Administration Committee Minutes

Transcription

1 Council Chambers Call to 1:20 p.m. 2:30 p.m. Meeting Time: 1 hr. 10 min. 1. Present Attending: Chairperson Fox, Reeve Harwood, Councillors: Germs, Chuhaniuk, Rooke, Beauchemin, Froese-Kooijenga and Trask Absent: Councillor Janzen Staff: Adam Tittemore, Administrator; Barb Zelinski, Assistant Administrator; Audrey Lalonde, Treasury/Corporate Records Clerk Chairperson Fox called the meeting to order at 1:20 p.m. 2. Agenda The Committee approved the Administration Committee agenda. 11. Chuhaniuk Regional Waste Management Committee 12. Chuhaniuk Canada 150 Fund 13. Chuhaniuk Community Associations Payment of Invoices Beauchemin: That the Administration Committee Agenda be approved. 3. Administration Carryforward Action List The Committee was presented the June 2015 Administration Carryforward Action List. Councillor Beauchemin left the meeting room. Germs: That Administration bring back a report outlining a proposed plan for enhancement of the tax title property, known as Parcel A. NE W3, prior to relisting it for sale. Recorded Vote: For: Reeve Harwood, Chairman Fox, Councillors Germs, Chuhaniuk, Rooke, Trask Opposed: Councillor Froese-Kooijenga Carried Councillor Beauchemin returned to the meeting room. Froese-Kooijenga: received. That the Administration June 2015 Carryforward Action List be

2 Page 2 4. Tax Title Property Parcel A, SE W3 The Committee was provided information regarding the current status of the tax title property known as Parcel A, SE W3. In 1988 a small parcel was discovered in SE W3 owned by Peter Schultz, who was the Great, Great Grandfather of Veronica Guenther who owned the remainder of the quarter except for Parcel B in the NE corner. The parcel was assessed and taxed to Peter Schultz c/o Veronica Guenther. In September 1988 a letter was received from Veronica Guenther declining to pay the taxes but indicating that they may be interested in acquiring the parcel in the future should it come to the R.M. through tax enforcement. In September 1992 title was transferred to the R.M. through the tax enforcement process. At the October 13, 1992 Council meeting Council passed a resolution to invite Veronica Guenther and Peter Schierling (owner of Parcel B) to submit offers to purchase the Schultz parcel subject to consolidation. At the November 2, 1992 Administration Committee meeting it was reported that the Guenther s were not interested and no response was received from the Schierling s. The tax arrears were cancelled and it was decided that the title would remain in the name of the Municipality as it had no market value. Currently Parcel B is owned by Murray Schierling and the remainder of the quarter is owned by Judith Farrell, descendant of Veronica Guenther. The property was advertised for sale by Public Tender in the February 19, 2015 issue of the Clark s Crossing Gazette with a deadline of April 30, 2015 for submission of tenders. There have been no tenders received. Rooke: That Council receives the information advising that no tenders to purchase were received in response to the February 19, 2015 advertisement and approve the 1992 tax title property, known as Parcel A. Plan in the SE W3, be retained by the Municipality. 5. Debbie Moyer Nuisance Abatement Order The Committee was presented with correspondence received from MacDermid Lamarsh Law Office, representing the Moyer s, requesting a further extension of the Nuisance Abatement Order so that they may have the summer to clean up the property. A Nuisance Abatement Order was issued to Ed and Debbie Moyer on July 2, 2014 under the Rural Municipality of Corman Park Nuisance Abatement Bylaw 26/13 giving until September 1, 2014 to have the property located at Block 2 NE W3 (855 Hill Street) cleaned up.

