September 8th, 2026 Regular Meeting of Council Part 2

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[0:39] Okay, we'll call the meeting back to order. We're now on uh item 6.2.
[0:46] We're now up to page 33. CEO, please introduce
[1:05] Thank you for the correction. 6.1 CEO. >> Yes.
[1:11] Uh this is just a a point of order in a way. Uh we were originally going to have
[1:16] a crime uh reduction public meeting in June, I believe, or during the summer. I
[1:24] think it was in June. Uh but um uh council had discussed that maybe it's
[1:30] just better to wait till the spring. We I'm certainly addressing u some
[1:36] residents concerns about crime reduction right now. And again, there will be
[1:39] another report in two weeks concerning that. But for now, if we can officially
[1:45] approve that, we'll do this public meeting in the spring of 2027.
[1:51] I will set the date later on.
[1:55] » [snorts] >> We'll go around on questions or
[1:58] comments. Councelor Hanlin
[2:03] Council Martinson.
[2:06] » I would sooner see it done before
[2:12] » like in November sometime of this year. >> We should we should be answering
[2:19] questions to the general public.
[2:23] Just a thought. Councelor Temple, Deputy Mayor.
[2:30] No, I agree. It should be sooner. Um, but uh just a comment on the recommended
[2:35] motion. The motion was made in June to schedule a uh meeting for September and
[2:41] September is here now. So, we're not going to be setting a crimerevention
[2:45] public meeting for spring of 2027. We're going to be rescheduling the meeting to
[2:50] XY date. Right. The crimerevention meeting was already
[2:57] set with the previous motion. We can't set another one. We need to reschedule
[3:00] the existing one. >> My only concern with the date is that
[3:08] we we [clears throat]
[3:12] haven't yet gotten a completed report on the setting
[3:17] of the security cameras. I understand that some of them were set quite
[3:22] recently. We haven't yet had a report on that.
[3:26] And it still seems to me that the sentiment, if not the direction, and
[3:35] although I do think it was direction, that we were going to articulate or or
[3:41] match the scheduling of the peace enforcement officers with those of the
[3:47] RCMP. So there would be no gaps
[3:52] because we had complaints and I've been hearing them ever since I began to run
[3:58] for mayor that there's this sort of dead zone between in the RCMP's
[4:05] coverage. And I was always under the impression no matter what kind of
[4:11] scheduling we were doing that we have in fact covered the dead zone.
[4:22] If we haven't done that, I can tell you right now that's going to be number one
[4:26] at the public meeting. If we haven't yet set the security
[4:31] cameras and got information on their efficacy, that's going to be number two
[4:38] at the at the meeting. And
[4:44] let's I don't have a problem with having the meeting earlier.
[4:48] Meeting in spring is kind of vague anyway. But then let's be ready for it
[4:54] because those are the two that are going to come up guaranteed.
[4:59] Coverage of the cameras and coverage of the
[5:03] combined law enforcement forces. And from there on, of course, the uh the
[5:10] lady that was our first public delegate gave us all kinds of good ideas, and I
[5:15] think they're worth kicking around. But let's get those in place before we have
[5:20] the meeting. I don't care if they have the meeting in October, November,
[5:23] whenever. But let's make sure we get them in place. Otherwise, we're just
[5:28] answering questions that we still haven't gotten around to actually
[5:32] answering. Councelor Mindeline. >> Yeah. And just one other thing I just
[5:35] want to remind everybody starting now we're getting close to that time where
[5:38] we're going to start tying into budget meetings.
[5:41] » Adding what? >> The budget meetings are going to start
[5:43] coming up and they're going to be taking up a lot of time. But the one thing is
[5:46] with the crime prevention to do in a public meeting. We've also got a
[5:49] strategic planning session to to do yet. And I'm just wondering do we want to do
[5:53] the crime prevention meeting before strategic planning or because then if
[5:57] something there comes out of that the public meeting then we should probably
[6:00] take that to strategic planning once we hear from the community. Does that make
[6:04] sense? Well, that view kind of articulates with
[6:07] councelor Martinsson's view,
[6:14] the CEO perspective from administration.
[6:19] [clears throat] Well, my perspective on I mean, we could
[6:24] hold a public meeting in October. Uh really the I don't think the budget
[6:29] deliberations will start uh with council until my guess is November. Um
[6:38] November, December. >> Yeah,
[6:41] » we're in the process of implementing budget software also. So um you know I
[6:48] see no reason why we can't do this crime prevention next month in October. I'm
[6:54] assuming that the capital budget will come first.
[6:59] » Capital budget >> and it'll come probably in October.
[7:03] » No, not that early. It'll come in December.
[7:07] » The first meeting in December. >> No,
[7:11] no, capital budget comes earlier and then the operating budget.
[7:16] » And we have an interim operating budget usually approved by the end of the
[7:20] calendar year. >> That's right.
[7:22] So that capital budget must be coming to us.
[7:27] I I was going to make these comments at the end of the meeting, but I'll make
[7:31] them now. By only meeting twice this summer, and
[7:35] it's well- earned rest, no doubt about it. But we're falling behind on our
[7:40] issues and our our work to-do list.
[7:46] We need to go back to some of the committee of the whole
[7:51] The capital budget will require at least one committee of the whole and at least
[7:56] one council meeting. And that's the bare minimum.
[8:00] The operating budget will take at least that and probably twice that because
[8:05] that's the one where you wind up quite frankly cutting and pasting all over the
[8:10] place. Okay. I I'm simply telling council that we've got to get back to
[8:15] work and we got to get back to work to the best of our ability every Tuesday
[8:20] for a while. We have the pressure on us from policing. It's a very genuine
[8:25] pressure. It's not we don't have a good consensus on it. I'm not even sure we
[8:31] all sh Well, we don't all share the same understandings of it. That's that's
[8:37] almost worth the committee of the whole meeting right there. So, we've got to
[8:40] get back to work. Culture Mindai, >> sorry with that one where the citizens
[8:47] uh policing meeting I'm just wondering is it worthwhile having a meeting first
[8:50] with council our bylaw and the RCP in a room together to find out from them so
[8:55] we don't get them throw them to the wolves at the meeting public meeting
[8:59] » exactly that's we need a committee of the whole meeting at least just for that
[9:03] one topic let alone the two budgets that are coming at us
[9:07] » session >> yeah yeah
[9:11] Okay. So, uh there's a the Alberta Municipal Fall Convention is
[9:17] » coming to >> Yeah.
[9:20] » But we've got to start filling in our Tuesdays and you have to be ready for
[9:25] it. Okay. Let's get back to the specific topic. When do we hold a public meeting
[9:34] on the issue of crime? Deputy Mayor. >> Um Mr. Joy Brady's working on a uh
[9:41] revision to a number of bylaws. Do you know when he will have those ready?
[9:46] » Um and at this point, no. I don't know
[9:50] exactly. I think he needs a month. Uh I think that's what I heard from him last
[9:55] week. So midocctober. So, if we hit a target date of November, that would
[10:01] probably because I I imagine in addition to everything that the mayor brought up,
[10:08] um I imagine one of the topics discussed will be uh those bylaws and getting
[10:13] community feedback on those bylaws before we approve them. So, if we can
[10:16] time it around that. >> Okay.
[10:18] » Um
[10:23] we have a brand new legislative clerk.
[10:27] What role does the legislative clerk play in helping us get all of this onto
[10:34] the table? Or is this just Brady's work?
[10:41] This is the bylaws is just Brady's work on it. Uh I mean the legisl Danielle uh
[10:49] our legislative services clerk will organize the meeting and take minutes.
[11:01] That's a big job.
[11:06] » Committee the whole next week. >> Huh?
[11:07] » Committee the whole next week. >> I'm pushing for a community hall next
[11:12] week. Yes. >> I was going to do that at the end of the
[11:15] meeting. I wasn't planning on having my mini ramp right this early. [laughter]
[11:23] Okay, let's get a nail on this one. Deputy mayor suggested November.
[11:29] Councelor Martinsson suggested earlier than spring. Also before Christmas.
[11:36] Can we pick a date? Somebody got their calendars out.
[11:42] Give me a November date. Come on. We want
[11:45] » 25th. >> November 25th. The wedding day. After
[11:48] our council meeting.
[11:52] » After our council meeting. 24th.
[11:55] » Yeah, >> the 21st.
[12:00] » I'm going to have to learn how to read my calendar again. I can tell.
[12:04] » Old school. [laughter]
[12:19] Did you suggest November 25?
[12:26] » November 25 going once. Any objections? Going twice. It's in the motion.
[12:34] All those moved by who? Moved by councelor Martinsson that the
[12:40] public meeting on crime prevention be held at the Buchanan Center on
[12:49] November 25th starting at 6:00 at 7. Starting at 7. All those in favor
[12:57] carried
[13:01] now. Native friendship center. Okay.
[13:06] The uh the Native Friendship Center is asking
[13:11] for $10,000 and they've uh submitted a full grant application plus they've
[13:18] expanded and provided uh council with answers to the questions they asked uh
[13:24] when she was in front of council. Uh we have received a couple of opposing
[13:31] uh responses from residents and uh that has been passed on to the
[13:37] board to the to the council. the um
[13:44] and the Native Friendship Center saw the submission to council from a resident
[13:51] and chose to respond quite strenuously defending their position. So at that
[13:57] point it's really up to council how they want to proceed with the grant donation
[14:03] and go from there.
[14:06] » [clears throat]
[14:09] » Let me clarify a little bit because it apparently it's been brought up that
[14:13] some of the counselors are members of the Native Friendship Center. I know
[14:17] that count counselor Hanland is a member. I'm a member. I don't see how
[14:23] that in any way disqualifies me from this discussion no more than I'm the
[14:29] member of any organization around. But if there's other counselors that want to
[14:34] uh voice their membership or non-membership of the friendship center,
[14:39] feel free. We have the basic request from them for
[14:45] $10,000.
[14:49] We have a number of legitimate questions were posed and in my opinion
[14:54] particularly the letter received from the uh what a president Trish Long
[15:00] answered those questions. Not all of the questions were that were
[15:06] asked were answered because the board is brand new questions pertaining to the
[15:12] lack of governance prior to this board. They have no way. There's no membership
[15:19] from that period. Uh you know, you you you would have to go back to the two
[15:24] major combatants to uh to get any kind of view of what the hell was going on.
[15:32] But that fact that it lacked governance is there's no doubt about that. There's
[15:36] no doubt about that. As to the questions that were raised
[15:41] again about the project, again a project that was initiated and all the basic
[15:46] decisions around the capital project were made by a previous board.
[15:55] I'm going to go around the table. I want counselors to just
[16:00] if you need more information ask the question now and we will try to
[16:08] provide it. I wanted to also tell you upfront that I met with the director of
[16:13] the friendship center on this very topic for close to an hour.
[16:21] Okay. And the information I received at that
[16:26] is in pretty much the same as presented here.
[16:33] But we'll go around and we may as well put her on the hot seat right away cuz
[16:37] she knows she's on the hot seat. Councelor Hamlet,
[16:42] » I don't feel I'm on the hot seat, but um I would like to clarify um because I
[16:47] know my name was brought up and there was some information passed to um the
[16:52] CEO and the rest of council that I was the president. Um I was the president of
[16:58] the friendship center um quite a while ago. Um I did resign in about April. So
[17:05] that was about 5 months ago I resigned. I'm no longer the president. Um I'd also
[17:11] like to make it known that um on numerous occasions when we have um
[17:19] requests for financial support from organizations, I have pointed out
[17:23] numerous times that we have a policy for funding requests. And um I I'm I've made
[17:30] that clear that um in other requests where as long as all the paperwork is in
[17:39] um like you know that's not that's up to administration to make sure that all
[17:43] that paperwork is in before we're with the application and after um any money
[17:50] that's been approved. And I think we need to update that policy because I
[17:55] would like to see a limit um an annual limit that um an organization can apply
[18:02] for. Also a number of times an organization can apply within a year.
[18:15] That that sort of hearkens back to a comment that I made a couple council
[18:19] meetings ago. this idea that I actually had I borrowed from the South Peace News
[18:25] that we create a class A, B, and C and that we have on in the top class some
[18:31] things like the relay races and things like that and then another class and
[18:36] another. The the only problem with that idea is at least in my view this
[18:42] particular case is an emergency request and by the very nature of emergencies
[18:49] they don't always fit nicely into the boxes. Councilman we'll go on to you.
[18:56] » Okay. Uh couple of quick questions. Uh if I'm correct this is just the first
[19:00] time we've ever had request for funding from the Native Friendship Center. We
[19:03] haven't funded them before in past. Is that correct? Except for specific events
[19:07] such as correct the Christmas dinner or elers dinner or something
[19:10] » closing the street or >> this is just to keep them going for the
[19:13] remainder of this year. >> Are we going to be looking at again in
[19:16] 2027? Are they going to be out of the backbook?
[19:20] » You got a crystal ball. >> Pardon me.
[19:22] » Do you have a crystal ball? >> No. But I want to know where how much we
[19:26] expect to ask for this because we've got lots of community organizations in the
[19:30] in the place. I'm thinking of the uh region, uh the Elks, whatever. And if
[19:36] they have a problem with one year, do they just come to the town and ask for
[19:39] money? And that's where I have a problem with this is uh are we bailing out or
[19:43] are we grabbing a grant? And so, uh I think I had most of my questions
[19:48] answered with that that regard. But that is my biggest concern. Uh I don't think
[19:53] we're in the well, are we in the business of bailing people out or giving
[19:57] grants to support them? Uh,
[20:01] councelor Martinson
[20:06] » my only concern is how much to give if we are going to give and I think 10,000
[20:11] is too much in my in my mind. So we can come up with a
[20:19] a common number amongst us all and I'll be good with that.
