

Posted on June 6, 2024 by Ryan Dahlman

By Heather Cameron
Commentator/Courier

The following are selected briefs from the Cypress County Council meeting that took place on May 22.

Bylaw 2024/10 Land Use Amendment – N.E. 4-12-4-W4, “A-2” to “CR2” – Second and Third Reading

Following the Public Hearing that Council held regarding Bylaw 2024/10 Land Use Amendment, an application of 24/A03 by Adam Thompson on behalf of JBP Enterprises Inc., to reclassify a 5.66 hectares (13.98 acres) parcel from Agricultural District 2 (A-2) to Country Residential District 2 (CR-2), Councilor Richard Oster made a motion to give Bylaw 2024/10 second reading and the motion was carried. Following that, Councilor Shane Hok made a motion to give Bylaw 2024/10 third reading and the motion was carried.

Bylaw 2024/14 Council Procedural Bylaw – All Three Readings

Administration shared with Council Bylaw 2024/14 Council Procedural Bylaw, explaining that the bylaw allowed Council to pass by-laws respecting the procedure and conduct of Council, Council committees, and the conduct of members. At the May 7, 2024, Council meeting, Administration explained, Council directed Administration to bring back the procedural bylaw to allow for the recorded vote to be available on the Council meetings and to be available at all times during the live stream during Council meetings and the bylaw shows the updated changes. Administration recommended that Council pass all three readings. Councillor Lloyd Want made a motion to give Bylaw 2024/14 Council Procedural Bylaw first reading and the motion was carried. Councillor Keith Ritz made a motion to give Bylaw 2024/14 Council Procedural Bylaw second reading and the motion was carried. Councillor Blaine Brost moved that Councillor unanimously approve third reading of Bylaw 2024/14 Council Procedural Bylaw and the motion was carried. Finally, Councillor Richard Oster made a motion to give Bylaw 2024/14 Council Procedural Bylaw third reading and the motion was carried.

April Operating Update

Administration presented the April 2024 Operating Financial update for information to Council with the recommended motion that Council receive the April 2024 Financial update for information. 

Administration explained that the April 2024 income statement provides a glimpse of both revenue and expenses for the first four months of the year and the key highlights include Fire having a positive variance over 2023 of over $34,000; if the trend continues, the Fire revenue is expected to exceed $164,000 by the end of 2024. Municipal Services, Administration said, is below budget due to the vacant Health and Safety Coordinator and Director of Municipal Services positions during the first four months of the year and it is expected that Municipal Services will be about $55,000 under budget by the end of the year. Family and Community Support expenses, Administration said, are below 2023 due to contributions to private organizations which will occur later in the year. Administration also stated that all other department expenses are in line and on budget.

In terms of Accounts Payable Listing, Administration explained, invoices paid in March total $891,745 and highlights from the March 2024 Accounts Payable listing include: BYZ Enterprises Inc: $98,815 – $ 5 progress payment for CP-J186 Seven Persons Creek Diversion

Canoe Procurement Group: $94,477 – fuel, parts, and stationary.

City of Medicine Hat: $60,302 – utility payments for February 2024.

GFL Environmental Inc.: $41,172 – Waste Collection Services.

ISL Engineering and Land Services Ltd.: $41,771 – work for CP-J206 Third Avenue Extension; MPE Engineering LTD: $147, 028 – this includes $103,847 for Suffield Water Supply, $5,418 for SCADA system maintenance, $7,815 for Seven Persons Forcemain, $29,948 for engineering work for Public works.

Porter Tanner Associates Inc.: $134,664 –this includes progress payments of $76,079 for Irvine Sewer Lift Station and $58,585 for Schuler Sewer Lift Station.

A motion was made to receive the April 2024 Financial update for information and the motion was carried.

Seniors’ Week Designation

Administration brought a Seniors’ Week Designation Request for Decision to Council, recommending that Council move to declare June 3 to 9, 2024 as Seniors Week in Cypress County to celebrate seniors and their valuable contributions to Cypress County. Administration then explained that for 39 years, the province has celebrated seniors during the first week in June and that Seniors’ Week 2024 will be celebrated from June 3 to 9 and will be initiated with a provincial launch event on June 5, 2024, co-hosted by Seniors Outreach Society. Administration stated if their recommendation is followed, they will notify the Province of Alberta of the declaration by June 1, 2024, so it can be highlighted on the Seniors and Housing website and also celebration on the County’s social media websites. A motion was made to accept Administration’s Request for Decision and the motion was carried.

Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter Funding Request

Administration brought a Request for Decision to Council from the Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter Society, stating that the Society reached out to Cypress County with a request for financial support with the cost of their facility renovations. While the Society has secured a low-interest loan for their project, Administration said, they are seeking additional support to reduce their debt burden, and this assistance they are seeking is crucial to enable them to cover operational expenses while repaying the loan. Presently, Administration said, the Society still needs to raise 35 percent of their budget, which is not covered by the core Government of Alberta funding. Administration recommended to Council that Council direct Administration to bring back the Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter Society funding request to the 2025 budget deliberation with additional information. Councillor Michelle McKenzie made a motion that Council direct Administration to bring back the Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter Society funding request to the 2025 budget deliberation with additional information and the motion was carried.

Agricultural Services Inspector Appointments

Administration brought a Request for Decision before Council, recommending that Council appoint Kennedy Roeder and Braiden Bodin as Soil Conservation Officers under the Conservation Act. Administration also recommended that Council appoint Kennedy Roeder, Braiden Bodin, Bailey Taylor, Aiden Heller, Ben van der Sloot, Kam Dumanowski, Hailey Carfantan, and Agatha Thiessen as Weed Inspectors and Pest Inspectors under the Agriculture Pest Act for the Duration of their employment with Cypress County. A motion was made to accept the Request for Decision along with the amendment that they could just be labelled as ‘pest inspectors under the agriculture pest act’ and also insert the word agricultural meaning if they were part of agricultural services that they would continue to have these appointments and if they got hired outside of Agricultural Services that would cease. The motion with the amendment was carried.

Community Aggregate Payment Funding – Dunmore and Elkwater

Administration presented Council with a Request for Decision recommending contributing $14,985 to the Dunmore Community Association and $35,350 to the Elkwater Community Association for their 2024 Recreation Projects funded from the Community Aggregate Payment (CAP) Fund. Councillor Lloyd Want made a motion to approve the Request For Decision and the motion was carried.