Yellowhead County briefs

Aug. 28 meeting

Coal Valley Mine Presentation – The Westmoreland Coal Company presented to council regarding the 40th Anniversary of the Coal Valley Mine. The mine was opened in 1978 to supply coal to Ontario Hydro and for overseas export. Council was presented with a plaque to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the mine.

County Administration Building Construction – Council voted against a contract extension to E-Construction for the paving and construction of an access road to connect the county’s administration building and shop. The project cost was quoted at $457,704.

Township Road 562/562A Alignment Study – Wood Environmental & Infrastructure Solutions was the successful consultant selected to undertake the alignment study, and provided 6 alignment options for council’s consideration. Council approved Wood’s Twp Rd 562/562A Alignment Study, choosing the option which offers the safest travel for commercial, industrial, and residential traffic at higher speeds. This option allows the county to move forward with land, utility and environmental issues on the alignment in the future.

Yellowhead Regional Response to Elder Abuse Funding – Council decided to provide a Letter to the Minister of Seniors and Housing requesting the continuation of funding for the coordinated community response to elder abuse. Council has also directed administration to allocate funding in the 2019 budget consideration for the continuation of the coordinated response to elder abuse should the province discontinue funding this program.

Proposed Secure Landfill Redistrict – Council defeated second reading of Bylaw 14.18, amending Land Use Bylaw 16.13 from Rural District (RD) and Forestry District (FD) to Landfill/ Composting District (LC). This means that Secure Energy will not receive zoning for its proposed landfill.

2018 Property Tax Recovery Auction – Council accepted the date, time, and location for the 2018 tax recovery sale public auction, to be Wednesday, October 24, 2018 at 10:00 AM local time at the Yellowhead County Edson Administration Building. Sept. 11 meeting

Township Road 534/Range Road 170 Resident Presentation – Local resident Larry Irwin presented to council regarding perceived concerns over traffic safety on Township Rd. 534 and Range Road 170. Mr. Irwin noted that he is concerned with safety issues regarding access to and from Highway 748 and Township Road 534 due to train blockage. Mr. Irwin has asked council to consider his comments during their next Governance and Priorities Committee meeting. IDP Exemption (Clearwater County) – Council moved to apply for an exemption (to Municipal Affairs) from creating an Intermunicipal Development Plan (IDP) with Clearwater County, as both counties share a border composed entirely of provincial crown land, and the development of the IDP would require considerable loss of time and resources.

IDP Exemption (Brazeau County) – Council also moved to apply for an exemption (to Municipal Affairs) from creating an IDP with Brazeau County, as per the same reasons stated above.

IDP Exemption (Municipal District of Greenview) – Lastly, council moved to apply for an exemption (to Municipal Affairs) from creating an IDP with the Municipal District of Greenview, as per the same reasons stated above.

MSI Capital Funding for 2019 and 2020 – Council approved the allocation of the 2019 and 2020 Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI) capital grant in the amount of $10,543,805 to be applied to the Joint MultiUse Facility. MSI funding is provided by the province as to strengthen the municipal sector and provide significant financial support to municipalities for infrastructure needs.

Wildwood Recreation Complex Parking Lot Tender – Council rejected all tenders for the paving and drainage work required at the Wildwood Recreation Complex. The project will be re-tendered in early 2019 for spring/summer completion.

Wildwood Area Structure Plan Amendment – Council gave first reading in regards to a landowner’s request to amend the Wildwood Area Structure Plan Bylaw 9.05 to accommodate an Overhead Door Manufacturing Facility (within a parcel located at the west end of Wildwood). The company anticipates the employment of some 30 people when fully operational.

Land Use Bylaw Amendment - First reading of Bylaw 17.18, to amend Land Use Bylaw 16.13 from Hamlet Commercial (HC) to Hamlet Commercial (HC) in support of an Overhead Door Manufacturing Facility (as referenced above).

2018 Accounts Receivable Write Off - Council approved the write off of the 2018 Accounts Receivable noncollectable accounts in the total amount of $10,313.97. There has been extensive follow up on these accounts, three of which originated in 2016 and one in 2015, however it is felt that all avenues of collection have now been exhausted.

Land Acquisition Negotiations Suspended - Council moved to temporarily suspend land acquisition negotiations for phase one (east side) of the Chip Lake connector road project, and engage in acquisition negotiations for phase two (west side) of the Chip Lake connector road project.