County Hosts Public Meeting on Leslieville fire hall issue

IN THE NEWS

Leslieville Fire Hall 
Concerns continue to be expressed over the plans and lack of information being provided to the taxpayers on the scope of this project.
At the February 9th CCTA meeting there was significant discussion on the matter and we were very happy to have 6 councillors in attendance to not only hear taxpayer concerns but also to share what information they could.
It was suggested that we organize a meeting so that information and concerns could be more widely addressed. Reeve Tim Hoven suggested that the county could host such an event and we graciously thanked him for the offer.
When the notice appeared in the February 19th Western Star for an “Open House” at the Leslieville Fire Hall we were distinctly disappointed with the format for the following reasons:

At an Open House people come and go so not everyone is present at the same time to hear the information offered or the questions asked/responses given.

Furthermore, people can talk to/question different “presenters” and get different, potentially conflicting information.

If the intent of hosting the event at the fire hall was to allow people to see the “state” of the facility, the equipment should be in there for an accurate picture of the crowded size, and then where would there be room for people to gather or information to be presented?

Having the most important part of the evening, the “presentation” at 6:00PM is definitely an inconvenient time. People are just arriving home from work and/or having supper. Also, wouldn’t it be more beneficial to see the fire hall before the presentation??

Finally, the last concern was over inadequate parking.

These concerns/frustrations were immediately voiced with members of council and administration. We were subsequently informed that the format would be changed. There would be a tour of the fire hall first, followed by a meeting at the Elk’s Hall. Consequently, we put together a page of information to be published in the February 26th edition of the Western Star so people could have some background information before the meeting. In the interest of transparency, and so those involved in hosting the event could have more prep time, a copy of this information was emailed to both council and administration on Friday, February 21. 

Ads then appeared in both The Mountaineer and Western Star advertising an “Open House” on March 5th with a “Presentation” at 6:00PM at the Elks’ Hall followed by a “Tour” of the fire hall at 7:00PM. This is a complete reversal of the information we received regarding the format and we definitely question its effectiveness with only a 1 hour presentation and the tour to follow. Our most sincere hope is that the “presentation” might allow for more time for citizen engagement/questions to adequately occur. 

Partnerships 
Words have been floating around about County partnerships with Wild Rose School Division and an “unnamed” private company for “opportunities” on the newly purchased land/proposed Fire Hall. Unfortunately no concrete information has been available to date.
With the extensive amount of land purchased (27+ acres), it seems possible that the partnership with WRSD might involve future consideration for recreation fields (ball diamonds, track, soccer pitch, etc.). Such a partnership is certainly commendable.

The other option, a partnership with a “private company” for a potential fire fighter training facility leads to more questions. Who is the company? Why have they not come forward with their vision? What is the need?

Currently there is a quality training facility in Red Deer which our volunteer fire fighters access about 3 times per year. There is a rental fee for its use and attempts have been made to gather information on that cost but it was unavailable at time of printing. Hopefully we will have it for sharing at the March 5th meeting.

In the meantime, questions abound on the necessity/viability of such a facility with very limited use. Comments have been made that we could rent it out to other fire fighter groups but, with a centrally located option at Red Deer, who would travel out to Leslieville?? If this private facility become non-viable, who would be responsible/accept the future operating costs??? 

A LOT OF UNANSWERED QUESTIONS REMAIN. WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO ATTEND THE MEETING AT THE ELKS’ HALL AT 6:00PM ON MARCH 5TH.
 
Smiles for March: 
Why do leprechauns love to garden? They have green thumbs.
Why shouldn’t you borrow money from a leprechaun? They are always a little short.

Coming Events:
 Clearwater Rural Crime Annual Meeting, Monday, March 2, 2020, 7:00PM Leslieville Community Hall 

 Clearwater County Information Open House re Fire Hall, Thursday, March 5, 2020, 6:00PM, Leslieville Elks’ Hall 

 Clearwater County Taxpayers’ Association regular monthly meeting, Monday, March 9, 2020, 7:30PM, Arbutus Community Hall

Email To Clearwater County Council

Hi all,

The link below is to the Strategic Planning Session on January 20 with video in regards to the proposed RFP for a new Leslievile fire hall:  
https://clearwatercounty.civicweb.net/document/8628?splitscreen=true&media=true

I would suggest that you watch it because it reveals the power of the new technology that you have introduced into council chambers.

Your body language can be examined in detail by any observer.

So, now you are like athletes on the world stage 🙂

Anyway, if you reflect on this footage, I think it is pretty obvious that things have moved sideways with two fire halls proposed with a price tag of some $10 million

virtually side by side serving about one third of the county population.

Need I say more?

