The Village of Big Valley held its Dec. 18 regular council meeting under the auspices of an official administrator (OA) after two councillors resigned in November.
OA Gene Sobolewski introduced himself to several village residents attending the meeting, including Coun. Dan Houle, who remains a councillor.
Sobolewski explained that, after Mayor Clarke German and Coun. Amber Hoogenberg resigned last month, the council was left without quorum, making it impossible to hold council meetings.
Therefore, under the authority of the Municipal Government Act (MGA) the Government of Alberta appointed Sobolewski as OA to act as council until Big Valley’s quorum is restored.
It should be noted that although Houle remains a councillor, only the OA has authority to make council decisions until the quorum is restored.
Houle was present at the Dec. 18 meeting as an observer.
Sobolewski stated he’s got 17 years experience as a mayor and councillor plus he’s worked as a chief administrative officer (CAO) himself along with expertise as an engineer.
Council remuneration
CAO Colleen Mayne presented the first item on the agenda, council remuneration, which was carried forward from the previous council meeting.
Council in Nov. had discussed their pay rates compared to other Alberta municipalities.
Sobolewski stated as an OA he deferred policy decisions to a later date after Big Valley’s quorum has been restored.
The OA stated he wouldn’t be spending any money, just keeping the lights on.
He passed and approved a motion to defer the council remuneration item to a future meeting.
Snow removal
Council at a previous meeting also discussed the village’s snow removal policy.
Sobolewski noted he preferred to consider requests for decision (RFD) and since there was no RFD for this item, he tabled snow removal to the Jan. 15, 2024 regular council meeting.
FCSS funding
The village also received an FCSS funding request from the Big Valley Ag Society; Sobolewski stated since there was no RFD for this item, he would table it to a future meeting.
Signing authority
Sobolewski made and passed several motions related to signing authority.
He made and passed a motion to make himself a signing authority for the Village of Big Valley while also making and passing a motion to remove German and Hoogenberg as signing authorities.
The CAO noted since the village lost quorum in Nov. she was the only signing authority the village had and since two signatures were required to spend money, the municipality was at a standstill.
Interim budget
Mayne presented a report on the 2024 interim budget, which was supposed to be discussed at a special council meeting; however, after the village lost quorum, the special meeting couldn’t be held.
Mayne noted there was a provincial government deadline of Dec. 31 to get a 2024 budget approved.
Mayne stated there have been serious financial reporting problems for the Village of Big Valley staff; the 2022 audited financial statement hasn’t been approved while the 2023 audited financial statement requires substantial balancing work (“reconciliation”).
Sobolewski acknowledged a budget must be approved before Dec. 31 so made and passed a motion to adopt the current 2023 budget as the 2024 interim budget, “…which seems appropriate in this situation.”
It was noted several times in the meeting the full 2024 operating and capital budget could be discussed after a new council is sworn in.
Speaking of which…
Sobolewski stated the MGA requires a by-election be held 120 days from the loss of quorum; he further noted almost a month had already passed since the two resignations.
Hence, he made and passed a resolution that a by-election be held in the Village of Big Valley Feb. 18, 2024 to fill the two vacant council seats.
CAO Mayne was named returning officer, while it was stated the village would advertise for the position of deputy returning officer.
CAO report
Mayne noted she didn’t have time to prepare a written CAO report, but rather gave a verbal update.
Mayne stated over the past month she has been working on the 2022 financial statement and noted council approved bringing in a contractor who specializes in this work to help out.
Mayne noted several times in the meeting some of the village’s financial reporting is “not normal” and cited an example for the 2023 financial statement of snow removal expenses being logged in the electricity budget.
She noted going back through departments and files to complete the 2022 financial statement is going to be a lot of work.
However, Sobolewski noted that information shows that the village’s financial health, while disorganized, doesn’t seem bad: it appears with grants the village should have a roughly $55,000 surplus.
Sobolewski accepted the CAO report, financial report and budget variance items as information.
Stu Salkeld
Local Journalism Initiative reporter
ECA Review