3 Page 3 The Moyer s appealed the Order and at the July 21, 2014 Council meeting an extension of time was granted to March 31, On May 20, 2015 an inspection of the site was completed by the Administrator, the Chief of Police and the Director of Public Works accompanied by Ed Moyer for the property owner. During the inspection it was noted that the property remains in non-compliance with Bylaw 26/13. Specifically there are more than six junked or wrecked vehicles, materials remain within three metres of buildings and stored in an untidy manner, not adequately raised off the ground. On May 25, 2015 correspondence was sent to the property owner advising that the R.M. would now be securing the services of appropriate contractors to remedy the property, with all costs to be added to the property tax roll of the land. Chuhaniuk: That a further extension of the Nuisance Abatement Order on Block 2 NE W3 (855 Hill Street) to August 31, 2015 be approved. Recorded Vote: For: Councillors Chuhaniuk, Fox Opposed: Reeve Harwood, Councillor Germs, Rooke, Beauchemin, Froese-Kooijenga, Trask Motion Lost Trask: That the Moyer s be advised that no further extension of time be granted for the Nuisance Abatement Order on Block 2 NE W3 (855 Hill Street). 6. Weed Control in Merrill Hills The Committee was presented information regarding concern with the control of Leafy Spurge on the actual road allowance in the Hamlet of Merrill Hills. Leafy Spurge is on the Noxious Weed list and is one of the most difficult plants to eradicate mainly because its root system can go down over 25 feet and the seeds can stay viable in the soil for up to 8 years. New plants can be started from clippings and the plant itself can grow in any type of soil condition from sand to rock to gravel and even when half submerged in water. A lot of herbicides will not work on Leafy Spurge because of the massive root system. A report was given to Council on September 16, 2013 stating that residents of Merrill Hills were concerned with herbicide use and the resulting impact on the aquifer. It was agreed to abandon spraying in the Hamlet at that time. Last summer a meeting was held with the Hamlet board, the R.M. Administrator, the Weed Inspector and residents of the Hamlet. At that meeting there were still some concerns from a few individuals about the herbicides and the aquifer. The Weed Inspector advised that the one herbicide containing Picloram was not being used anywhere close to the Hamlet and that 4 water samples per year would be taken from wells in the Hamlet and there would be continuous testing for the next 3-5 years. It was

4 Page 4 indicated that herbicides being used in the Hamlet on private property and surrounding area were safe to use and msds sheets were made available. There have been 3 years of water testing to date without any trace of herbicide residue detected in the samples. There have also been soil samples taken from the pasture on the west side of Merrill Hills and they have come back showing more organic matter available than is needed to break down herbicide compounds. Direct sunlight also breaks these elements down. A return from Clark Brenzil, P.Ag, Government of Saskatchewan Provincial Specialist Weed Control, Crops and Irrigation Branch, Ministry of Agriculture was also read to the attendees stating the residents should not have any concerns using the herbicides that we are proposing to use in the Hamlet, namely Overdrive, Dicamba and Truvist / Navius VM. Last year immediate land bordering Merrill Hills including Street s, Kelly s and Vangool s were all sprayed with Overdrive/Banvel mix. Properties next out from that were given a 3 way mix which included 1 litre of Tordon compared to 3 litres if we were using it straight, those properties included Preston s, Harwood s, Houseman s, Brown s, and McMillan s. Navius was used on Hitchings property and the road allowance on Merrill School Road and Merrill Road up to the Hamlet. We used Overdrive/Banvel on 9 properties in Merrill Hills. There are another 5 residents in Merrill Hills that are spraying their own properties with herbicide to control Leafy Spurge. The issue of concern is the amount of Leafy Spurge on the actual road allowance in the Hamlet of Merrill Hills. Up until now we have agreed to mow the ditch in the Hamlet which only suppresses seed production. Leafy Spurge is continuing to spread. Merrill Road was sprayed with OverDrive 2 years ago, then left for a year and last year was sprayed with Navius. The results are positive, with about a 90-95% kill on the Spurge with only a few patches remaining. After this year there should be only a handful of plants remaining depending how much of a seed bank there is and how much is transported in from other areas. In a door to door survey in 2014, there were 3 residents in Merrill Hills that didn t want the road allowance in the Hamlet sprayed, 17 residents that were in favour of spraying and 8 residents that were unable to be reached. The R.M. is spraying private property in Merrill Hills and adjacent to properties in Merrill Hills with good to excellent results depending on the herbicide used. As stated above mowing is not a viable option for the simple reason that it does not eradicate the weed, you cannot kill Leafy Spurge by mowing it. The Weed Control Act states: 15(1) Every owner or occupant of land shall: (b) under the supervision of the Weed Inspector, eradicate any isolated infestations of noxious weeds located on the land; PART 1 2(1)(H) eradicate means, with reference to a prohibited weed or any isolated infestation of a noxious weed i. to kill all growing parts of the weed; and ii. to render the reproductive mechanisms of the weed non viable.