[20:25] Dr. Temple.
[20:29] » Same thinking as councelor Martinson. I'm not not happy with 10,000, but I
[20:35] would look at another figure to help him out, but I'm not comfortable with
[20:40] 10,000.
[20:43] » Deputy Mayor, 10,000 is too much. Um,
[20:50] I've got a problem with the letter that Ron wrote to the town, but I've got an
[20:54] even bigger problem with the letter that the Native Friendship Center wrote as a
[20:59] response. Um, both letters are absolutely loaded.
[21:04] But, um, I asked for financials when, uh, Trish gave her presentation. Were
[21:09] those ever provided?
[21:15] No. Yeah. To ask for $10,000 and then to
[21:21] provide no uh reassurance that uh they're um not
[21:28] squandering or wasting the funds that they already have. That's uh that's not
[21:33] okay. Um, we have a obligation to spend taxpayer dollars wisely and efficiently
[21:40] and um, properly and to throw taxpayer dollars at an organization that just got
[21:47] uh, removed from the provincial body with no reassurance that uh, the new
[21:54] group is uh, running the organization any better. I just I don't feel
[21:58] comfortable with it.
[22:06] While what they provided for us isn't a financial statement, they
[22:11] [clears throat] in essence have provided us with the budget or a statement of
[22:17] distribution for that 10,000. Uh the the request sites 8,000 per month
[22:26] for two staff members and 2,000 a month for utilities and things like
[22:34] that. So it is not a financial statement as we should be expecting. I admit that
[22:40] we should get a financial statement. um they obviously as a as a registered
[22:46] society have an audited statement somewhere even if it's from last year
[22:52] and we should normally have them and and this you know partly this is our
[23:00] fault too. We've been letting people come to us one by one, one by one,
[23:05] instead of having what more and more of us have been talking about an
[23:09] application date and then taking care of everything rather than, as I've termed
[23:15] it, being nickeled and dimed every second meeting. But having said that,
[23:20] yeah, we should have financial statements, but we do in essence have a
[23:24] distribution statement.
[23:28] I think that the Native Friendship Center provides an extraordinarily
[23:32] important service to the community. As a member of the society, I get their
[23:38] monthly newsletter and I can tell you that as a senior,
[23:43] although as a senior I don't take advantage of the senior services there,
[23:48] I am glad they're there because they're providing senior services that Alberta
[23:53] health services have discontinued like foot care which is extremely
[23:58] important. In fact, it's critical for seniors with diabetes for example. And
[24:03] so they are providing important services.
[24:08] They are on the cusp, which is a nice thing way of saying they're right on the
[24:13] edge of the damn cliff. And I don't know whether this 10,000 or
[24:19] whatever council decides on will in fact tide them over.
[24:26] I have broached this topic with the CEO in that
[24:31] there appear to be legal issues involved that the friendship center does not have
[24:38] the resources to unfold
[24:43] and it may very well be that our best help to them is to provide some legal
[24:47] services because we happen to have one of the most reputable law firms in
[24:52] Alberta working for us and there's clearly a number of legal impediments
[24:59] that no one seems to be able to get the cover off of despite and I happen to
[25:05] believe this genuine attempts to find out.
[25:09] So that may be a service inclined at some point. Uh personally I support the
[25:16] request
[25:20] but it is extraordinary and the only way I
[25:25] justify it in myself is that unlike a request rate from the regals or the
[25:30] relay races or anything else this is a community social service in an emergent
[25:36] condition. Anyway, let's go around the table once
[25:40] more and then we'll vote on her. Any final closing comments from councelor
[25:44] Hanland,
[25:47] councelor mind? >> No.
[25:50] » Councelor Martinsson, councelor Temple,
[25:54] » Deputy Mayor, you Google them. There's no website to be found. They have a
[25:59] Facebook page, but it's not open to the public. You have to request to join it
[26:03] and be accepted. It doesn't come across as very inclusive.
[26:09] the um
[26:14] they claim in their letter they provided everything to the town that was asked of
[26:17] them. They haven't. We requested financial statements. They haven't
[26:20] provided them.
[26:24] I'm open to your idea of providing legal
[26:29] services. >> Pardon?
[26:31] » I'm open to your idea of providing legal services.
[26:33] » I think it's going to come up in January or February. Yeah, I really do. I think
[26:37] it's the only way to make sure they survive.
[26:39] » I'm I I've danced around the topic in previous council meetings, but I'm going
[26:43] to come out and say it. They're located in a horrible spot. They attract the
[26:48] vagrants and the homeless to the downtown core, and you can't have a goal
[26:53] of supporting the Friendship Center and a goal of supporting local business at
[26:58] the same time. The those two items are counterproductive to to one another. Um
[27:02] the Friendship C Center's location um hurts our ability to support businesses
[27:09] in the downtown core because of the people that the Friendship Center
[27:12] attracts. And I don't know what the solution is there. And I'm not using
[27:16] that point as an argument against the $10,000, but I want to keep in mind our
[27:20] entire strategic plan. But it's uh I I discuss legal legal aid. That's uh
[27:29] that's that one piques my interest. The recommendation from administration.
[27:36] Was there another comment? Recommendation from administration
[27:41] leaves a blank. Whoever is making that motion fill in
[27:46] that blank
[27:53] line.
[28:08] » Be careful you're not playing a shell game here.
[28:14] comments on that, Deputy Mayor. >> Um,
[28:19] councelor Manderline made the comment that legal aid still costs money. The
[28:22] reason I'm okay with spending money on legal aid and not okay with writing them
[28:25] a check is because I know the legal aid can't be squandered. Um, and that's the
[28:30] critical difference here. Um, I was going to throw out $2,000. Um, $2,000 in
[28:35] legal aid is probably equivalent to uh, you know, a $3,000 cash check, right?
[28:41] It's got to be worth a little bit extra. >> I know.
[28:47] » No, $2,000 in legal aid. We'll offer it to them and see what they come back
[28:51] with. >> That's That's how we'll help. Or or they
[28:56] can come back with financial statements.
[29:00] » Here, you asked for one. There it is. >> Okay, let's let's cur this up. And again
[29:08] uh Shondaanda has has provided us with the information that in fact the
[29:13] friendship center did provide. Uh councelor Hanland
[29:18] um just listening to everybody's discussion um I would be quite
[29:23] comfortable um we have made donations with less documentation to um
[29:31] the CRC. They provided all their documentation. I believe um the golf
[29:36] course we gave we gave both of them 5,000. I think that was the other one.
[29:41] So I would be quite comfortable with the 5,000.
[29:44] » I can certainly support 5,000.
[29:51] We'll just give the mathematicians a couple minutes to add things up.
[30:33] Okay, let's draw a line under this. I'll make the motion
[30:39] and then we'll have something to
[30:44] I move that council approves a grant of $5,000 to cover operating expenses for
[30:50] the High Prairie Native Friendship Center. And my choice of the 5,000 is
[30:56] that considering their monthly budget, two staff members
[31:02] and utilities, I think anything less than five starts to smack a little bit
[31:08] of tokenism. The five is viable because right now they're open five days
[31:14] a week. I've already had discussions with some of them to start considering
[31:20] that they start looking at the next couple months as bridge over time and
[31:26] that they start thinking of going to three days a week. If we give them
[31:30] $5,000, that's enough for them with a little
[31:35] squeeze here and there to bridge if they go from five days down
[31:40] to 3 days. So that's my motion. Culture Meneline,
[31:47] » I could see the 5,000, but again, that would be it for 2026. I don't expect to
[31:50] see another call from them to say to support the elders Christmas dinner or
[31:54] anything else for the remainder of this year. That would be the 5,000 and that's
[31:56] it for 2026. Correct. >> I think that they would uh understand
[32:02] that
[32:13] » must be serious. Councelor Martinson is taking his glasses off.
[32:22] I don't know. You know, the sound system tonight literally fried
[32:29] my hearing aids. They zinged and zapped all over the
[32:33] place. Can I charge that to the towel?
[32:53] I think we need to draw a line under this gentleman
[32:58] should have been included in the meeting. Yes.
[33:19] Is counselor Temple prepared to explain why he's got a red emergency signal
[33:25] light? Is this a way to attract
[33:29] » I would like to explain that that was there when I got here. Oh, it's easy.
[33:34] » I might use it. [laughter]
[33:40] » Yes, it's >> Go ahead. Push it, Bryce. Go ahead.
[34:03] stopping short of a note of personal criticism.
[34:07] We really should have had this financial statement information in our meeting
[34:12] package, but I understand that this has been a uh
[34:18] progressing topic.
[34:23] Getting
[34:34] crazy my legs just sitting here.
[34:53] Does anybody know whether these are the product danda? Are do we have any way of
[34:59] knowing if these are audited statements?
[35:11] How's the South Pac News doing? You're not used to working Tuesday
[35:16] nights, are you?
[35:20] And you thought our meetings were more exciting than you than this.
[35:31] Gentlemen, we really need to draw a line under this one. We've got a motion for
[35:37] 5,000 with with to be accompanied with advice
[35:44] to go from 5 days to 3 days. And that this 5,000 plus the 10,000 from the
[35:51] county will then is equivalent to three months coverage.
[35:56] » They got 16. >> They have to be prepared to stretch
[36:01] to create a bridge.
[36:06] Okay. I'm going to ask now councilors Menline and Hamlin have already had
[36:11] their say. Councelor Martinson, your views
[36:14] on 5,000.
[36:20] I still think it's too much. >> Mr. Temple,
[36:26] » I think it's a little much, but I'm right now I'm I'd be happy with that
[36:31] number. >> Deputy Mayor,
[36:35] » I agree with Councelor Martinson. It's still too much.
[36:37] » Sorry, I didn't hear. >> It's still too much.
[36:40] Okay. The motion is
[36:45] that council approves a grant of $5,000 to cover operating expenses for the High
[36:51] Prairie Native Friendship Center with the provisal
[36:58] that they adjust their opening hours.
[37:04] All those in favor of 5,000
[37:09] opposed defeated. Next item.
[37:18] Okay. Oh, this another dozy. Page 41.
[37:25] Establishing an economic development officer. Uh this was uh put in front of
[37:30] council a month ago and um even though it was the motion was
[37:37] defeated at the time. This is a major recommendation from the Deote report. Um
[37:46] and in order to start working on the other recommendations, we need to
[37:51] establish this position um so that they can work on the key
[37:57] performance indicators and the action items.
[38:05] I think we need to separate something out then. Are we talking about the
[38:09] establishment of the position or are we talking about the
[38:15] payment the contract of employment for that position?
[38:20] We are talking about establishing the position itself and there were questions
[38:25] raised at the last council meeting which have been answered here specifically
[38:30] about the salary range um
[38:34] and the job description.
[38:40] Okay. The the motion is recommended approves establishing the economic
[38:45] development officer position. It does not
[38:50] approve employment conditions.
[38:56] That's not what that option says. In the body in the discussion uh section
[39:04] did also mention the probation probationary period uh and 3 months to 6
[39:11] months. So it it has >> my my my problem with it is that could
[39:17] very well have counelors in fact everybody unanimous on the establishment
[39:21] of the position and continued division on payment for the position
[39:28] as there was last time. I don't think there was any actual disagreement last
[39:32] time on having an economic development officer. It was rather on the payment of
[39:38] the economic development officer. I don't have a problem with this motion as
[39:42] it stands, >> but then we need a second one to pay the
[39:45] person. >> Then the salary range has been
[39:48] identified in here. >> Council,
[39:52] if we could just expand the motion to include the necessary information. What
[39:57] that would be and look like is the council approves the establishment of
[40:00] the economic development officer to be included in the 2027 operating budget
[40:06] with a salary estimate of 184 to $109,000 including benefits training and
[40:11] professional development approximately $3,000 and operating
[40:16] » uh they call that in the proposed budget.
[40:19] » Sure. >> Excellent.
[40:21] » We have the numbers there. That's the who what
[40:23] » that's the specificity we need. >> Yes. We'll leave it then on the books as
[40:27] councelor Meline made that motion as worded.
[40:30] » Yeah, it's in the >> councelor Martinson.
[40:33] » I did some number crunching. I did some number crunching and worst
[40:38] case scenario for this year if if the economic development officer was hired
[40:43] by October 1st, say some miracle that he was, but he's not going to be. Uh it
[40:51] would cost the town $17,400 to pay his salary, benefits, everything.
[40:57] So that's what we all we got to look forward to this year and then budget
[41:01] accordingly in next year's budget.
[41:05] » Council and if I just add one thing to my motion and that those costs are to be
[41:09] shared with the county uh 50/50. >> That's exactly the wording I heard
[41:15] before. >> Exactly.
[41:17] » Excellent. I just want to make sure
[41:23] » councor Temple
[41:27] » councelor Hanland so for this position I know it was
[41:31] brought up at our last meeting um I would because of the nature of the
[41:35] position I would like to see a six-month probation
[41:42] council what was the probationary period in your motion
[41:47] Sorry, I maybe didn't have a speaker on. I'm sure it said six months.
[41:51] » I heard that, too. Excellent. Deputy mayor,
[41:56] here's the numbers, guy. >> I got I got a fun one to to talk about
[42:01] because I'm still not in favor of the 50/50 split. And in the grand scheme,
[42:05] you know, it's $120,000 budget. We're talking about 10 grand. It's not a big
[42:11] deal if we are at 50/50 versus 6040. But I'm going to make the argument for a
[42:15] 60/40 anyway. And I'm going to split hairs a little bit and I'm going to
[42:18] waste everybody's time a little bit because I think it's worth talking
[42:20] about. And um you know, the county doesn't vote on
[42:24] this till tomorrow morning. So we could make the motion to approve it with a
[42:27] 60/40 split and put the ball in their court just for just for fun, right? Um
[42:34] because the last time this came up, the uh mayor gave us the impression that uh
[42:39] the economic development officer would only be working in the immediate um high
[42:43] prairie area with uh local Grand Prairie. Yeah. And at the um at the uh
[42:49] economic development meeting that I attended, it was made very clear that
[42:52] the economic development officer would be uh responsible for the entire county.
