CLEARWATER COUNTY TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION
MEETING MINUTES
March 08, 2018
ARBUTUS COMMUNITY HALL

1.0 Welcome and introductions

1. At 7:30 p.m. President Marianne Cole welcomed all those in attendance. Those in attendance introduced themselves.


2.0 Approval of Agenda
2. Item 6.4, 6.5, 6.6, 6.7 and 6.8 were added to the agenda. Ken Qually moved that we approve the agenda with the additions. Trish Bingham seconded. Carried.

3.0 Minutes of the last meeting
3. Marianne Cole read the minutes of the last meeting held Februay 08, 2018. Dan Warkentin moved that the minutes be approved as presented. Lawrence Stewart seconded. Carried. There is an update on the Elk’s fundraiser – It is now at nearly $70,000.

4.0 Financial Report

4. Pat Butler read the financial report. Pat Butler moved that the financial report by accepted as presented. Marlene Brattberg seconded. Carried.


5.0 Business arising from the minutes
5.1 Karl Zajes, speaker for April 12 – Karl will be our guest speaker on April 12 and will be speaking about orphan wells, oil leases ets.
5.2 Bighorn Wilderness Park Update – petition letters available – Lack of information is frustrating for residents. Marianne spoke to a rep of Y2Y with few answers. Y2Y will not meet a group due to “safety concerns”. We support our county stance on this issue. It was decided that Marianne will draft a letter to the province voicing our concerns with the park and Y2Y and foreign money support and highlight county initiatives.




6.0 New Business
6.1 County Council highlights ---February 27, 2018.
o Eckville Arena Request – the Eckville Arena Operating Association requested financial assistance with repairs to the arena. The request was denied.
o Council Compensation Committee Appointments – Members-at-large are Darryl Park, Lynn Webster and Dickson Wood with past council reps Ken Qually and Dick Wymenga. They will review councillor and board member compensation for the next three years.
o Leslieville/Condor Fire Halls – Town hall meetings at the fire halls scheduled for April 3 and 4th with tours at 6:30 and meeting at 7:00pm.
o Clearwater County Broadband Policy – Council approved a Broadband Policy which outlines the County’s goals and action in providing better broadband/internet service to our area.
o Village of Caroline Sr. Independent Living Initiative – Mayor John Rimmer of Caroline attended the meeting to outline the need for, and possible action on developing increased senior housing for the southern portion of the county. Council directed Administration to draft a letter of support for this initiative. A member noted that there has been a suggestion to turn an abandoned hotel in Caroline into senior housing but there are concerns that this would be an expensive remodel due to regulations.

6.2 Potential wind farm info- maybe get a guest speaker on this – there are reports of a potential windfarm being built NW of Leslieville. Marianne Cole left a message with the county but no reply as of yet. Windfarms are under the jurisdiction of Alberta Utilities Guidelines according to Municipal Affairs.

6.3 Council Meeting Agenda for March 13, 2018 – one of the items on the agenda is a public hearing for an application to change zoned industrial land to agricultural.


6.4 There is a Rural Crime Watch tradeshow from 11-3 in the Subway Room at the Christianson Centre on Saturday March 10th.


6.5 Jayden Evans update – there was 5 minute appearance for the accused of the Elk’s Hall arson. He reserved his plea. March 19th @ 10:00 is his next appearance. There was discussion regarding victim impact statements.

6.6 Broadband Survey & info – Dan Warkentin brought forward a concern that item G2 on the Clearwater County Council Agenda contained no data to support answers and there were incomplete answers with data not being used from the survey.


6.7 Medical Marijuana – the County’s medical marijuana policy is that it will not be considered farming and must be located in an industrial area. There are concerns being raised by some with Facebook posts and a webpage “Clearwater Farming”.


6.8 Lacombe Council recorded vote procedure – Lacombe County have implemented a policy that all council votes must be recorded for the public to promote transparency. Ken Qually made a motion that Marianne Cole draft a letter to our council to consider this policy. Doug Smith seconded. Carried.



7.0 Open Forum
7.1 There is a Grassroots Alberta Conference in Medicine Hat called “Roadmap to Change” for anyone wishing to attend on March 9th, 2018.

8.0 Next meetings: April 12, 2018 @ 7:30pm; May 10, 2018 @ 7:30pm.

9.0 Ken Qually moved for adjournment @ 9:20 p.m.