Brazeau County Council Highlights
August 2, 2011
Keith Ebbs attended the meeting to make a presentation to Council regarding the Landscape Management Plan that is under development for the Town of Drayton Valley. More information on this plan is available from the Town.
Milad Asdaghi, Breakwell Group, presented the final report for the Brazeau-Drayton Regional Collaboration Initiative regarding land use planning, economic development, and recreation and culture facilities. A copy of the final report is available on the County website www.brazeau.ab.ca Results of the review for water/wastewater services will be forthcoming in September, 2011. Council passed a resolution to accept the report as information and also accepted the following recommendations:
- Develop a Memorandum of Understanding for Land Use Planning to explore:
- Opportunity for creating consistency in the language of the planning documents used by the two municipalities;
- Explore software to be used for planning and development purposes and that could be jointly used by the two municipalities.
- Agree in principle to the creation of a sub agreement for recreation and culture that supports:
- Cost sharing on the basis of the proportion of County and Town students enrolled in schools in Drayton Valley;
- Include the following regional recreation and cultural facilities:
Park Valley Pool
Omniplex
Mackenzie Conference Centre
Splash Park
Skateboard Park
Eleanor Pickup Centre
Brazeau Sports Park
“Class A” Sports Fields in Drayton Valley - Include a provision for the hiring of a Regional Recreation Director by the Town to undertake certain regional services.
- Agree in principle to the creation of a sub agreement for Economic Development that:
- Is run by the County on behalf of the Town and County;
- Cost sharing on a 50/50 basis of the costs of regional economic development activities;
- Requires the development of a regional economic development strategy.
The next stage in this process is to develop sub-agreements outlining the details of how each of the recommendations will be implemented and managed. The sub-agreements will be presented to each Council for approval by the end of September, 2011. Implementation of the sub-agreements will impact the 2012 budget. Cost sharing increase to the County for recreation and culture facilities is estimated at $250,000 per year. Cost sharing of regional economic development services by the Town to the County will be determined following the development of a regional economic development strategy.
Penny Lees-Smith and her husband Allan Smith from the Kin Club of Drayton Valley attended the meeting to make a presentation for the Portraits of Honour, which is a mural that stretches 10 feet wide and features the faces of the 155 Canadian soldiers, sailors and aircrew who have lost their lives in Afghanistan. There will be a tour through Drayton Valley on September 14, 2011.
Council gave first reading to Bylaw 764-11 to allow for outdoor storage of oilfield equipment and first reading to Bylaw 766-11 to amend the Land Use Bylaw for the addition of contracting services, major and oilfield support services. Council also approved a Development Permit within the Direct Control District for outdoor storage of rig mats and signage.
Council reviewed a report regarding the updating and replacement of Brazeau County signage and passed a motion to proceed with their choice of Option No. 2 with the addition of a space to include fire ban information. Administration will now proceed with a Request for Proposal from sign companies to establish final pricing. The goal is to replace existing signage over the next 3 years.
R. Ennis, Director of Agriculture provided Council with a verbal report regarding Highway 22 bridge construction. He reported that it is behind schedule due to the amount of rain we have received. Completion date has been changed from 2013 to 2014.
Reeve W. Tweedle reported that he had received a call from a farmer who asked if the County would be declaring a disaster situation because of the large amount of rain. Council discussed the request and passed a motion not to declare a disaster at this time.
Council passed a motion to donate $500.00 to the Tomahawk & District Sports & Agra Society to assist with repair of a leaking roof at the Tomahawk Community Hall.
The next regular Council meetings are August 23, 2011 and September 13, 2011