CLEARWATER COUNTY TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION

MEETING MINUTES

February 11, 2016

LESLIEVILLE ELKS HALL

1.0   Welcome and Introductions

1. At 7:06 p.m. President Marianne Cole welcomed all those in attendance and called the meeting to order.  All those in attendance introduced themselves.

2.0   Approval of Agenda

      2.  Items 5.5, 6.4, 6.5 and 7.1 added to the agenda.   Trish Bingham moved that the agenda be adopted as presented.  Doug Smith seconded.  Carried.

3.0   Adoption of Minutes of the Previous Meeting

      3.     Minutes of the previous meeting of January 14, 2016 were adopted as recorded.  Moved by Al Gaetz.  Seconded by Sharon Rubeling.  Carried.

4.0   Financial Report

      4.   Sharon Rubeling read the financial report.  Trish Bingham moved that the financial statements be accepted as presented.  Helge Nome seconded.  Carried.

5.0   Business Arising From the Minutes

     5.1   Travel Expenses.  A letter was sent to council expressing our concern with the travel allowance rates.  Travel rates were discussed at the council meeting and no change was made.

     5.2   Road Maintenance Policy.  Grader operators are given a list of guidelines and expectations and are paid hourly.  Any road concerns should be directed to Danny Sutherland at the county office.

     5.3   Road Closure Policy.  Road closure applications go to AB Transportation as well as the county.

     5.4   Taxpayer Survey.  Results were tabulated from 50 surveys received and comments listed by category.  More surveys were received after the deadline for the draw.  Lawrence Stewart made the draw for the winner of the $100 gift certificate sponsored by CCTA.  The winner was Rick Lobley.

Results of the survey were discussed and it was decided that our results would be given to each councillor at the open house prior to publishing the results in The Beacon, Western Star and The Mountaineer.

     5.5   Airport Road.  The county purchased land for salt storage facility then purchased the acreage as well.  There still is no amount given for the purchase price.

6.0   New Business

    6.1   Report On Council Budget Deliberations.  Marianne Cole gave a report on the budget deliberations that she attended.  The county departments presented their budgets with detailed expense projections.  All salaries are to rise significantly.  The Rocky Regional Waste Authority did not present a breakdown of projected expenses.

    6.2   Report On Communications Committee.  Helge Nome reported that the committee has been dissolved as per council.

    6.3   Making CCTA More Visible.  Tabled until next meeting.

   6.4   Audit Of Books.  Marion Schafer has offered to audit the books.  Lavern Ahlstom moved that we accept her offer to audit CCTA books.  Lawrence Stewart seconded.  Carried.

   6.5   Rural Crime Watch Meeting.  The Rural Crime Watch will be holding their AGM that is open to the public with guest speakers at the Leslieville Hall with a tentative date of March 28.  Doors open at 6:00 p.m. with meeting at 7:00 p.m.

7.0  Open Forum

     7.1   Increase in CPO’s.  There is a question of why we need another CPO.  The county already has 4 officers and a Sgt.  There is confusion of what their role is in the county as per comments on the survey.

     7.2   County Employees.  The question was raised of why there are county employees who don’t live in the county driving county vehicles from their residence to their employment?

    8.0   Next meeting March 10, 2016 at 7:00 p.m.

    9.0  Adjournment.   Laverne Ahlstrom moved the meeting be adjourned at 9:38 p.m.