County rejects request for financial assistance

County stands pat on property taxes despite deficit

Cypress County has rejected a request from Dunmore developer Jasper Homes — which is constructing a 13-lot residential subdivision in the hamlet — to build a required stormwater pond on county land north of Fourth Avenue instead of within its own land.

The proposal for financial assistance also requested direct monetary support from the county to offset construction costs for the new stormwater pond itself.

Jasper Homes bought the property for its development prior to the implementation of Dunmore Master Storm Water Management Plan in 2016, which identified the developer’s property as a lowlying area that would require the storm pond be built to mitigate future flood risks for homeowners nearby, at the developer’s expense.

“Every other developer that has been out there doing stuff, they have to make their own retaining ponds,” said Dunmore Coun. Dan Hamilton, who led the opposition toward the proposed financial assistance. “(Like Jasper) it retains on their lands and they will lose lots because of the need for that. So I don’t think we should be setting precedents and giving up our (county) land for a retaining pond ... When they purchased this land, they knew it was in a low area and there was going to be some drainage expenses with it. I am against doing anything for this.”

Councillors voted against extending any financial support to the developer.

New director of emergency management appointed

Cypress County corporate services director John Belanger was officially appointed as the county’s new director of emergency management.

The position had been vacant, and serviced by interim personnel, since former fire chief Dennis Mann was relieved of all duties last year. The director of emergency management co-ordinates the county’s response with emergency officials and provincial government bodies in the event of a disaster.

Councillors were informed the county had received $639,000 less in linear assessment payments from the province than previously budgeted for.

They were further provided with several options on how to make up the shortfall, including another increase in nonresidential property taxes following last year’s hike. Ultimately, councillors accepted staff’s recommendation the shortfall be made up out of the county’s own unrestricted surplus account.