Mayor Bruce Decoux called a Governance and Priorities committee meeting to order on Tuesday, August 20th at the Municipal Offices in Coleman. Here are some of the highlights and topics brought up for discussion:
Entrance Feature Project
A Community Strategic action plan is to be put in place, which includes new Entrance signs as part of re-branding. As indicated by CAO Myron Thompson, there are two major parts to the project. 1) Location of Entrance feature. “The planned area is directly south of the Lyons Campground. It would be approximately 20 or 30 meters east of the campground or flat area.” 2) Sign Base Design: Includes a negative space in the center to symbolize the importance of the highway pass and Frank Slide.
Councillor Siegbert Gail asked, “could we move it to the east where we have our sign on the highway that states 'you're entering the Crowsnest Pass'?” Thompson then responded, saying they would have to make that determination at a later date. “If council has concerns about the location, we can provide more information.”
High Water and Flooding Event
Due to the floods on June 20, 2013, property owners have hopes of a Provincial Disaster Relief program. The major concerns are as follows:
1. Relief for Response Costs-$60,000 paid out
2. Assistance for the recovery and rehabilitation of Residential, Commercial and Municipal Property and Infrastructure Damage
3. Mitigation of any further violent flooding
4. Recovery of Road Access to Trail Systems in back country
Councillor Brian Gallant responded to this by asking “who is responsible for paying for that cleanup and removal?” Thompson said that it would be the Alberta Environment. Councillor Gallant then said he didn't want to get caught in a situation where suddenly they're expected to fix everything every time something happens.
Councillor Saje added that he wanted to see a community stakeholders meeting that involves council and other people in the community. Mayor Decoux agreed that it was a good idea.
Request for response- General Items
Items such as meeting with York Creek Lodge and Land Reserve policy was met with little discussion.
Live streaming and the possible inclusion of it in council meetings was discussed. Councillor Andrew Saje recommended going with “something a little less costly and more appropriate to upload the audio file and the website once it's checked.” Mayor Decoux agreed that was probably a better idea.
Considerable discussion was given to the Public Interest Disclosure and the recommendation for a Code of Conduct policy. Mayor Decoux recommended that “a good starting point would be calling code of conduct policy for council.” When a recommendation is made to the council, the council can either accept or reject it.
Mayor Decoux further pushed to get it put on the agenda. He stated that “the councillors that are concerned with it can through a notion of motion to the council.”
Highway 3- Engineering studies and Turtle Mountain Club Riding request were also items discussed.