[42:57] The entire county has almost twice the population that uh that H High Prairie
[43:01] does. And uh the county tried to make the argument that uh H High Prairie has
[43:05] more businesses and more small businesses and the economic development
[43:08] officer will spend more time with our businesses than their businesses. But
[43:11] that's a that's a null argument in my mind because um everybody in the county
[43:17] benefits from High Prairie Businesses. If a economic development officer brings
[43:22] a uh new store to High Prairie, everybody in the county benefits from
[43:26] that and the county should be paying their fair share for that service. It's
[43:31] uh it's uh we see it in the wreck budget. We see it um with our roads. Um
[43:37] we see it in so many different areas where um the county undercuts us on our
[43:43] tax rate. So, a family moves to the county for cheaper taxes, but they still
[43:47] benefit from all of the services that High Prairie offers. And it's High
[43:51] Prairie residents that are stuck footing the bill, and it's not fair to High
[43:55] Prairie residents. Um, I'll let you interrupt me. I got to regain my train
[43:59] of thought here. >> Okay. And and you said you were at the
[44:02] meeting. We So, not all of us were privy to that meeting, but so when they say
[44:06] the whole the county that would include Juicard, Fost, and all those other
[44:09] places do have businesses. And what about Swan Hills?
[44:12] » All the way out to Canus. So all the way up to Swan Hills, they made
[44:15] » Swan Hills isn't part of the county, >> but they made clear it would be uh the
[44:19] economic development officer would be responsible for the energy corridor that
[44:23] would uh that's being introduced in the Swan Hills area. We say Swan Hills. Swan
[44:28] Hilltown isn't part of the county, but everything around Swan Hills, all all
[44:31] those oil and gas businesses, the energy corridor, the economic development
[44:35] officer, the county expects them to be out there working
[44:38] um at a 60/40 cost split on a per capita basis. Um
[44:46] each Big Lakes resident would contribute $11.75
[44:50] per year and each High Prairie resident would contribute $15.34
[44:55] a year. So, even at a 60/40 split on a per capita basis with a $100,000 budget,
[45:00] High Prairie residents are still pitching in four bucks a piece more. Um,
[45:05] it's just I don't I don't see it as a fair split.
[45:09] » Worship. >> Uh, on the Sir, go ahead.
[45:12] » Uh, I would accept the friendly amendment to change that from 50/50 to
[45:16] 6040. >> Well, let me make the argument first
[45:20] then because I'm I'm not in favor of it. The reason I'm in favor of 50/50 is that
[45:25] I think in this case we don't look at the per capita as much as we look at the
[45:31] basic business split. And I think you'll find that the business-wise roughly the
[45:37] same numbers in volume of business uh done in town or out of town in the
[45:43] county. There's also some disparity here. And
[45:47] David, you were at the meeting. You mentioned that he would promote the
[45:52] energy corridor. I clearly heard them say that there was no promotion here of
[45:58] oil and gas and things. >> No.
[46:01] » What was it? Councelor Roberta, I'm sure she said that it would be they'd be in
[46:06] charge of traveling out and working in the energy corridor for promotion.
[46:10] » I recall her saying Swan Hills has no businesses out there for them to
[46:15] promote. That's what I remember. But on the topic of the oil and gas
[46:22] industry, I thought councelor Mifflin who chaired the meeting said this
[46:28] economic development officer would not deal with petroleum and gas.
[46:32] » That's that's exactly right. That's what I recall.
[46:35] » That's what I recall. Yeah, >> that's not what I recall.
[46:37] » Oh, okay. I still support a 50/50 and the motion is 50/50. Let's get going on
[46:44] it.
[46:50] Uh, we've got some The longer we kick this can, the less is
[46:56] going to get done. Councelor Hannah, >> I was just going to say, um, this person
[47:00] will also be working out of a high prairie office. So, that boosts our
[47:05] 50/50 a little bit higher because we're providing office space as well.
[47:10] Well, and one of the things that that we got caught on last time was who does the
[47:16] economic development officer report to and that there were going to be two
[47:20] people. It was clarified at the meeting that the economic development officer
[47:25] reports to the town CEO, not to the county CEO, and takes direction there.
[47:31] Councelor Temple, I just have one question. Who determines
[47:36] whether they're doing a good job or not? And what do we determine? What
[47:40] determines whether they've done a good job?
[47:43] » There's a job description. We've got action items, detailed action items in
[47:48] that deote report. The key performance indicators are there. The scope of the
[47:52] job is very specific. They report to me. The performance appraisal is done by me.
[47:59] I will consult with David with the CEO of county
[48:04] and uh and even with the committee uh before an appraisal is issued. So the
[48:11] the authority is with me. >> I I need to augment that as an employee
[48:18] of the town of High Prairie. It's ultimately the town CEO and the town's
[48:24] council that determines those kinds of issues.
[48:29] Obviously, we consult closely with the county as our partner, but legally
[48:35] the buck stops at this table. Any questions or comments?
[48:44] And my wife asked me it was going to be a long or short meeting.
[48:54] All those in favor of the motion as worded by councelor
[49:00] Minderline. All those in favor >> that include or not include the
[49:04] friendly. >> It's the 50/50.
[49:07] » All those in favor of the motion say I.
[49:15] All those opposed.
[49:19] We have just killed the economic development report because now we can't
[49:25] bring this back for 6 months.
[49:31] » Oh, sorry. For a year. I don't know what you're going to do with it now.
[49:43] » That is passed. Okay,
[49:47] moving on to page 46, National Depression Day,
[49:54] TAO.
[49:57] Well, they're just requesting that we recognize uh that October 8th will be a
[50:02] National Depression Screening Day and they'll get information out
[50:08] to that effect.
[50:13] Councelor Martins, >> I make that motion.
[50:18] » The only question I have is I get emails about this all the time. I mean, is
[50:24] there a purpose to this?
[50:32] Councelor Martinson made the motion. All those in favor of National Depression
[50:36] Day. Carrie.
[50:43] Ah, this is why Ron's been so patient. Yes. Oh, no. The library board. Sorry.
[50:50] The library board. We're now on to page 48.
[50:55] » Okay. We need to >> councer.
[50:57] » Sorry. >> Mindline. Since you're on this board,
[50:59] could you might talk to this one? Sure. Basically, with the two positions,
[51:05] one position they one position is timed out. It's a three-year appointment. The
[51:10] other position the person has left the community and taken a position down in
[51:14] Edmonton, so she's no longer with us. So, we uh administration did put out
[51:19] requests for applications for the position. I believe they have four
[51:24] positions that we got or four names we put in there. And uh
[51:29] yeah, if you wish I could make my recommendations, but
[51:34] uh as a member of the board or they just want to leave this with the council,
[51:42] » does anybody have any prior knowledge of the candidates and preferences?
[51:46] Councelor Martinson. >> Um I got no problem with all four. Like
[51:51] all four people would be great on the board.
[51:53] » We only need two of them. >> I know. So my suggestion is put their
[51:56] names on a piece of paper and pull two. So
[52:01] » councelor Hanland, do you have any preferences?
[52:05] » No, I read all their information and I believe all four of them would be good.
[52:08] Um I know one of them should be a county resident and we only have one. So that
[52:14] one should be pretty straightforward and I think for the other three we do a
[52:18] vote.
[52:25] Council Mendeline make a in the case of the one she's actually already on the
[52:30] board. She's just reply reapplying to come on. It's not she wants to quit.
[52:33] » Well, who is that? >> Carrie Cox. Thank you for consideration.
[52:36] I would be pleased to continue serving the High Prairie Municipal Library and
[52:39] helped shape in this future. And she does.
[52:40] » Okay. So, we got a name to >> Yeah. Then with the other two, uh, I
[52:46] think there's only one that has actually sat on the board before, but he would
[52:49] have been sitting there as a member of council, and that is James Wel.
[52:53] So that based on that, that would be my two recommendations.
[52:56] » Which two? Sorry. >> Uh, James Wl and Carrie Cox.
[53:01] » Okay. The motion by councelor Minderline, the appointment of
[53:06] James Wel and Carrie Cox to the library board. Any further discussions?
[53:13] Well, Deputy Mayor, >> um, Nandin's application was, uh, longer
[53:19] and more thoughtful and just in the interest of putting some fresh blood and
[53:23] a fresh perspective on the board. Um, but I'm fine with, uh, with Wakeland and
[53:33] » Any other comments on the two names? All those in favor?
[53:40] Opposed? Carrie,
[53:44] now we're finally getting Oh, receivable collection policy page. Am I right here?
[53:51] Yeah, page 56. Honda.
[54:31] So I've put in front of you uh accounts receivable and collection policy. The
[54:37] existing policy was adopted in 2009 and deals mainly with writing off
[54:41] uncollectible accounts. It does not establish a complete process for
[54:46] collecting overdue accounts, offering payment arrangements, issuing final
[54:50] notices, and referring accounts to a collection agency.
[54:55] Uh the proposed policy creates a consistent collection process. Generally
[54:59] a reminder may be issued at 30 days overdue, a second notice at 60 days, and
[55:05] a final notice at approximately 90 days. Uh the policy provides flexibility to
[55:11] work with individ individuals who acknowledge the debt and are willing to
[55:15] follow a reasonable written payment arrangement. Accounts under approved
[55:20] arrangement would generally not be referred to collections as long as the
[55:23] agreed payments are being made. Uh this policy primarily applies to
[55:30] general accounts receivable. Property taxes and utility accounts will continue
[55:34] to be managed under the MGA and the town's applicable bylaws and procedures.
[55:41] uh an outstanding utility balance would only be considered under this policy
[55:44] when it cannot otherwise be recovered and referral is legally permitted. Um
[55:50] the policy also establishes delegated writeoff authority. Uh up to 500 for the
[55:56] director of corporate services more than 500 and up to 2500 may be approved by
[56:02] the CAO and anything over 2500 requires council approval.
[56:07] Uh council w council would receive an annual summary of accounts written off
[56:11] under the delegated authority. Uh and it's important to clarify that an
[56:17] accounting write off does not forgive or cancel the debt. The town may still
[56:21] pursue or accept payment in the future where legally permitted.
[56:26] So, I have put in front of you a policy that
[56:32] uh includes a write off and I'm asking that the old policy be
[56:38] rescended and this new one
[56:43] be occurred.
[56:47] So, just help us with the process here. We first need a motion to what? Withdraw
[56:53] the old one. >> We can do one motion. Huh?
[56:56] » Make a motion to adopt the policy, the new policy.
[57:00] » And then what? And so that automatically repl Are you make
[57:04] » Are you making that motion? >> I can make that motion.
[57:07] » Make that motion. >> That council adopt accounts receivable
[57:10] and collection policy as presented effective immediately that policy 45-
[57:17] 2009 accounts receivable. Right up policy be rescended. There there's the
[57:23] part I'm looking for. Council line.
[57:27] » No, that's what I was looking for. The rescended portion to be as part of the
[57:30] motions. That's fine. People writing these policies, my name
[57:36] is Daniel.
[57:45] All those in favor of the motion is made by councelor Martinson.
[57:50] » Oh, you had question. Thank you. Um, one one note that I did
[57:57] make is in on page 64, um, number 17, second paragraph says the town may
[58:05] require outstanding amounts to be paid or require advanced payment. Um, I
[58:10] believe it should it should say that any outstanding debts should be p will be
[58:17] paid and perhaps a deposit would be
[58:24] suitable in this situation.
[58:38] Deputy Mayor, >> I've just got a few formatting issues to
[58:43] point out. Um, section N, you have a list of bullet points and then you go
[58:51] and, referral is considered reasonable and cost effective. Everything below
[58:56] that should be a separate list of bullet points. we have an and there and then
[59:01] you go into a separate uh separate topic below that. It needs to
[59:06] be split up. And section 10, the very last bullet
[59:11] point there is not an item that a collection agency shall not do. So it
[59:15] should not be included as a bullet point on the list of items that the collection
[59:19] agency shall not do. Um it needs to be separate again from that list.
[59:25] And [sighs]
[59:30] I just and I I support this. I have no issues with it. But I'm going to ask the
[59:34] question um what's the point of having this policy
[59:39] if the way I read and interpret the policy is it's a general guideline, but
[59:43] you have several sections in here, section 19 specifically, that
[59:47] specifically says, "Hey, it's a general guideline, but we don't have to follow
[59:50] it if we don't want to." Um, I just I don't agree with that general
[59:57] principle, but uh um if you guys aren't going to follow
[1:00:03] the guideline, if you're going to um decide exceptional circumstances or
[1:00:09] whatever else, um I would prefer that those exceptional circumstances be
[1:00:15] defined in the policy. >> What? Let's go back to the specific
[1:00:18] bullet that you feel gives them a back door out. Section 19.
[1:00:24] » All of nine. >> 19.
[1:00:26] » Oh, sorry. >> Section 19.
[1:00:32] » The chief the CEO may authorize an exception to the administrative
[1:00:36] procedures established under this policy where warranted by exceptional
[1:00:39] circumstances, but exceptional circumstances aren't defined. So, it's
[1:00:43] at the CEO's discretion. >> I think it's important to have some
[1:00:49] discretion. I don't know what the exceptional circumstances may be in the
[1:00:53] future, but uh it just allows us a little flexibility. Uh and if it's a
[1:00:59] large amount of money, of course, we would bring that in front of council. I
[1:01:04] I would like to see a sentence added to this, Shondaanda, uh where it says the
[1:01:08] chief administrative officer may authorize an exception, etc., etc., and
[1:01:12] sell shall report such to the council.
