Paintearth council was asked to approve a capital budget increase to go towards purchasing a $18,100 grain bag roller during their regular meeting on Tues. Feb. 7.
Since the budget was initially approved, the price for a grain bag roller has gone up to $18,100 for the one council was interested in purchasing.
An Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) grant will supply $5,000 towards the purchase while the rest of the funding will come out of reserves.
Many councillors questioned if a grain bag roller would really be worth the money being spent on it.
“It seems like a lot of money for something we might not even use,” said Coun. Dale Norton.
Having a grain bag roller is an important part of the overall recycling program for the county, said CAO Simpson.
“Paintearth will continue to support farmers in diverting agricultural plastics from the landfill to Paintearth Regional Waste Management’s Coronation site to preserve longevity of the local transfer station operated just outside the Town of Coronation.”
The motion was carried 4 to 1 to approve the budget increase to purchase the grain bag roller with Coun. Dale Norton opposed.
Surface rental recovery
Todd Plandowski of Agri-Energy Partners reached out to council in a delegation during the meeting on Tues. Feb. 7 in order to provide information regarding his company and the ability to help landowners recover costs from oil companies who have not paid for using their land.
Plandowski was certain a huge sum of money has yet to be paid to county landowners.
“There is about $2.3 million that I would be 100 per cent certain companies haven’t paid yet since we are already doing rental recoveries on them,” said Plandowski.
With rental recovery the government has said that 80 per cent of people who are eligible for it haven’t applied, said Plandowski.
“With people applying for rental recovery it still isn’t where it should be. We believe is every landowner should be applying somehow for it since it’s their money.”
Council motioned to accept the presentation as information.
Cancel finance charges
A contractor damaged a County of Paintearth water line with the county then issuing an invoice for $6276.52 on Sept. 15, 2022.
Having since paid the invoice the contractor made a request to council to have the interest charges of $258.64 waived.
During the discussion many concerns were raised by council members regarding waiving the fees.
“My only concern when you do that, is that you are actually condoning bad behaviour,” said Reeve Stan Schulmeister.
However, as a show of goodwill, council unanimously approved a motion to waive the interest fees.
Inter-municipal fire services
The previous inter-municipal Fires Services Agreement between the County of Paintearth, the Town of Castor, the Town of Coronation and the Village of Halkirk expired on Dec. 31, 2022 making it necessary for the communities to enter into a new agreement.
While most aspects of the agreement have remained the same there is a change in the length of the terms of fire truck replacement by the county from 20 to 25 years.
For the county, the agreement is very important, said CAO Michael Simpson.
“The County relies on the partnerships with our urban fire departments to deliver fire protection services to County residents. Without these types of agreements in place, the County would then need to provide its own fire and rescue service for calls outside the urban boundaries and that cost would be greater than the current arrangement.”
Urban areas also benefit from the agreement, said CAO Simpson.
“The urban areas benefit from the agreement too, as they receive annual grants around $35,000 each, combined for operational and equipment purchase purposes.”
Council unanimously approved the agreement.
Electronic transmission records
Council was asked to give the first reading to a bylaw which will allow individuals to apply to have assessment notices, tax notices, and other notices under parts 9, 10 and 11 under the Municipal Government’s Act (MGA) sent electronically.
The bylaw will be brought forward for the second and third readings at the March 14 meeting.
Ski hill request
Council received a donation request from the Valley Ski Club to go towards the cost of the fireworks for the hill’s 75-anniversary celebration.
The estimated cost for the fireworks was $4000.
While councillors were not too pleased at the cost of the fireworks, council still saw value in supporting the celebration.
A motion was made for the county to provide a donation at the councillor’s discretion to go to the Valley Ski Club and was carried unanimously.
Centenarian resident recognition
An individual made a request regarding recognition from the county in honour of a relative’s 100th birthday.
It was decided a certificate be made to recognize the achievement.
Since this type of request for recognition hasn’t been requested before and the county didn’t have a policy to address the topic, a new policy was made during the meeting in order to honour the request.
A motion was made to recognize the application according to this addition to the county policy and was carried unanimously.
Further information will be made available on how individuals can apply to honour their loved ones and family legacies on the county website, said CAO Simpson.
Community efforts
Council approved a motion unanimously to give the Coronation Cemetery Society $2,500 as per their request to build a gazebo at the cemetery.
Busy Beaver Daycare sent a request to council for a donation of an auction item of any value for the daycare’s second annual Facebook auction.
The motion to donate some items for the auction was carried unanimously.
Sarah Baker
ECA Review