5 Page 5 The Municipality is responsible to ensure that Provincial regulations are followed. The road and road allowance in the Hamlet of Merrill Hills ultimately belongs to the R.M. of Corman Park. Other non-viable options would the use of sheep; cultivation; leafy spurge beetles; hand picking and mowing - which would be 4 times for the summer at a cost of $ per hour for 4 hours each time and a complete pressure washing of machinery (tractor and mower) $ Each time the total cost of application would be $ X 4 = $3, The most productive, viable and cost-effective control of Leafy Spurge is to spray once per year at an approximate cost of $ and mow once. The cost of spraying would gradually go down as the infestation is controlled. Rooke: That Council authorizes the Weed Inspector to spray road allowances into and within the Hamlet of Merrill Hills to control Leafy Spurge with the herbicides recommended by Clark Brenzil, P.Ag, Government of Saskatchewan Provincial Specialist Weed Control, Ministry of Agriculture, namely Overdrive, Dicamba and Truvist / Navius VM. 7. Identification Signs on Highways The Committee was presented with information regarding the current regulations regarding the erection of municipal identification signs along the major highways with the R.M. Council will recall passing a motion at the May 4, 2015 meeting directing Administration to check into the cost and procedure to erect signs along the major highways identifying when travelers are entering the Municipality. Saskatchewan Highways has advised that current Regulations do not allow these signs to be installed. They have had many requests for permits to erect the signs however cannot issue permits at this time. A request for a policy to allow these types of signs is in the works. Rooke: That Council receives the report on the erection of municipal identification signs on highways as information and forward a formal request to Saskatchewan Highways requesting the creation of a policy to allow these types of signs.

6 Page 6 8. Municipal Lawn Sign The Committee was presented with design samples for the replacement of the Administration office lawn sign. At the Strategic Planning Session, November 24, 2014 interest was expressed to have the lawn sign at the Municipal Office replaced. At the December 15, 2014 Council meeting Administration was directed to request quotes for a new lawn sign. At the April 13, 2015 Administration Committee Meeting a budget of $6,000 to $8,000 was authorized to replace the lawn sign and Administration was directed to obtain samples of signs from a few companies. Three companies were contacted and have provided samples of signs: 1. Wolfecroft Signs (3 samples) 2. Abacus Signs (3 samples) 3. PM Signs (1 sample) Harwood: That PM Signs and Wolfecroft Signs be contacted for a price for a lawn sign similar in design to the one submitted by PM Signs but constructed of different materials. 9. College of Pharmacy and Nutrition Noise Bylaw Special Event Permit The Committee was presented with an application from The College of Pharmacy and Nutrition requesting a Noise Bylaw Special Event Permit and liquor approval letter for their SPNSS Annual Bush Party. The event will take place September 11, 2015 from 7:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. on the LSD 5& W3rd and is expected to host approximately 1200 attendees. The Committee deferred discussion to June 15, 2015 Council meeting pending clarification regarding the requirement of the liquor approval letter. 10. Annual Family/Staff BBQ The Committee was presented with an update regarding the Staff/Family BBQ event to be hosted by the R.M. This event was established as a way for Council and staff to intermingle on a more casual level outside of the office environment. As well it provided an opportunity to recognize those who have reached years of service milestones with the Municipality as per HR Policy 014. In previous years the planning of this event has been carried out by Administration and requires Council to set a budget to assist in the planning process. The BBQ for this year was set for Tuesday, June 23, 2015, beginning at 5:00 p.m. but Administration advised the Committee that an alternate day was now required with notification of the new date to follow.

7 Page Regional Waste Management Association Councillor Chuhaniuk brought forward questions regarding the Regional Waste Management Association. 12. Canada 150 Fund Councillor Chuhaniuk brought forward questions as to whether there are any projects the Municipality could apply for through the Canada 150 Fund. Information is to be brought to the June 15, 2015 Council Meeting. 13. Community Associations Accounts Councillor Chuhaniuk brought forward a question regarding alternate methods for Community Associations to pay their accounts. 14. Adjourn Rooke: That the Administration Committee Meeting be adjourned at 2:30 p.m. Administrator