Wallace-Woodworth Council works through agenda items
Council approved the Assiniboine West Watershed District water retention sites on the properties of Henry Ellis and Trevor Frattinger.
The Breadalbane Cemetery term deposit matured on July 17. Interest of $884.14 was transferred to the RM general operating account and released to the cemetery to pay for their operating expenses.
Iris Vercaigne assistant CAO, Tiffany Cameron economic development officer and Reeve Clayton Canart were authorized to attend the Invest in Canada (IIC) tour in Virden on Aug. 29. IIC is Canada’s foreign investment agency. They attract global companies and support their expansion plans in Canada.
Council discussed the letter from Blair Fordyce on behalf of the Greenwood cemetery requesting financial assistance for the proposed columbarium there for the storage of urns holding cremated remains. CAO Garth Mitchell explained that the niches are selling for $1,100. He said, “There's 24 niches, and they're looking at returning around $1,100 a piece if they're all sold, but they've only got one sold so far.”
Coun. Val Caldwell stated that the RM had supported a similar project at the Virden Cemetery with a grant of $1500 and she moved to match that amount for Greenwood Cemetery. The motion was passed.
Kayleigh Kyle was appointed as Elkhorn village caretaker.
The Black Gold Classic cattle show applied for sponsorship from the RM again this year. Coun. Barb Stambuski said, “We need to respond to them and say this letter needs to be in a lot earlier because most of our grants have already been granted.” Stambuski then moved to give the same sponsorship support as last year. The motion was carried.
Council appointed Sensus Chartered Accountants to perform the financial audit for the year. A discussion followed regarding the high cost of audits and Coun. Lyle Kinnaird raised the possibility of tendering the work to find a lower cost solution. CAO Mitchell noted that tendering the work would be a possibility in the future, but at present, information was still being gathered to integrate all aspects of municipal finances. Reeve Canart said, “We did tender out our Trans Canada West audit, and some of them were almost double what Sensus was for an audit fee. So not saying that we can't tender it at some point in time, but I think price wise, they've been pretty favourable.” All councillors agreed that auditing costs were not appropriate for the relatively small size of municipal budgets, and they will investigate ways to make changes to the process.
Childcare
Council passed a resolution to appoint a daycare operator for the Elkhorn RTM childcare facility project. They accepted Elkhorn Early Learning Centre as proposed and CAO Mitchell will negotiate a lease agreement. This will include a 15 year nominal rent agreement where RM Wallace-Woodworth will provide building support, maintenance and repairs, as well as snow clearing and grass cutting. Elkhorn Early Learning Centre will pay utilities.
Council reviewed the minutes of the Elkhorn Park Revitalisation Committee and discussed changes made to the original site plan. CAO Mitchell commented on these changes and some of the reasoning behind them. The walkway through the site needs to be extended to connect to all structures to meet the conditions for a grant. Other changes include location of signage and more garbage bins. Reeve Canart added, “It's really changed the look of it, looks fantastic. So, kudos to the to the committee and all the volunteers who have gotten it done so quickly.”
A public hearing was opened to hear the application from Paul Bickerton to vary the minimum required front property line setback from 125 feet to 35 feet for the construction of a building on the farm. Development officer Corey Nixon attended to bring the details of the application. Council discussed the possibility that the placement of the building could cause extra snow removal costs and a development agreement was added to the variation order to ensure the extra costs will be borne by the landowner.
Elkhorn District Community Centre applied for a permit to install the new ice plant for the facility. The plant will be enclosed in a shipping container and Development Officer Nixon said, “the current zoning bylaw states that shipping containers are only allowed in agricultural and industrial zones.” But this will be a mechanically designed unit that is designed by engineers. Using this container in this zone would require a development agreement to allow an exception to the zoning bylaw. Nixon will prepare the development agreement and submit it for council’s approval.
Coun. Stambuski reported from the vet board meeting that doors are being installed in the clinic and other large equipment will be purchased through a grant from the provincial government.
Stambuski attended the Trans Canada West planning district meeting where a proposed possible subdivision was discussed.
Reeve Canart reported on an event he attended in Elkhorn where Rob Nederlof spoke of his 1000 km. trip by bicycle to support the Wounded Warriors service dog program.
Canart also attended the Trans Canada West meeting and said there will be further discussion “once we have some more information hopefully from the province.”
The meeting moved to an in camera session before adjournment.
