Hinton Town Council briefs

Sept. 19 meeting

CNIB Transit Ridership - Presented by Sherry Travers

Travers again did not appear.

FortisAlberta Annual Franchise Reporting - Presented by Nicky Smith

Smith returned before Council to report stats, usage, and franchise fee information to Council.

Public Hearings

In some instances, Council is required to conduct public hearings regarding land use bylaws, rezoning, etc., or on any other matter council deems appropriate.

East and West Area Structure Plan

Action Items

Area Structure Plans - Presented by Lorraine Walker

The area structure plans provide a comprehensive development concept for the future preparation of developer-led Outline Plans within its plan area. The plan areas are a significant part of the Town’s future development lands as identified in Hinton’s Municipal Development Plan. The ASP’s will align with recently adopted municipal plans such as the Land Use Bylaw No. 1088 and the Municipal Development Plan Bylaw No. 1084. This item received unanimous first, second, and third reading.

Scalehouse and Scale Upgrades: Site Works Tender Award - Presented by Dale Woloszyn

Administration has tendered this project twice, and prices are reflective of today’s market. Delaying the award of the tender may see increased costs in construction in 2018. Administration recommended the 2017 Scalehouse and Scale Upgrades tender be awarded to Road Bridge Services Ltd. at a cost of $629,120.00. Road Bridge Services has confirmed in writing that they would accept the contract as specified with an April 2018 start date. The funding for the project would come from the Landfill Capital Reserve. It was moved that Town Council award the 2017 Scalehouse and Scale Upgrades to Road Bridge Services Ltd. at a cost of $629,120.00; this motion passed.

Information Items

Councillor Ryan Maguhn: Maguhn informed Council that he will be attending the Harry Collinge Convocation this weekend as both a Councillor and through his work as a teacher.

Councillor Marcel Michaels: Michaels informed Council that he also will be attending the Harry Collinge Convocation this weekend.

Mayor Rob Mackin: Mackin offered a thank you to the community and volunteers for their work in bringing together the Grey Matters 2017 Conference. He told Council that there had been great feedback from officials and attendees, going on to say that while Hinton is believed to be the smallest community to hold the conference, we were spoken about as one of the better events in recent memory by delegates.

Mackin also informed Council that he will be meeting with North American Forestry Commission on September 20. The group, made up of US, Mexican, Canadian, and other international forestry community members will be taking a field tour of local operations as well as meeting to discuss forestry. He went on to say that he will be presenting at an annual conference of the Alberta Forest Products Association regarding the mountain pine beetle in the coming weeks.

Finally, Mackin informed the general public that Council has selected new CAO Stephane Labonne. He thanked Interim CAO Howarth for her work over the very busy summer. Read more here.

Interim CAO Laura Howarth: Howarth offered Council and the public a reminder of the Citizen Budget Engagement Tool, reminding that it is available online until October 31. More information available below

Howarth also informed Council that West Fraser is now in shutdown. As part of the ShutDown work, there will be no water pumped out into the community September 23 as they turn the power off, prompting a request that area residents avoid doing landscape watering or car washing that day.

Finally, Howarth informed Council that the PATH will open later this month, with events planned by both the Town of Hinton and the Arts Society for Hinton board. More information available below