[1:01:22] I like that.
[1:01:26] Any further questions or comments? I can't even remember who made the
[1:01:31] motion.
[1:01:36] The motion as amended with that sentence. All those in favor carried.
[1:01:45] Oh, now we finally get to the museum policies
[1:01:51] and we're finally on to page 68.
[1:01:59] The the briefer you make this, the happier we'll be.
[1:02:08] » Five minutes. I'll try to beat that time this time.
[1:02:11] » Go ahead. >> Yeah. Okay. Um, so I just before we get
[1:02:14] started into this, I just want to provide just a very quick update on the
[1:02:18] museum in terms of August. We had 387 visitors, bringing our total visitation
[1:02:23] between June 15th and the end of August to 1,022 visitors. Um, our information
[1:02:30] on our um, Facebook page has gotten 82,881
[1:02:35] views and 7,476 engagement, which for a small museum at
[1:02:41] this stage of our growth is pretty astounding. We have a full slate of
[1:02:46] programs on Saturdays and Thursdays throughout September, October, and
[1:02:51] November. We have three facility rentals. We have an education committee
[1:02:55] that's being developed. And the survival kit program has been successfully
[1:02:58] transferred over from Misti at uh the realy company to the museum and we're
[1:03:04] looking at ways to expand that
[1:03:08] for this set of policies. I want to appreciate uh how much reading that you
[1:03:12] guys have had to do. We're almost halfway through after this evening. I
[1:03:17] appreciate this. It's a lot of reading, I know, but these are standard policies
[1:03:22] that museums follow. I'm not trying to boost your your reading levels at the
[1:03:26] council meetings. So, I'm I appreciate everybody's patience on this.
[1:03:31] So, just very quickly, what's in our archives? We have over 750 photographs,
[1:03:36] 223 maps, and 74 linear feet of archival records, which for a small museum is
[1:03:41] quite significant. There are a number of components in the
[1:03:46] collections policy for the archives that I'm just going to very quickly kind of
[1:03:50] go over. the collection mandate. Um you'll see there the acquisition
[1:03:55] appraisal and appraisal. How do we take items into the collection, the
[1:04:00] provenence and documentation? What is the you know the backstory of what we're
[1:04:05] collecting? The preservation and digital stewardship. So how are we looking at
[1:04:10] preserving this both the paper version and also the digital version. The access
[1:04:15] and privacy and copyright. So when people donate their materials, let's say
[1:04:19] diaries or letters, how are we actually maintaining access and control over the
[1:04:25] personal information, sometimes people don't want all of that out in the public
[1:04:29] realm and uh uh and so we have policies in this set of policies around that.
[1:04:37] Equally as important or sometimes more important is around indigenous record,
[1:04:41] knowledge and cultural protocols. how culturally sensitive records and
[1:04:45] community knowledge are respectfully managed and accessed and also municipal
[1:04:50] records. This policy clarifies that the museum is not the town's official
[1:04:54] municipal archives for its record management program unless at a council
[1:05:00] formally establishes that link at a later date.
[1:05:06] The next policy is our research policy. It outlines our research priorities,
[1:05:11] standards and documentation, internal research. So, how are we as
[1:05:15] museum staff uh managing um research projects? How external researchers are
[1:05:22] accessing this? How indigenous cultural heritage
[1:05:26] research must respect community authority, cultural protocols, and
[1:05:30] appropriate relationships. how oral histories are maintained, accessed and
[1:05:35] distributed as well as use and responsibilities.
[1:05:39] So research used publicly must be accurate, appropriately acknowledged and
[1:05:43] compliant with privacy, copyright and access requirements.
[1:05:48] The last policy is around access. So it's around things around uh collections
[1:05:54] are made accessible through exhibition, program tours, education and approved
[1:05:58] activities. uh we talk in the policy about
[1:06:01] references and research services. So how are we making this material accessible
[1:06:07] supervised access meaning that people come into the museum like you came in
[1:06:11] the other day uh mayor looking for a book um people that were coming in to
[1:06:16] access our archives would be have access opportunity to access that through
[1:06:21] supervised access indigenous rights holders access. So when somebody from
[1:06:26] one of the nation comes in a request involving indigenous belonging knowledge
[1:06:30] and cultural materials receive priority and follow community authority and
[1:06:35] protocols. This is probably the one area that we're having a lot of learning
[1:06:39] around and uh and that's going to take um some time of salt in it. Okay.
[1:06:47] » In terms of access restrictions, what what are we not going to provide access
[1:06:51] to? How are we going to make uh photography and reproduction permission
[1:06:56] um available? So, how are somebody comes in want to uh somebody the other day on
[1:07:01] Facebook wanted a photograph that we had in our archives. What's the process and
[1:07:05] policy around that and what fees do we charge for that? And there's also the
[1:07:11] like I said the digital access and fees. So, digital access and specialized
[1:07:15] services may be provided subject to available resources conditions and the
[1:07:19] town's fee schedule. Really, these sets of policies along
[1:07:24] with the policies you approved at the last meeting really are at the heart of
[1:07:29] what the work that we do at the museum. Research gives our exhibitions,
[1:07:33] programs, and public information credibility, qualities that matter in an
[1:07:37] age of information overload and misinformation.
[1:07:41] 80% of Canadians identified museums as highly credible sources of information,
[1:07:46] ranking them above daily newspapers, television, and dare say even government
[1:07:51] institutions. >> So how do these work together?
[1:07:57] The policies under the collection policy which you passed at the last meeting
[1:08:01] governs how objects and artworks are acquired, cared for, loaned and when
[1:08:05] necessarily de accessioned. The archive policy to do govern documentary heritage
[1:08:12] including archival principles for acquisition, arrangement, description,
[1:08:15] preservation and access. Research and collections access is how do them people
[1:08:21] access those collections and together the policies govern collections
[1:08:26] themselves and the last policies in in section MUS04 governance of the
[1:08:33] knowledge is create that's created from them is shared with the public.
[1:08:38] At the High Prairie District Museum, often artifacts and archival records
[1:08:42] arrive together as part of the same donation. This connection allows us to
[1:08:47] develop a richer understanding of both the objects and the people who made and
[1:08:51] are used them. An advantage that's not always available to larger institutions.
[1:08:56] And that is my presentation. >> Thank you. Now, are there any general
[1:09:03] questions or comments about this council?
[1:09:06] » Yeah. And this will be very quick. I'm not going to insult you. I understand
[1:09:10] your knowledge and the experience in the field in that and having written
[1:09:13] policies and bylaws myself and passed is my history. Uh I just asked the question
[1:09:19] basically. So you've got a source of where you can get these policies to from
[1:09:23] as a source or to beg, borrow, steal from somebody else because plagiarism is
[1:09:27] allowed. And so if that's all been done, I just need to know that. So I don't
[1:09:32] expect to go the line by line or whatever. If I could just take your word
[1:09:35] that you've done the proper due diligence, taken it from knowledgeable
[1:09:38] sources or reputable sources >> and we've had some reviewed as well. The
[1:09:41] Alberta Museums Association has been very good about reviewing our policies
[1:09:45] to make sure they're adherent to Alberta.
[1:09:47] » So they go as well. >> Yeah.
[1:09:48] » Oh, okay. Great. >> So they've been they they've already
[1:09:51] been through it. We >> Oh, they have gone through.
[1:09:53] » Yeah. >> Okay. That's that's good for me then.
[1:09:55] Thank you. >> Dr. Hannah,
[1:09:59] Dr. Martinson, Councelor Temple,
[1:10:02] » Deputy Mayor. No, thank you. >> Okay. I don't like approving policies.
[1:10:07] It's sort of omnibus. So, we'll go through three motions to approve the
[1:10:11] three policies. Entertain a motion to approve the archives collection
[1:10:17] management policy starting on page 71. Councelor Hanlin.
[1:10:22] All those in favor? Carrie. Motion to approve the research policy starting on
[1:10:29] page 90. Councelor Martinsson. All those in favor? Carried. And
[1:10:35] finally, [clears throat] the policy on access starting on page
[1:10:40] 104. All those in favor. >> Carried.
[1:10:44] » Who made the motion? >> What?
[1:10:46] » Who made that motion? >> Right there.
[1:10:48] » Okay. >> I'm sure I saw him do it. [laughter]
[1:10:57] » Now we're on to page 122. Skate park.
[1:11:08] Holy
[1:11:22] » 122. Wasn't that the initiative of a counselor?
[1:11:25] » Yeah. >> Go ahead, councelor.
[1:11:29] » Okay. So, um, for the safety of our children and to accommodate visitors to
[1:11:33] the town park, I'm proposing that we add additional parking to the west side of
[1:11:38] Highway 749 and the south side of high, I'm sorry, of 55th Avenue by the skate
[1:11:44] park. Currently, we have two spots on the east side of Highway 749 and two on
[1:11:51] the north side of 55th Avenue, but I'm not sure if one just one of those spots
[1:11:58] or both of them are um restricted permit holder parking. That wasn't clear when I
[1:12:04] drove by there to look. So, um because they're we're anticipating that
[1:12:11] they're going to be redoing Highway 749 next year, um this would be the perfect
[1:12:17] opportunity to address it with the province to see if they could put the
[1:12:21] parking on on the west side of 749 if we can only
[1:12:28] have it on one side of the street. Um if because if we're unable to add
[1:12:36] parking to both sides of the street, it would be more feasible and logical to
[1:12:42] have it on the side of the streets and the highway by the park.
[1:12:49] » I take it we're talking about the Q Park here and I walked by it and I looked at
[1:12:54] the yellow curbs and you're right. I don't know why parking. I don't know
[1:12:59] what the rationale was. I can see why there's a rationale in front of the fire
[1:13:03] station. Not sure what the rationale was, but I'm not aware of this. The
[1:13:07] problem is redoing this one. Councelor Martinsson,
[1:13:11] it is a truck route. Big trucks coming from the north can go straight through
[1:13:16] to Railway Avenue if they happen to miss the turnoff
[1:13:21] out by uh Stampede rounds. Anyways, if you park
[1:13:27] two vehicles along there, you're gonna have a hard time getting
[1:13:30] » one truck >> one truck by, let alone two. So, that's
[1:13:34] one of the reasons that the line was painted on the one side. And we got
[1:13:38] ample parking right out here by the fire hall around the corner
[1:13:44] along the backside for anybody. And there's gates at both ends right here.
[1:13:49] So to me to me the parking on on 48th or whatever it is here that's
[1:13:57] that was uh on 749 that was that's dangerous there. I've seen lots of
[1:14:02] people park there in front of that old church but it's not a good place to
[1:14:06] park. If anything, we should maybe put up a signage and says whatever using in
[1:14:12] a skateboard park or I don't know, maybe maybe even block the that entrance on
[1:14:20] the corner that'll force them to come this way. I don't know.
[1:14:25] Counc
[1:14:33] no parking. So in front of the old church,
[1:14:38] » it's loud parking. >> Yeah.
[1:14:41] » So if we move the yellow line from one side to the other, will that in any way
[1:14:47] help?
[1:14:52] » Going to make it just as dangerous for any kids that are getting out of here.
[1:14:55] » And I guess just to clarify, I live right on that road itself,
[1:15:00] but the yellow no parking is only for this block.
[1:15:05] every all kinds of people parked in front of my place.
[1:15:09] Is there No, I'm I'm just asking to the best of your knowledge, what was the
[1:15:14] rationale? >> But then there's nobody parks there's no
[1:15:17] houses immediately across from you. So if you park on one side of the street,
[1:15:21] that's okay. You can still get two vehicles by, right? But if you park a
[1:15:26] vehicle on both sides. >> Okay. No, I accept.
[1:15:28] » No, there's no you got the one way in front of your place, right?
[1:15:32] » Yeah. Okay. No, I accept that argument, deputy mayor.
[1:15:37] » The curb across from your house is painted. You can't park on the other
[1:15:40] side of the street. >> No, I accept the argument.
[1:15:43] Would it help that if we just flip the no parking
[1:15:47] because I mean, nobody can park in front of Hart River anyway.
[1:15:51] We're we're going to get the heavyweight opinion here right away. But first,
[1:15:55] we'll >> then you're taking away from Hart River
[1:15:57] housing. I I would leave it I would leave it the way it is. And if you if
[1:16:01] anything, you got to put a signage up for saying if you're using the park park
[1:16:06] in the parking lot out here. >> Okay, let's get the opinion of the
[1:16:10] superintendent of the above ground. >> Go ahead.
[1:16:14] » And below right now, >> honestly, around that park has always
[1:16:20] been left open for sightelines. It's all about the kids and it's not about
[1:16:25] parking vehicles along that west side. What happens or what could happen is a
[1:16:30] kid could be coming out that gate, young kid gets away from mom or dad, all
[1:16:36] of a sudden if there's no vehicle there, somebody coming up and down the road can
[1:16:39] see what happens if he shoots out between two cars. That's one of the
[1:16:44] reasons. The other reason, as Brian, Councelor Marson just said, it's a truck
[1:16:48] route, but it's also a dangerous goods truck route. And um
[1:16:55] you can't it's some loads that go through town now are wide enough and if
[1:17:00] we start clogging that up. Another thing too you got to think about it's right
[1:17:03] next to a fireh hall. >> Pardon?
[1:17:05] » It's right next to the fire hall. >> Yeah.
[1:17:08] » So all that traffic will be uh lining up before the fire hall. Um the ideal that
[1:17:14] councelor Martin had Martinson had about parking. We have a huge parking lot
[1:17:18] right here and it's a one minute walk to get to the park. So
[1:17:24] I think it's a safety issue to put vehicles along there. Um sorry councelor
[1:17:31] Hanland, but that's the way I feel. Um and it's always been open there. It's
[1:17:37] never been no parking along there. Not in my time. Councelor Handling, your
[1:17:42] your motion would have been that council directs administration to consult with
[1:17:46] the roads manager, etc. We've just done that.