Regards,

Helge

IN THE NEWS

Leslieville Fire Hall  
According to the January 14, 2020 County Council Meeting Minutes Council passed a motion to purchase 27.43 acres of land for $350,000. This property is located on the south side of the “Withrow Road” running east from Leslieville and is adjacent to the east side of the current Leslieville School. While plans are not yet finalized for the complete use of this property, indications are that the new Leslieville Fire Hall will be located there. According to the budget Council approved in December, $5,120,000 has been allocated from the 2020 capital budget and $500,000 from the 2021 budget for this new facility. 

Municipal Development Plan Review 
Also at their January 14th meeting, Council approved the terms of reference for the up-coming Municipal Development Plan review. The Municipal Development Plan is the document that governs land development in the county including residential subdivisions, industrial development, and all accompanying land uses. The current MDP was adopted in 2010. Information about the process and how county residents can be involved will be on the county’s website as well as on Facebook. It is also hoped that current information will be regularly publicized in the local papers so that our more senior residents will have easy access to relevant happenings with this important process. It is crucial that there be equal opportunity for input by all. As the process progresses, plans are to hold open house meetings in Nordegg, Rocky Mountain House, Leslieville, and Caroline. We encourage everyone to become involved, as the decisions that are made will determine how our land is used/protected as well as what our community will look like in the years to come. 

2019 County Financial Contributions 
 With special thanks to the Administration in the county office, most specifically Murray Hagan, we have received information on the amount of money the County contributed to the town of Rocky, the village of Caroline, and Regional Services for the 2019 year.
 

Category	To the Town of Rocky	To Village of Caroline	To Regional Services
Recreation	$824, 400	$421, 648
Culture (Library)	$170, 000	$ 25, 000
Culture (Museum)	$ 30, 000	$ 12, 000
Fire (HQ)			$400, 597
Fire Stations			$1, 447, 988
Police (Admin)(RCMP)	$205, 000
Police (SRO)**	$135, 200
Police (Victim Services)	$ 10, 000
Solid Waste			$2, 119, 873
FCSS			$ 88, 550
Health (recruitment)	$ 12, 000
Health (clinic)		$10, 000
Seniors Funding		$4, 500	$1, 060, 598
Airport	$26, 500
Volunteer Recognition		$2, 500
Revenue Sharing	$750, 000	$50, 000
TOTAL	$2, 163, 000	$527, 373	$5, 117, 606

**SRO is the RCMP School Resource Officer
THE GRAND TOTAL OF COUNTY TO COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTION (“3C FUNDING”) IS $7, 808, 079. County taxpayers are certainly contributing substantially to the well-being of our whole community. 


Smiles for February:  
1. Why do skunks love Valentine’s Day? Because they’re scent-imental creatures.
2. What did the toast say to the butter on Valentine’s Day? You’re my butter half.
3. What did the rabbit say to his girlfriend on Valentine’s Day? Some bunny loves you.

Coming Events
 Note: All regular meetings will now be held the second Monday of each month.
February 10, 2020, 7:30PM, Arbutus Hall, Regular Meeting
March 9, 2020, 7:30PM, Arbutus Hall, Regular Meeting 


Also please make a change to our Board members: Please drop Sharon Rubeling and add Jim Pearson. Thanks a bunchJJ

Live Streaming County Council Meetings

County Council meetings are now live streamed here:
https://clearwatercounty.civicweb.net/Portal/Video.aspx

IN THE NEWS

Town/County Amalgamation 
This is likely the biggest news item and one that will be “on the books” for a while.
On December 12, 2019, Town Council voted unanimously to initiate talks with Clearwater County about amalgamation between the town and county. This came as a surprise to county councillors and has raised the ire of many county taxpayers.
As per the Municipal Government Act, any amalgamation would be a lengthy process and involve the following steps:

· Written notice of the proposed amalgamation submitted to the county and the Minister of Municipal Affairs
· Upon receipt of the notice the municipalities must meet to discuss the proposals and “negotiate the proposals in good faith”.
· Upon conclusion of the negotiations the initiating municipality must prepare a report describing the result of the negotiations and submit it to the Minister.
· The report must be signed by the initiating authority and the authority it proposes to amalgamate with. Note: A municipal authority that does not sign the report may include, in the report, its reasons for not signing.
· The report is then sent to the Minister.
· The Minister may initiate amalgamation if he/she believes the operation of the amalgamated authority will be more effective/efficient.
· The Minister may invite comments from the public and may conduct meetings of the public to discuss the probable effects of the amalgamation.
· In the end the Minister makes a recommendation to the Lieutenant Governor in Council to amalgamate the municipalities or not.

This is a lengthy process, providing ample time for residents from both the town and county to voice their opinions. Let us also hope that any meetings held by the town and county on this matter would be open to the public. We are the ones paying the bills and deserve full opportunity for involvement. 