[1:17:52] Do you actually do you want to proceed with a motion now or just leave it?
[1:18:02] Cuz I don't think it's going to win. >> No, I don't think it will. But um thank
[1:18:07] you for the clarification. Um I I was approached by a few parents and
[1:18:12] grandparents and it made more sense to have park um the
[1:18:17] parking on the west side of 749 rather than the east side.
[1:18:24] Council Mendo lineth,
[1:18:33] » sorry. Uh the south side of 55th A that there is restricted because of the we
[1:18:38] have hockey games or whatever else. If you get parking on both sides all the
[1:18:41] way down the street, you're never going to get another truck through there or
[1:18:43] the half ton or something like that. So that's why they made that side. Plus you
[1:18:46] got the ice removal from the roof of the arena if I remember correctly.
[1:18:51] It's also hard and sanctuary. >> Another thing that the lines were
[1:18:56] painted is we had complaints from the farmers like that farm on both sides of
[1:19:02] high prairie and they couldn't get their big machines through here cuz they are
[1:19:06] getting bigger and the restrictions like if people were
[1:19:10] parked that's why I know at one time we did park and paint the lines on one
[1:19:15] side. So, okay. Councelor Hannon, are you going to proceed with your motion?
[1:19:22] Okay. Thank you. Um,
[1:19:27] although I had a note on here, of course, as usual, not related to the
[1:19:32] topic, but we had a request for a dog park. What's ever happened to that?
[1:19:39] Just a question. It's a legitimate question. Most communities have parks
[1:19:46] for leash, dogs, and unleashed. This is a dog park for the unleashed. Deputy
[1:19:51] mayor, >> it came to the rec committee. The rec
[1:19:53] committee approved it. I believe Cam's getting more information for the 2027
[1:19:57] capital budget. >> Do we know where it's going?
[1:20:00] » The rec community w committee is in favor of it. It'll come to the capital
[1:20:04] capital budget plan. >> Station is still open. Oh, it'll go in
[1:20:08] JC Park or I I suggest at the George Key Memorial Park, but I don't think that's
[1:20:14] going to go >> right now that I'll vote against that.
[1:20:17] And the reason for it is you're putting a park for the leashed and the park for
[1:20:22] the unleashed. And you're going to have a lot of confusion both of owners and
[1:20:27] dogs. >> Yeah. But I think it's a bad move.
[1:20:29] » It'll it'd go in JC Park. It would have a fence around it for unleashed dogs.
[1:20:33] » We must have vacant land somewhere we can throw a fence around. JC Park.
[1:20:38] » I think it's not I don't think it's wise. But moving on,
[1:20:47] » where are we? Okay. Alberta Mun's attendance.
[1:20:51] The fall convention of the Alberta municipalities
[1:20:56] is September 22nd to 24th in Edmonton. This is the one with the big trade show.
[1:21:03] I frankly think that all counselors would benefit from going.
[1:21:11] Uh I would in fact support all counselors
[1:21:16] despite the cost of going, but I realize that not all are either able to or
[1:21:21] willing to. So let's have some discussion. And council me
[1:21:25] » just to correct you your worship. Sorry, but the the convention is office from
[1:21:29] the 23rd to the 25th. The 22nd would be required as the travel day before.
[1:21:34] » Oh, sorry. You're right. It's the 20 the 22nd is actually the elected officer
[1:21:40] courses. Sorry, you're you're quite right.
[1:21:43] » Yeah. >> Make sure we're all on the same page.
[1:21:48] » It's also my granddaughter's birthday. Council,
[1:21:53] » having said that, uh, yeah, I agree also it's it's a team building thing also for
[1:21:57] the councilors all to get together. You can see and there's going to be
[1:22:00] resolutions passed at this one. There's a trade show. It's probably a good one
[1:22:04] to go to. I've gone uh both staff and now on council, but uh having attended
[1:22:09] the one with all of council as a staff member with the previous council down in
[1:22:14] Red Deer, uh it was a good chance for most of the counselors to get together
[1:22:17] and actually get along. It was good to see and uh you get to see meet people
[1:22:22] not necessarily from your area but even further out Fox Creek which is good to
[1:22:26] talk to Valley View because we probably most of us don't see half of those
[1:22:28] people that often uh even P or uh Flair Nally etc. So yeah I agree with you.
[1:22:37] Okay, any other comments? Basically, we're asking which counselors will want
[1:22:42] to come to all or part of the fall convention of Alberta Munis. I am going
[1:22:49] I think the CEO is going, Herman's going, deputy mayor is going for at
[1:22:54] least two days. Did you say think? >> Uh, I'm going to be in Edmonton anyway.
[1:22:58] I stay with family. I don't need a hotel. It'll be cheap.
[1:23:02] » Okay. >> So, I I just need to register.
[1:23:04] » No. Councelor Temple, no. Councelor Ham, no. Councelor Perski. No.
[1:23:10] Okay. The motion then is to support the attendance for councilors Menerline and
[1:23:18] the deputy mayor and the mayor. >> Is that cover it?
[1:23:23] » The CEO just to make sure you cover somebody.
[1:23:28] » Okay. CEO added to the list. I stay with my children. So no hotels
[1:23:35] for me. Now, one of the things important, we have two meetings with
[1:23:40] ministers set up. Is that correct? >> That's correct.
[1:23:46] » And the MLA is coming with us. Knows about
[1:23:51] them. >> That's the way the county is doing
[1:23:55] things. They're lining up the MLA even if he doesn't come that he knows about
[1:24:00] them. >> Okay. I'll inform them.
[1:24:04] All those in favor of those four individuals going to the Alberta MUN's
[1:24:09] fall convention in Edmonton. All those in favor
[1:24:14] carried >> and we're moving on.
[1:24:18] » Who made the motion? Your worship. One other thing there
[1:24:24] your worship with that there. 22nd being his travel date and to get a council
[1:24:28] meeting on the evening of the 22nd with the CEO out of here and ourselves. Is it
[1:24:34] a idea to possibly move that meeting on the 22nd to the 29th? Good point. As a
[1:24:40] result of the fall convention,
[1:24:44] we will move the regular council meeting to the 29th
[1:24:49] as moved by councelor Minderline. Any concerns about that?
[1:24:54] Better look see if I'm allowed to. [laughter]
[1:25:09] That's the day before truth and reconciliation day. All those in favor
[1:25:14] of moving by one week to the 29th carried.
[1:25:21] All right. Can I ask another question on this topic? Um, you said that there were
[1:25:26] two minister meetings. Um, which ministers are you guys meeting with and
[1:25:31] do we have topics to discuss with them? >> J,
[1:25:37] I'm trying to remember now. Um, I'll get that information for you
[1:25:42] tomorrow. We do have topics that were sent to them.
[1:25:47] » Send that topic. >> Yeah, I I'll send it to all of you.
[1:25:54] We're now on to page uh item 8.7 on page 123. Deputy mayor,
[1:26:01] » you can't say I talked too much because my last notice of motion was three
[1:26:04] sentences. That's a record for me. [laughter]
[1:26:10] » Um the Canadian that covers that, but fine. The Canadian Housing Catalog is a
[1:26:16] collection of predefined, pre-engineered, pre-stamped house plans.
[1:26:22] Um, there's a number of uh communities in BC and Ontario that I'm aware of that
[1:26:27] are uh taking advantage of this. The advantage here is, and we've seen it in
[1:26:32] town with a uh with a recent uh project we uh approved and reszoneed
[1:26:38] behind uh behind the liquor store beside the Meta
[1:26:42] Center, that Apex there, right? We approve that project. They uh go to uh
[1:26:47] pull a building permit and the uh building inspector says, "Hey, you need
[1:26:50] an engineering stamp." And then they go to the engineer and the engineer quotes
[1:26:53] them $40,000 or or whatever it was. If they had pulled a uh blueprint plan out
[1:26:59] of the Canadian housing catalog, it's already pre-stamped. It saves them that
[1:27:03] engineering cost. They could pull an aplex floor plan blueprint out of the
[1:27:07] Canadian housing plan catalog and uh start construction tomorrow. Um I don't
[1:27:13] I'm not sure what other communities are doing to uh to support this program. My
[1:27:17] understanding is they have it written into their development bylaw um to
[1:27:21] fasttrack um houses that are already pre-approved. Um my motion is just to uh
[1:27:27] that council instruct administration to investigate
[1:27:31] » and report back. >> Okay. The the third paragraph I'd like
[1:27:36] to see a report to council researching and outlining is converted into a
[1:27:41] motion. Questions or comments on this?
[1:27:50] All those in favor of the deputy All those in favor carried.
[1:27:56] Boy, you've been a busy little boy, haven't you?
[1:28:00] Item 8.8,
[1:28:03] » I got to apologize for the spelling errors in this one because I uh well, I
[1:28:09] rushed on Thursday to get it into the meeting agenda for this meeting. Um, but
[1:28:13] I I feel we've been shortch changed with uh what has happened with the yak and uh
[1:28:18] the new information that has materialized for us over the last month
[1:28:22] um really puts things into perspective. Um but again I in my proposal I'm kind
[1:28:27] of counting on council um to uh give some direction on where she we should go
[1:28:34] with this. This is uh a lot of fresh information that we've we've dug up and
[1:28:38] I uh I don't want to sit on it. we uh we need to do something and I don't know
[1:28:42] what that something is but
[1:28:48] if I could take advantage of this and and perhaps speak first
[1:28:55] through the good graces of the county. The county arranged for us to see the
[1:29:02] youth assessment center and that was done through their uh request to the
[1:29:10] Minister of Addictions and Mental Health. Just to back up a bit, the CEO
[1:29:16] and I have met with Minister of Municipal Affairs uh Dan Williams and he
[1:29:21] gave us advice and advice was to meet with the Minister of Children and Social
[1:29:28] Services, Serial Torton. We met with him. We again asked about
[1:29:35] this study that was apparently done to justify the movement of our youth
[1:29:42] assessment center beds to Grand Prairie. Two facts came out of that even though
[1:29:48] he was not prepared to share the study with us. One is that the study described
[1:29:53] the building as being significantly fire damaged.
[1:29:59] Made that statement. He also made the statement that one of another reason why
[1:30:05] the beds were moved to Grand Prairie was the the inability to hire or to recruit
[1:30:14] qualified social workers in High Prairie as opposed to Grand Prairie.
[1:30:20] I pointed out at that meeting that the Northern Lakes College was in fact
[1:30:26] graduating qualified bachelors of social work from the in partnership with the
[1:30:32] University of Calgary just a few kilometers away from the building.
[1:30:39] Uh that kind of ended that discussion.
[1:30:48] given my previous history of employment, you can see that I'm really reluctant to
[1:30:54] say this, but I'll say it in public. I think that the youth assessment center
[1:31:00] has been misrepresented to us because I'll add to that the fact that I
[1:31:08] David and I went into the building. The pod has four bedrooms and a small
[1:31:16] common area. There's glass windows there to be able to look in. So to maintain
[1:31:22] supervision, if you look in the pod, all that's
[1:31:28] happened, and by the admission of the building technician who took us there,
[1:31:33] all you need to do is clean it and fix it. All that happened was a scorching.
[1:31:39] the wall need to be replaced, the drywall, the ceiling panels, and the
[1:31:45] floor needs to be repainted. He said there was no damage to the roof.
[1:31:51] The envelope of the building still has the integrity.
[1:31:55] There has been some comments made about how wavy the concrete slab was, but I
[1:32:01] was in there 15 minutes before the tour and went around and opened and closed
[1:32:05] doors and all the doors open and closed properly. and they're the first ones
[1:32:09] that would jam on you if there was a concrete problem. So, I think the
[1:32:14] condition of the building was misrepresented to us. I think it was
[1:32:19] also misrepresented to cabinet
[1:32:25] and I think that premier almost alluded to that
[1:32:31] in our meeting with premier on a totally separate issue in the hospital
[1:32:37] and uh that was in response to the deputy mayor's qu question of her about
[1:32:44] the youth assessment center and also based on his previous conversations with
[1:32:49] the MLA from Grand Prairie who made the announcement that the building had been
[1:32:55] significantly damaged by fire and that that's why the beds were being
[1:33:01] moved. Is there anything you want to add to that, Deputy Mayor?
[1:33:04] » No, that sums it up. >> Just to point out, the MLA from Grand
[1:33:10] Prairie, Ron Weeb, told the deputy mayor he knew nothing about it.
[1:33:15] yet he's the one that made the announcement in Grand Prairie.
[1:33:19] I I honestly believe that we have been misrepresented to us and I also now
[1:33:26] believe that cabinet has not received an accurate
[1:33:31] presentation of the facts. And so I agree with the deputy mayor
[1:33:38] that we should be writing a letter to the last person that we spoke to at
[1:33:42] length about this problem being the premier herself.
[1:33:49] And I'll write such a letter and of course
[1:33:53] it'll be reviewed by the CEO and the deputy mayor
[1:33:58] if you think that that's what we should do. Remember now we're we're uh we're
[1:34:03] raising this topic to the highest level and we're also saying that cabinet was
[1:34:10] misinformed or inaccurately
[1:34:15] informed. They don't get much more serious.
[1:34:22] Any questions or comments? Starting with councelor Temple who always likes to say
[1:34:27] something.
[1:34:31] I think our MLA should have that letter too.
[1:34:35] So he has something to bring up and say you guys have misrepresented this in my
[1:34:40] area. It is time to fix it. Well, the irony of this was that he was in the
[1:34:46] penalty box at the time and the MLA representing us was the MLA from Grand
[1:34:51] Prairie >> who made the announcement.