2020 Budget 
 Following 3 days of budget deliberations in December, council approved the 2020 operating and capital budgets. According to the county’s news release of December 19, 2019, council’s goal is to “maintain the core services that enhance Clearwater County residents’ quality of life…through ongoing efforts to enhance efficiency and identify savings.” Figures for the Operating and Capital budgets are listed below with the 2019 figures in brackets: 


Operating: Revenue: $49,374,154 ($51,275,519) Expenses: $53,996,164 ($52,050,916)

Capital: Revenue: $17,083,500 ($12,994,121) Expenses: $52, 599,522 ($42,411,427)

Highlights of projects proposed for 2020 include Broadband ($5M), construction of the Leslieville Public Services Building to house the Leslieville Fire Station ($5.6M), gravel road rehabilitation ($5M), Taimi Road pavement from RR 40-0 to Hwy 12 ($3.2M), Sunchild Road Asphalt Overlay ($7.8M), Nordegg Development ($5.3M), Condor Lagoon upgrades ($1.7M) and bridge rehab and replacements ($5.6M).

In order to balance all the figures it would seem that money would have to come from reserves---we can be thankful we have some. We would also like to keep them and not have to spend them for the benefit of others that have not contributed. Let’s say no to amalgamation!


Smiles for the New Year  
Why do you need a jeweller on New Year’s Eve? To ring in the New Year.

What’s a New Year’s Resolution? Something that goes in one year and out the other. 

What did the farmer give his wife on New Year’s Eve? Hogs and kisses. 


Coming events: 
Wednesday, January 8, 2020, 7:30PM, Arbutus Community Hall, regular monthly meeting. 
 Further regular meeting dates have not yet been determined but will be discussed on Wednesday

IN THE NEWS

New Reeve and Deputy Reeve
In a secret ballot vote among all councillors, Tim Hoven defeated incumbent Jim Duncan to become Reeve at the Clearwater County annual organizational meeting on October 22. Councillor Hoven was first elected as councillor in 2017 and represents Division 6, the south-east area of the county. At the same time Michelle Swanson was elected Deputy Reeve, defeating John Vandermeer and Jim Duncan, also in a secret ballot vote. Councillor Swanson was also first elected in 2017 and represents Division 7, the area west of the North Saskatchewan River and north of Hwy. 12. We congratulate both Councillors Hoven and Swanson on their new positions, as well as thank Councillors Duncan and Vandermeer for their previous dedication as Reeve and Deputy Reeve.


Exciting School News
 A November 1 news release from Wild Rose School Division stated that they are “pleased to announce the Alberta Government has approved the David Thompson High School Corridor solution--- the modernization of Condor school, replacement (high school) in Leslieville and closure of DTHS”. Board Chairman Russ Hickman thanked area community members for their supportive voices as well as Clearwater County for their “critical support in making sure the sites for these projects are ready to go.”

In response to this announcement a meeting of the executive of Friends of the Corridor Schools (FCOS) met on Monday, November 4 to discuss the necessary fund raising plans to augment the provincial government funding for this project.

We encourage you to follow along with further developments on the Wild Rose School Division and FOCS web sites. We all need to work together and support the fund raising efforts to ensure high quality educational experiences for our young people. (Condor School website: https://condor.wrsd.ca/)


Meeting Procedures Bylaw
 As stated in their November 5 agenda package, Clearwater County Council will be considering amendments to their Meeting Procedures Bylaw “in preparation of live-streaming Council’s meetings.” Live-streaming was mentioned as a campaign initiative in the 2017 municipal election and we commend Council for continuing with their consideration of this matter.


Nordegg Mobile Home Park
 As mentioned in our October Beacon plans and discussion are underway for a new mobile home park in Nordegg. Currently plans indicate the development of 30 lots in an area east of the Public Works/Fire Hall building, down Quarry Road. Certainly there are potential benefits to having a mobile home park in Nordegg, but in order for the development to be successful the
lots with their accompanying guidelines must be welcoming and accommodate resident needs/wishes. In all likelihood the people that might purchase these lots would be outdoorsy people who would come with ATV’s and snowmobiles that they would like to be able to store in a garage. Concerns have been expressed that the lots sizes and restrictions would not allow for an appropriate sized garage or parking for an RV. Ultimately, it seems that more discussion/input from local residents/county taxpayers should have been done before the development plans were finalized. Following the recommendation and subsequent motion by Councillor Laing at the September 10, 2019 council meeting, an open house will be held in Nordegg on Friday, November 29, 2019. The value of this meeting is debatable as the groundwork is already complete. This whole situation brings to question, again, if the county really should be in the development business.

Cold Weather Smiles
How do you search Google on freezing cold days??? On the Winternet.
If you were living in an igloo, what would be the worst thing about global warming??? Lack of privacy.


Coming Events:
 Tuesday, November 19, 2019, 7:30PM, Arbutus Community Hall, Annual General Meeting.