[1:34:54] » But he's out of the penalty box now so he can
[1:34:57] » Okay. Any other questions or comments? Better
[1:35:01] say it cuz you don't you're not opening this Hornets's nest without some
[1:35:06] thought. I would uh CC the other ministers too and MLAs.
[1:35:13] » I would certainly CC Minister Williams.
[1:35:19] » You would also like to CC ministers Turan and Wilson.
[1:35:24] » Wilson. Yeah. >> Well, Wilson is the one that did us the
[1:35:29] good turn. Turn is the one who wanted to cut off
[1:35:34] the discussion.
[1:35:39] I tell you what my objective in this. We lost a number of jobs that I call
[1:35:45] mortgage jobs. That is they were being paid adequate to have a good mortgage
[1:35:52] and have a good home. And I don't know how many positions I've
[1:35:57] heard numbers from 12 to 20. I'm not I don't think the town should be
[1:36:03] taking over that building. I don't think a charitable group should be taking it
[1:36:08] over. I think the government should return a program to the building and
[1:36:13] return good mortgage jobs.
[1:36:24] Okay, remember now you're all sticking your
[1:36:27] head up above the foxhole.
[1:36:32] Then we should have the newspaper here filming that saying this is what the
[1:36:36] government calls significant damage.
[1:36:41] » Yeah, that'd be a good one. Eh,
[1:36:47] » any further questions or comments are, you know, if you got a hesitation, voice
[1:36:51] it now because basically the deputy mayor has made a motion to the effect of
[1:36:58] writing such a letter. Is that correct? >> Oh, yeah.
[1:37:02] Any further questions or comments?
[1:37:08] You know, at my age, I'm easily sacrificed.
[1:37:14] My hide isn't worth anything anymore. There's no more, you know, best before
[1:37:19] date. It's all behind me. Deputy Mayor, I'm used to getting myself
[1:37:25] in trouble, but I'm I'm going to get all of us in trouble with this one.
[1:37:28] Um I I just and I don't and I don't know the answer, but how do we get our hands
[1:37:32] on the cabinet document? It's supposed to be public information redacted. Of
[1:37:35] course, it isn't. >> It can they can redact it, but they're
[1:37:38] supposed to release the facts, right? So, how do we how do we get our hands on
[1:37:42] that? Well, we could go through the access for information because
[1:37:48] » technically a report that reports facts or makes
[1:37:53] statements that are purported to be facts
[1:37:57] should be able to point. But
[1:38:00] » can can we add that? >> But I can tell you right now the
[1:38:03] secretary to cabinet would fight that one until the on to the 79th generation.
[1:38:09] » Bring it on. You're not going to beat him.
[1:38:14] » No. No. >> It's the president.
[1:38:16] » You're not You're not going to get that thing released unless unless somebody in
[1:38:21] premier's office says so.
[1:38:25] » But otherwise, Secretary of the Cabinet will fight it. Councelor Mind.
[1:38:29] » Uh I sort of mentioned this before in discussions with some but I think maybe
[1:38:33] the way to get the document would maybe be at the AB munis during the bare pit
[1:38:38] session and asked the minute directly that since this affected our facility we
[1:38:42] would like to get a copy of the report. Would that be possible? Not putting out
[1:38:46] what's going to happen with it but >> I asked Daniel Smith that she brushed me
[1:38:50] off. That's why at the bare pit session it works a lot better because you've got
[1:38:54] all the ministers up there plus the premier and usually it says get in touch
[1:38:58] with so and so in the back of the room and they'll arrange for it.
[1:39:01] » That's so that's maybe that might be bad idea just try the back door.
[1:39:04] » Yeah. >> Uh I support this if you do it Herman
[1:39:11] and I'm well away from it [laughter] and I don't think that David wants to be
[1:39:17] in the building either. So, both David and I are going shopping.
[1:39:21] I'll I'll stand next to you, Herman. I think it's a bad idea. Let's stick to
[1:39:27] the letter. >> Huh?
[1:39:34] » No.
[1:39:39] The premier, interestingly enough, closed the discussion with the deputy
[1:39:43] mayor by something about saying, "Yeah, it it may have been a bureaucratic
[1:39:50] exaggeration for a minister to get something or what
[1:39:54] was the wording again?" >> She said, uh, she used the she used the
[1:39:59] direct quote bure bureaucratic exaggeration and she said that sometimes
[1:40:03] those reports can say whatever ministers want them to.
[1:40:07] Yeah. Okay. All those in favor of writing the four discussed letter. All
[1:40:14] those in favor carried. Moving on.
[1:40:21] Oh, page 126. Before we even get into this one,
[1:40:30] we have an emergency management committee.
[1:40:35] I'm on it. The deputy mayor is on it and two other counselors and the CEO. I need
[1:40:41] to point out to you what kind of committee it is. It's in fact an
[1:40:45] executive committee that can act during emergency without calling a town council
[1:40:52] meeting. That's why it has already a majority of counselors on it. four out
[1:40:58] of seven because sometimes you can't call a town
[1:41:04] council meeting an in emergency. That's why we have it's the only town committee
[1:41:10] where you have a majority already on it. Okay.
[1:41:15] But that committee hasn't met for a year. It's my own recommendation that we
[1:41:20] first have that committee meet and go through this. It'd be a really good
[1:41:26] opportunity for the committee to familiarize themselves with the policy
[1:41:31] before it's discussed and as a good followup to the training session we had
[1:41:37] on emergency management. Uh when was that? Early this spring, wasn't it?
[1:41:43] » Yeah. So, my own recommendation is that we just
[1:41:48] set this one aside until we have a committee meeting. Okay. Any
[1:41:56] disagreement with the mayor's decision to set it aside? Hearing? None. Let's
[1:42:01] move on. It's amazing what I can get done so late
[1:42:05] in the day. Eh. Oh,
[1:42:12] » that's why the superintendent of the above ground is here for the
[1:42:16] underground. Go ahead, Mike.
[1:42:21] We're now on page 188.
[1:42:26] » So, this is all about uh the two river pumps that we had have both failed.
[1:42:32] Uh what's in the RFD is exactly what it is. They're we know they're 34 years
[1:42:38] old. We don't know if they're 40, but we're guessing they're around there.
[1:42:42] » [sighs] >> Uh what what has happened over the
[1:42:45] previous years is two pumps were being alternated each
[1:42:50] year uh in the river and we would be
[1:42:56] taking the power cable off of one pump and adding it to the next pump and then
[1:43:00] back and forth and back and forth every year. Well, that has caught up to the
[1:43:04] pumps because now the seals are bad and we had water infiltration into the
[1:43:12] electrical. The first one blew
[1:43:16] and then we hooked up the second one and with the same power cable and the second
[1:43:21] one blew. >> When did they?
[1:43:25] » Two months ago. Not even two months ago. So, we have been pumping with a lowflow
[1:43:32] pump that was purchased about 3 four years ago uh when the river was real
[1:43:36] low. Uh the manager at the time decided that we had have a low flow one and we
[1:43:42] finally got a chance to put it in and it works. It maintains
[1:43:46] but we would never get the reservoir filled right now with the low flow. So,
[1:43:52] then we decided to rent some diesel pumps. We have two 6-in diesel pumps
[1:43:58] running in uh continuation tied to one another. And
[1:44:03] that is a cost of well, it cost about $7,400 a month for
[1:44:08] the rental on the two pumps. Uh and it's going to be about $600 a day for fuel.
[1:44:14] Now, that's the only way we're going to get the reservoir full this year is with
[1:44:17] that system. The these pumps that we're asking to buy, there's a 19week waiting
[1:44:22] period before we get them. So that's why we're in here now asking for these pumps
[1:44:27] because every day counts to make sure we have them in the new year so we can get
[1:44:31] them all ready to go.
[1:44:36] » This is a silly question, but are these pumps made in Canada?
[1:44:40] » No, they're made in Sweden. >> Sweden. So okay, I'm just worried south
[1:44:44] of the border. There's no 50%. Okay, thanks.
[1:45:09] I was going to get to the same point that councelor Minderline did, but um
[1:45:15] and I I don't know how you say the name, the X company.
[1:45:18] » Exile. >> Exile. Um they're headquartered out of
[1:45:22] Washington, USA. Um Camco Chamco Chamco
[1:45:28] » is headquartered out of Calgary, Alberta. Um, is that going to affect
[1:45:32] parts down the road? >> Zyllem Zyllem is the name of the
[1:45:36] company. The name of the pump is flight. Okay.
[1:45:39] » And we have a lot of flight stuff throughout our town. Our lift stations
[1:45:42] are all running flight pumps. And uh the reason why we're doing this, Councelor
[1:45:47] Shunter, is because or the reason why we're asking for the to go back to
[1:45:51] Zyllem. We have a cage system for these pumps. There will be no alterations. The
[1:45:56] new new pumps will just fit right in there. Okay. And that saves us money
[1:45:59] there. >> Okay.
[1:46:00] » And the new pumps will have their own dedicated power cables. No more of this
[1:46:04] swapping out. They're going to be sealed units and we should not have that
[1:46:09] problem in the future. So
[1:46:12] » your report says that the existing pumps are 40 years old. The 2023 capital
[1:46:16] budget, we bought you guys a river pump for $4,000.
[1:46:20] » That's the low flow. >> Where is that?
[1:46:22] » And that is that was being used until we got the diesel pumps.
[1:46:25] » Until we got the diesel pumps. Yeah. Why can't it continue to be used?
[1:46:28] » It won't fill it up before the freeze up.
[1:46:30] » Okay, >> it can't do it. It uh it was getting us
[1:46:34] about an inch, 2 in every 3 4 days. You add that up, it ain't going to do it.
[1:46:38] We're going to We would be in trouble. >> Yep. And even not to scare you guys, but
[1:46:46] we had all this rain. We had to pull the diesel pumps. We almost lost them in the
[1:46:49] river because the water come up so high. Now, we're having issues pumping right
[1:46:53] now because there's so much sediment and grass and trees and and we're just
[1:46:58] trying to do it, but we're not getting the proper pressures. So, we're at it
[1:47:03] every day. That's what our life is now with public works is trying to get water
[1:47:06] to that reservoir. So, well, if it's got to be, it's got to be. But I'm going to
[1:47:11] take the opportunity to make one more point that
[1:47:15] this is something you guys should have seen and you should have brought forward
[1:47:18] earlier. 40-year-old pumps. They're well past their end of life. Um it's it's
[1:47:24] constant surprises from the town. Um and it's never a hey council, we've got
[1:47:30] 40-year-old pumps. Maybe we'll get another couple years out of them, but
[1:47:32] you should start thinking about saving saving up for to replace them. It's
[1:47:35] always a hey council, we're uh renting p pump pumps and we're wasting money on
[1:47:41] diesel and rental fees. Um, it's always a rush with a tail between our legs to
[1:47:47] get things cleaned up after the fact. There's never any proactive thought and
[1:47:50] it's quite disappointing. But >> well, I just going to say that's over my
[1:47:55] head cuz that's nothing to do with me. >> Wasn't directed at you.
[1:48:02] » Although it's unfortunate that this was not included in the discussions for the
[1:48:06] last year's capital budget. But the deputy mayor is quite correct. Somebody
[1:48:10] keeps kicking the can down the road and the can always stops in front of us.
[1:48:15] » Council Martin, you had a question. >> Uh the new pumps, you still send them
[1:48:20] out to get refurbished. >> I don't think we'll have to do it the
[1:48:23] way we did before. Probably every two years that the pump will go down. Not
[1:48:27] every year like we've been doing. And just so you guys know, too, when you
[1:48:30] refurbish these pumps, these old pumps that we had, when you're refurbish,
[1:48:34] you're spending $30, $40,000 just to refurbish a pump every year.
[1:48:38] So, it's uh it's a lot of money going out. And yes, the pumps are 40 years old
[1:48:44] and they should have been thought about a long time ago, but that's just the way
[1:48:47] you know what this is how we were raised here. And uh we were not allowed to ask
[1:48:52] for too many things. And maybe that's the reason why. I don't know. But
[1:48:58] » but that's the reason. >> I I understand that last comment. I just
[1:49:03] want to make it clear and you know to management that it's council that
[1:49:08] decides priorities. We need to have all of the things that need to be addressed
[1:49:14] in front of us and then with your advice and guidance obviously ultimately it's
[1:49:20] up to us so that we're not caught constantly
[1:49:26] picking up something now a 40-year-old problem. Okay. And and then the problem
[1:49:32] is truly ours if we don't pick it up, you know.
[1:49:36] » Just wait for budget. >> Yeah. No, no. I And we'll say no to you
[1:49:39] on a number of things like we did last year.
[1:49:42] » We got to do we got to do things differently and that's just the way it
[1:49:44] is. >> Yeah.
[1:49:46] » Councelor Temple. Well, with that talk there, Mr. Mayor, why wouldn't it be in
[1:49:52] our best interest to sit down with our managers once a month and have a report
[1:49:57] back to us what's going on? What are you having problems with? What's going
[1:50:01] what's old? What's broke down? Cuz there's a lot of stuff we don't
[1:50:05] know. I'm glad you brought that up because I'm used to a governance world
[1:50:11] that apparently doesn't happen in a municipal world. I'm used to a
[1:50:15] governance world where senior managers report to the governing body on at least
[1:50:21] a semianual if not quarterly basis. So that you would have we have for
[1:50:28] instance two superintendents we call them above ground and underground and
[1:50:32] that they would report directly to us not when they need something but for us
[1:50:39] and in fact those are the kinds of things that should be happening on the
[1:50:42] committee of the whole council is a legislative function committee of the
[1:50:46] whole is an information function but it's a good point but we got to get back
[1:50:50] to the river pumps any further questions
[1:50:58] Council Martinson, you made the motion. >> No, I got a I got a question. So, could
[1:51:03] you get by with one this year >> if you ordered one?
[1:51:08] » So, if you get one and that one that one does crater for some reason, we send it
[1:51:13] away and we're back to renting diesel pumps.
[1:51:15] » That's why we had two pumps and one was always sent out to get refurbished so
[1:51:20] we'd always have a backup. So, >> and we also we did talk about renting
[1:51:25] buying one asking for one right now, but I decided that two because the company
[1:51:30] told me that they don't know what's going to happen as of January 1st of
[1:51:34] every year. The dollar val the amount could go up. So, uh and like I say, it's
[1:51:40] all about the safety aspect of having two pumps. One goes out, you have
[1:51:44] another one to put right in the river. So
[1:51:46] » I'll extend uh councelor Martinson's question slightly to say could we have
[1:51:53] one? My question would be if we had only one
[1:51:58] river pump with the low flow as the backup, is that a doable scenario?
[1:52:06] » I would not advise it because we don't know how long it would take that low
[1:52:09] flow pump to fill that reservoir. So that's
[1:52:14] » I'm just looking for a way to buy two pumps over two capital budgets instead
[1:52:18] of one. And in fact that one capital budget
[1:52:23] being this one and the next capital budget being the immediate one.
[1:52:31] » I suspect either way we'll have to take the money out of reserves to fund that.
[1:52:34] Is that correct CEO? >> That's correct.
[1:52:36] » Yeah. So it doesn't matter when we take it out of there. And the thing is, if it
[1:52:40] bumps up the price on the second pump by 20 $25,000,
[1:52:43] is it such a good decision? Or if we only have one already on prices. He's
[1:52:47] right, >> Mike.
[1:52:52] » I also bickered and played her ball with the company and I got 8.75% discount on
[1:52:57] that. Those two pumps. If you buy one, I don't think you were getting an 8.75%
[1:53:01] discount. >> You're certainly a persuasive
[1:53:05] individual. >> I'm just telling it the way it is.
[1:53:10] You good for a motion? >> I'm still listening for a motion.
[1:53:13] » I'm ready. >> Uh council purchase of two river pumps
[1:53:17] from Zylum at a cost of $245,847.99
[1:53:24] » to be funded. >> To be funded from reserves,
[1:53:27] » unrestricted reserve water reserve. >> Yeah. One more.
[1:53:33] » These new pumps will be coming with a control module, something that we didn't
[1:53:37] have on the other two. The control module will show bearing temperatures.
[1:53:41] It will show uh water infiltration, stuff like that. All our utility guys
[1:53:47] can have a phone now and they can look at their own phone and monitor the
[1:53:52] pumps, which is something we never had before. The only thing we ever knew
[1:53:55] about the pumps before was we go over in the pump house, we see if this if
[1:53:59] there's a if they're pumping and the PSI that they're pumping at.
[1:54:02] » So you don't No smoke was coming out if it was
[1:54:05] » Exactly. Now we can monitor and it also will fit with the SCADA that is coming
[1:54:09] into the new water plant. >> Yeah.
[1:54:11] » It all will link together with that. So >> okay, motion as given. All those in
[1:54:17] favor? And it's carried. Moving on to item 8.11. We're now on page 198.
[1:54:28] You may as well keep going on it, Mike. So, this is uh yeah, this is a thing
[1:54:34] brought to you guys that you didn't expect probably, but um 44th Street. Uh
[1:54:39] I know I'm going to get lots of questions after this about 44th Street,
[1:54:42] but anyway, uh they finally got the underground done. Uh their their base
[1:54:48] crew is going to be coming in here in I think was the 11th or sometime this
[1:54:54] weekend I suppose to start but um they have done a little bit of damage to 52nd
[1:55:00] a which 52nd a was already a very very damaged road and the
[1:55:08] head of who decided said to me he said you know we can help you guys out with
[1:55:13] with resurfacing that road. So you guys see here what it is. Um the cost would
[1:55:19] be we have 30,000 left out of our roads resurfacing program. That's the stuff
[1:55:24] that we do ourselves. If we throw that against the 95, we would be asking for
[1:55:28] 65,000 and change. And we would get a brand new resurfaced road. 52nd AB would
[1:55:34] be uh newly resurfaced professional job. [gasps] Uh you're probably going to ask
[1:55:40] me about the underground. We had no issues with the water line on on that
[1:55:44] road. Uh the only things we've ever fixed over there is a few sewer lines
[1:55:48] and and curb stops. We never had to dig out in the road in my time that I can
[1:55:53] remember for water main breaks. So >> someone willing to start that one.
[1:56:03] » So hit me with the question line. >> Okay, I'll ask a tough question. So we
[1:56:07] had engineers supervising the project, did we?
[1:56:09] » They're over there as we speak every day. And so they didn't advise them that
[1:56:12] they shouldn't be down there with that heavy equipment or anything like that or
[1:56:15] what is their recommendation? >> They had to have some access. There's no
[1:56:17] way they had to have access to their >> and the engineers are backing up this uh
[1:56:23] solution I guess is correct. >> Our my engineer Trevor
[1:56:26] » or the town engineer there he thought it was a wonderful wonderful solution.
[1:56:30] » Okay. Because the other thing question here or other problem with this is that
[1:56:34] it's actually possibly a route to the second or the separate school coming
[1:56:39] down 52nd a from off of 44th down to the school now. So that might help some of
[1:56:43] the traffic problems that's been there. >> Yeah. Just let me explain to you. It's
[1:56:46] not curb and gutter. It's just an overlay. It's an overlay and fixes along
[1:56:51] the road. So it's not uh no sidewalks. Well, the sidewalk there
[1:56:57] is is not attached to the curb anyway. So, councelor Martinson,
[1:57:02] » uh, my concern is if you pave it, usually there's a
[1:57:07] guarantee on the paving. So I just would like to see that somehow negotiated
[1:57:15] whether you got to do that or engineers for a warranty period of one year after
[1:57:21] it's paved from the time that the company that puts
[1:57:27] it down and the engineers walk the project.
[1:57:32] » Yep. I agree. I never talked about warranties with uh Brent, but I can
[1:57:36] definitely do that. >> Okay. Is the
[1:57:41] is the do dollar figure of approximately 95,000 still the number you're looking
[1:57:46] for? >> No, I'm looking for 65,3604
[1:57:50] and4 >> 65
[1:57:53] 36014.
[1:57:56] » Oh, that 14. Okay. The motion then is for approval and I
[1:58:04] take it this is out of reserves. the motion. Somebody's going to make it.
[1:58:09] It has to where it comes from. Councelor Martinsson.
[1:58:18] Mike, please. Michael. The mic.
[1:58:25] that council approved the funding of $65,360.14
[1:58:31] to come out of roads capital reserves for the resurfacing the portion of 52nd
[1:58:37] Avenue between 44th and 46th streets.
[1:58:46] » Questions or comments? Councelor, >> you want to maybe I should have put the
[1:58:50] total amount in there because some of it's coming out of his reserves
[1:58:55] already. So, I'll change that motion to read 90 95,36014.
[1:59:04] » David, is that cover everything? Right. >> Yeah, that covers everything. He's
[1:59:09] approving the quote and the actual amount that'll come out of the reserve.
[1:59:13] » Councelor Hanland. So, a question I wrote down is um so we
[1:59:20] know a lot of our streets are not in good shape. Um when we go to work on or
[1:59:27] the next street that in the next upcoming budget, I'm sure there'll be um
[1:59:33] streets that we're we're going to fix. Is this something that we're going to
[1:59:37] have to keep an eye on for future projects as well that like is it common
[1:59:42] to have that much damage on a street?
[1:59:48] » I think you guys needed to go down the street before they even started their
[1:59:51] work. There was you could really not call it a street. It was so damaged.
[1:59:58] Yeah. And uh there is like there's a place on the east end of 52nd a where
[2:00:03] there was no ashalt. We had to give up on it. We just put it a millings. We
[2:00:07] just kept back blading millings there. So
[2:00:12] there is a this was a particularly different one because they had to have
[2:00:15] access. They they used 52nd a and they used 51st a
[2:00:19] » 51st a was a little bit uh not as destroyed as what 52nd was. So that's
[2:00:26] why you really see it on 52nd and that's why he's giving us the price he's giving
[2:00:29] us is because he's trying to help us out with uh you know they know that they
[2:00:34] done some damage. So >> yeah.
[2:00:37] » Yeah. I actually drove down 51st and 52nd to see the difference and yeah 52nd
[2:00:44] I know is bad. I I just want to I guess keep in mind that any future projects
[2:00:51] we're going to have to keep this in mind just in case there is more damage next
[2:00:56] project. >> Yeah.
[2:00:57] » So you're essentially warning us about collateral damage.
[2:01:01] » Good point. Further questions or comments? Deputy mayor.
[2:01:06] I want to push and lean into councelor Hanland's line of questioning a little
[2:01:10] bit because I'm still unclear who's at the end of the day who's liable for
[2:01:15] this. It's not us cuz we never gave them permission to use our road. It's our
[2:01:18] road. They drove their equipment down it. It's not our fault they drove their
[2:01:22] equipment down it. We had to give them access. They're the contractor. They're
[2:01:25] responsible for putting down rigmats or whatever it is they do to protect the
[2:01:28] surface. >> That's just the way it is with the
[2:01:31] engineers. The engineers allowed it to happen and this this this is run by
[2:01:37] engineers, not run by me. >> I know.
[2:01:39] » So, u they had to have access one way or the other. And like I say, a lot of what
[2:01:46] you see over there is just gravel and mud and stuff like that. And yes, there
[2:01:51] was a little bit extra damage. I can't say how much. Uh, Councelor Shunter, I
[2:01:55] don't know. But it just after we swept it the other day, it looked a little bit
[2:01:59] better, but the road is gone. like we have a full perfect time to get that
[2:02:05] thing covered last another seven to 10 years we won't have to worry about it.
[2:02:08] » So what uh Mr. Joy what policy or
[2:02:15] how how do we instruct the engineers to uh not allow heavy equipment on our
[2:02:19] roads for the next project so that this doesn't happen again?
[2:02:24] Well, it's worth a discussion with the engineers um to exp to find out what
[2:02:31] their reasoning was. Um I do think this is an opportunity though to take
[2:02:36] advantage of this uh that road's going to have to be repaved anyway and instead
[2:02:41] of paying 160 to 180,000 uh when it'll be 95,000.
[2:02:48] » Well, I agree with you on this on this situation. I'm trying to put a little
[2:02:51] bit of forward thought into it for the next one.
[2:02:57] Oh, is it the engineer that's liable in this case?
[2:03:12] » I think they just have to write it into the contract that any any damage to any
[2:03:17] lateral roads will be the responsibility of the contractor. Is that written into
[2:03:23] our current contract?
[2:03:30] » I I I share the deputy mayor's we're obviously going to pay this. We're
[2:03:34] obviously going to take care of it. We're not going to leave it like this.
[2:03:38] But it's also clear that the engineer should have said put some rig mats out
[2:03:43] there. You know, I mean, this is a this is a damage that you
[2:03:49] certainly didn't expect. Nobody expected. Okay, it's happened. We'll pay
[2:03:55] for it. But in the future, we want them noted. Richard,
[2:04:01] please don't leave. A very important motion is coming. It's critical.
[2:04:07] Okay. I need a motion on this 52nd Street.
[2:04:13] Brian, you made the motion. Oh, that's right. And the number's been corrected.
[2:04:18] All those in favor? Opposed?
[2:04:23] Carried. As mayor, I want to apologize for making
[2:04:28] a serious error in conducting this meeting.
[2:04:33] on the motion related to the economic development officer as I got corrected.
[2:04:40] I did not hear the friendly amendment that the mover
[2:04:45] councelor Martinson accepted that instead of 50/50 they were going to a
[2:04:50] 6040. The reason I was thinking 50/50 is that
[2:04:57] that was the deal we made on economic development. the report itself,
[2:05:03] everything will set the pace for 5050. But if a friendly amendment was
[2:05:09] accepted, I apologize. Please have the minutes uh recorded that the mayor made
[2:05:16] an incorrect ruling and so the motion is void. Make your motion again.
[2:05:22] You think I didn't know how to get out of that? What page was that up?
[2:05:27] [laughter] Same motion as before except for the
[2:05:30] split of
[2:05:39] Can we be crystal clear on this [laughter] just so we all understand?
[2:05:44] If this gets approved as 6040 and the county shoots it down tomorrow, what
[2:05:49] happens next? >> Well, we sit down and work it out.
[2:05:52] » Okay. >> Remember
[2:06:07] And the other thing is that we have an agreement with development, but we also
[2:06:10] have the other document, the ICF, the intermunicipal collaboration framework,
[2:06:13] and then we have to see what maybe that says that may be the overriding one, not
[2:06:18] mistaken because that I think a lot of the stuff went 50/50 from the recreation
[2:06:22] to the fire department and everything else should have probably been in the
[2:06:25] IC. F >> it was all 50/50 in that IC.
[2:06:28] » Yeah. So just be careful on that too. >> This is new
[2:06:33] for agreement between the county and the town talked about 5050. That's where the
[2:06:39] division of the deote fee >> was 50
[2:06:44] and now we're signaling that we want to change that
[2:06:47] » to 64 >> basis to 64.
[2:06:50] » We may get a negotiation on that. >> There may be something we have to
[2:06:53] renegotiate afterwards. Yeah. >> Okay. We're putting our foot
[2:06:57] » Okay. >> We're putting our foot down so big
[2:06:59] brother doesn't walk on us. >> Yeah.
[2:07:02] » Just so we don't hold it up too long. >> It can It can hold up for one more
[2:07:06] month.
[2:08:24] So, in an email this morning, uh, Mr. Joy made reference to,
[2:08:32] uh, I got to find it. Sorry, >> I am unprepared.
[2:08:37] Um, David made reference to he would require
[2:08:41] a notice of motion directing administration to work with a lawyer to
[2:08:45] develop a constitutionally strong and effective bylaw which would relate to
[2:08:54] I can get back to the other page. >> Curfew vacancies.
[2:08:59] » Curfew vacancies. Um, one suggestion was, uh, perhaps we close
[2:09:06] parks after, uh, after dark so that people can't camp in McIntyre Park and
[2:09:12] JC Park. Um, parks close from midnight till 5:00 a.m. or something as a
[2:09:17] suggestion. Um but uh David wanted a formal motion
[2:09:21] on the books. So I'm putting a formal motion on the books that uh we d that
[2:09:24] council direct administration to um prepare amendments to any relevant
[2:09:30] bylaws related to curfews, nuisance, homeless encampments, etc.
[2:09:37] » I like the wording in the email that I received and I I thought it was
[2:09:41] worthwhile that we could pursue this and and get a lawyer's uh formulation of a
[2:09:47] policy. Sure. Yeah. Sure. moved by the deputy mayor.
[2:11:35] Well, over the past month, uh half of it I was on vacation. Uh they've uh been
[2:11:43] managing the with the vacancies at the water treatment plant uh using it as an
[2:11:48] opportunity uh and uh employing contracting with
[2:11:54] water main sewer uh consultant uh to look at our all of our procedures.
[2:12:01] » Yep. >> How come this isn't being
[2:12:04] » okay? It's recorded. It's just not working well. else we didn't want to
[2:12:07] discuss. >> Okay.
[2:12:08] » So, there's that some personnel issues that had to be dealt with and uh a
[2:12:13] number of them and then um uh really taken the last week uh looking
[2:12:19] at the action list that I do have and uh trying to make a push on those. Uh one
[2:12:25] of the items in here about the steel saddles, they still aren't installed. Uh
[2:12:31] I expect it to be installed in September.
[2:12:35] And that's that's all I have. >> Any questions or comments from the CEO
[2:12:39] on his report? Deputy mayor. >> Sorry, David. Real quick, I'll be quick.
[2:12:45] Um, you're I'm looking at your CEO action list, the the table.
[2:12:51] » Yep. >> Um, the second item, February 24th,
[2:12:53] 2026, number 63-26. Uh, the subdivision area structure plan. You say it's paused
[2:13:00] pending external negotiations. Those external negotiations have expired. Um,
[2:13:05] can we follow up on that and resume? >> Exa. Exactly. I'll be doing that very
[2:13:10] shortly. >> Yeah. Okay. Um, April 28th, the uh Do
[2:13:13] you have an update on the steel saddles on the glue lamp beams?
[2:13:17] » That's what I just mentioned. I expected to be in September. Okay.
[2:13:20] » And I was surprised it hadn't been done, but there's again with some revocations
[2:13:24] and >> the engineers involved.
[2:13:26] » Okay. Um, and just uh it doesn't matter to me, but
[2:13:32] it's a point of order. the June 23rd, 2026 uh development incentives for
[2:13:38] residential and commercial. >> I believe that was moved by me. I think
[2:13:42] you've got Carol and I mixed up on two of these points.
[2:13:44] » Okay. >> The uh development incentives was a me
[2:13:48] thing and the Where's Carol's?
[2:13:53] Carol's was shoot. I had it here. I'm sorry. It doesn't matter. We're just You
[2:13:59] mixed us up on two of them, but >> that's all I got.
[2:14:02] » Okay. Thank you, >> John.
[2:14:05] » I did have one question and I don't know if it's been on here before and I just
[2:14:09] missed it, but um on the um the CEO's time sheet,
[2:14:17] I see under bank time I I see that there is bank time and under bank time I see
[2:14:23] um 1 2 3 4 five vacation days were used against it. I thought the CEO was a
[2:14:30] salary position and bank time and wouldn't come out wouldn't be
[2:14:38] wouldn't count. >> I can answer this. Uh it's part of the
[2:14:41] employment agreement. I'm given uh two uh two weeks of bank time to use in lie
[2:14:48] of all the overtime, the council meetings and everything else. So, we
[2:14:53] record it as bank time and uh I use that bank time first when I take vacation and
[2:15:00] um and that's it's part of the employment agreement.
[2:15:03] » Okay. Thank you. >> Any other questions?
[2:15:11] » Uh one thing he didn't report but I asked a question is the cameraing for
[2:15:17] 53rd Avenue is supposed to start this week. Just to let council know.
[2:15:40] » You can't answer that now. We're having a committee of the whole in a week's
[2:15:44] time. That might be a good time to sort of get a more wholesome report on what's
[2:15:50] finally been agreed to with the province and how prepared we are. Okay.
[2:15:56] Motion to accept the CEO's report for information. Councelor Hanland. All
[2:16:01] those in favor carried. Going on to correspondence.
[2:16:06] Uh an email from uh business owner Ron Shunter.
[2:16:16] These are a number of specific questions related to
[2:16:21] policing and it in part it goes back to my comment earlier when we were
[2:16:27] discussing having the crimerevention public meeting that we need to have a
[2:16:34] we need to have a report in hand [clears throat] about the efficacy of
[2:16:38] the security cameras. A lot of this has got to do with that. And also, I think
[2:16:44] we have to satisfy ourselves that the town is getting the the shift coverage
[2:16:51] that we were hoping it would get, that the dead zone was closed.
[2:16:58] Okay. Is there anything else to add to Mr.
[2:17:02] Shunter's letter?
[2:17:05] Yes. I'm just wondering if this may be a good idea to pass this over to Brady for
[2:17:09] the ne his next report to council and maybe he can hide.
[2:17:12] » I'm already I've starting this well I received this email this morning.
[2:17:18] » I'm I'm already working on the responses and I will be uh meeting with Brady, but
[2:17:25] I'm also meeting with uh the officer in charge, the new one, Sherry Chu
[2:17:31] um who's she came back from Israel. She's in charge of the detach. She's a
[2:17:36] detachment and uh and Jason is moving on, but he's still here. But I'm meeting
[2:17:43] with both of them on Wednesday and I'll be discussing some of this with them.
[2:17:47] » Good. Any further questions? Deputy Mayor,
[2:17:51] » I got a philosophical point that, you know, AI has both been the best and
[2:17:58] worst invention, >> the best and worst invention in recent
[2:18:02] history because it's created all these
[2:18:05] efficiencies that you never thought possible. But at the same time, you've
[2:18:09] got, and man, that guy drives me crazy some days. But you've got Ron using
[2:18:14] prompts like make this longer so it seems more impressive.
[2:18:21] But the amount of repetition in some of his letters is staggering.
[2:18:26] » I don't think he's I don't think he's going to watch this far. That's why I'm
[2:18:29] going out on a limb here. >> But you know,
[2:18:32] » the audio is still being maintained. >> Yeah. Um, you know, it takes five
[2:18:38] minutes every second week to read the meeting minutes of council. And, uh, if
[2:18:44] the community did that, and I I believe if you're going to participate in your
[2:18:48] local government, and everybody should participate in their local government,
[2:18:51] the minimum you can do is read the meeting minutes. I don't expect
[2:18:54] everybody to sit through three-hour council meetings, but read the meeting
[2:18:57] minutes and get a summary of what's going on in your community because most
[2:19:01] of the questions in this letter would have been answered by the meeting
[2:19:05] minutes. Most of the questions in this letter are related to the uh camera
[2:19:10] policy that we passed in February, right? And if you read the meeting
[2:19:15] minutes and you referred to the policy which is on the town website, all your
[2:19:18] questions get answered. And it's uh it's uh yeah um I I already had a discussion
[2:19:26] with him about this letter. Don't spend a bunch of time answering it. Give him
[2:19:29] the bullet points, but don't waste a day on it.
[2:19:31] » And let's let's conclude on the statement that you don't pick your
[2:19:35] relatives. >> Moving on now to the FCSS.
[2:19:40] Any questions about it?
[2:19:47] got pages of monthly stats here.
[2:19:53] Well, you know, Brian, I've always been at a
[2:19:58] little bit of a loss how to deal with correspondence because sometimes we
[2:20:03] receive them individually for information and other times we wonder
[2:20:07] why they we've even gotten it. There is
[2:20:12] » there are requests like from community futures for for uh an office space. So
[2:20:20] » no. Okay. But are you asking what kind of motion we
[2:20:25] need for the shunter letter? >> Yeah. Do you receive it for information
[2:20:28] or or
[2:20:31] » Okay. The motion to receive for information made by councelor Martinson.
[2:20:35] » Okay. >> All those in favor? Carried. Motion to
[2:20:39] receive the SCSS report. Council Minderline. Any questions on the report?
[2:20:46] » No. We've been all over the place on how to handle correspondence.
[2:20:53] » No questions. All those in favor of information
[2:20:57] carried. Northpace
[2:21:02] Performing Arts Festival.
[2:21:06] Um,
[2:21:11] » they're asking for support. >> They're asking for support in a very
[2:21:17] vague way. >> I I don't know what they're asking for
[2:21:22] really >> on page 231.
[2:21:30] » Oh, donor recognition. >> Yeah.
[2:21:36] Where is this being held? >> You know, and that and that was one of
[2:21:41] the things I wrote down was um it's it doesn't say where this is going to be
[2:21:46] held. I'm presuming the way I read it. Peace River
[2:21:49] » Peace River Manning and Donnelly doesn't take place in High Prairie. Make a
[2:21:52] motion to receive for information. >> Right.
[2:21:54] » For information. >> Make that motion.
[2:21:57] » Deputy mayor moved for information. That means we bid it. All those in favor?
[2:22:02] Carried. uh
[2:22:07] Northern Lakes College. >> Yes,
[2:22:11] I was be invited to uh sit on this committee on behalf of Pops Home
[2:22:16] Hardware as a local business leader. Um if we want to kill two birds with one
[2:22:19] stone, I can represent the town at the same time.
[2:22:22] » You're volunteering to sit sit on the CDC?
[2:22:24] » I'm already on the board, so I'll I'll represent the town. I'll volunteer to
[2:22:28] represent the town on the board. >> Yes.
[2:22:31] I would also be interested in sitting on this. Um but it doesn't look like
[2:22:35] they're asking for us to appoint somebody until our um
[2:22:41] » organization meeting in October. >> Yeah, but they don't get to say decide
[2:22:46] when we appoint people. We'll decide that. But you're right. We do need an or
[2:22:51] meeting sometime in October. >> No, I'd support I'd support that.
[2:22:57] » You're supporting her? >> Yeah. If she wants if she wants to.
[2:23:00] » Yeah. >> Deputy mayor move. Councelor Hanland.
[2:23:05] All those in favor carried.
[2:23:10] Uh, Community Futures. Okay. Where are What is this?
[2:23:16] Go ahead. So, Community Futures has a number of
[2:23:21] programs that operate in High Prairie. Um when I met with them at uh because I
[2:23:27] recently got a appointed with a board position. Um when I met with them at my
[2:23:33] first board meeting, I uh um we discussed opening an office in the in
[2:23:38] High Prairie so that they could have somebody here one two days a week um to
[2:23:43] meet with High Prairie residents to uh discuss the services that they offer.
[2:23:48] They um and to be truthful, when we first
[2:23:52] appointed me to Community Futures, I thought Community Futures functioned as
[2:23:56] a uh business guidance, training, business support.
[2:24:02] You know, I I I thought they ran courses. A huge huge portion of what
[2:24:07] they do is providing loans to local businesses that uh don't qualify for
[2:24:12] bank lending. and they have special federal grants um for small businesses
[2:24:17] in order to give those small businesses loans. So having an office here in High
[2:24:21] Prairie so that they can meet with local business owners who and discuss loan
[2:24:25] opportunities, it would be uh very advantageous to uh local economic
[2:24:30] development in the in the town. Do we have room next door?
[2:24:34] » Yeah, they do inventory, loans, all kinds of stuff. Yes.
[2:24:39] » Put that into a motion. Um, I'll make a motion that we
[2:24:45] are we renting or we giving. Giving. Yes. That we rent a space at a at the
[2:24:52] cost of $0 and0 per square foot [laughter] to uh
[2:24:58] community future slave lake um somewhere in town.
[2:25:01] » The motion is to allocate space from the current building. Right.
[2:25:04] » Yes. >> All those in favor?
[2:25:08] » Carry it. again notice of upcoming meetings.
[2:25:13] Uh I really think we need a committee of the whole next Tuesday.
[2:25:19] Then we're gone to Edmonton and we've already moved
[2:25:23] the regular meeting to the 29th. Right. So are we agreed on committee of the
[2:25:29] whole a week from tonight? Do we need a motion?
[2:25:34] I move committee the whole meeting on whatever a week from tonight is
[2:25:41] » all those in favor carried. Now I want to do something a
[2:25:46] little differently on written and verbal reports.
[2:25:50] We've always dealt with this on one big omnimous motion for both the reports and
[2:25:58] the attendance sheets. I want to separate them because one is reporting
[2:26:02] for information, the other is approving money. So I would now entertain a motion
[2:26:10] to approve the written verbal reports of the mayor and council.
[2:26:19] Councelor Martinsson. All those in favor carried. I would now
[2:26:24] like to have entertain a motion approving the attendance sheets of mayor
[2:26:29] and council. Councelor Mindelac. I think this formalizes things a little
[2:26:35] better and makes the accountability a little stricter. All those in favor
[2:26:40] carried.
[2:26:44] Um,
[2:26:48] I honestly think that the agenda being complete, the meeting is adjourned.
[2:27:02] » You really scared me with that economic development officer thing. [laughter]
[2:27:07] » Well, it's actually the case. I thought I