Fireban/OHV Use

With the current fire ban in place, residents are unable to enjoy any fires at all, including in backyard fire pits. Councillor Sygutek brought an idea to council to allow for residents inside the municipal boundaries to have backyard fires.

“What I'm proposing to council is that we find some middle ground during this pandemic. What I'd like to offer the residents of this community, is that if they would like to have a backyard fire pit, they can contact the fire department and find out if they are or aren't in the restricted ire area. If they are, they can't have one, but if they're within the municipal boundaries I think we should be allowing those residents to have something in their backyard.”

Councillor Sygutek also mentioned during her proposal that the MD of Pincher Creek is allowing residents to have backyard fires and also said that the District of Sparwood has a system in place that also allows residents to have a fire pit on a year-to-year basis by renewing for a permit each year.

After some discussion, council defeated the motion to allow backyard fire pits.

The province also announced they have lifted the OHV use restrictions in the Forest Protection Area.

OHV restrictions have been lifted in the Forest Protection Areas and regional ones will be reconsidered as conditions change. The Staging area and Alberta public land closures remain in effect.

Alberta Public Land Closures

The following areas of Public Land in and around the Crowsnest Pass area are closed to motorized vehicles under Environment and Parks Ministerial Order:

• Allison Day Use
• Atlas Flats Staging Area
• MacGillivray Staging Area
• York Creek Staging Area
• Sartoris Staging Area
• Willow Creek - Johnson Creek Staging Area
• Beaver Creek Staging Area – Porcupine Hills

No vehicles are to be parked within any designated parking lot or staging area or any location within ONE KILOMETER of the closed area.

By-Election Update

As Council is aware, the vacancy created by Councillor Lundy's resignation requires the Municipality to hold a by-election by June 27, 2020. Given the current Covid-19 Pandemic, it would not be possible to hold a by-election therefore Administration contacted a Municipal Affairs Advisor to confirm which options are possible as a blanket extension to by-elections was not included in the recent MGA amendments. Administration was informed that ultimately it is only the Minister of Municipal Affairs that can alter the current requirement for holding a by-election. There are currently three options for council to consider. They can:

Plan for the by-election and hope that the Covid-19 restrictions are lifted prior to June 27, 2020.

Request that the Minister of Municipal Affairs grants an extension to the Section 165 requirement of 120 days to October 1, 2020. Request that the Minister of Municipal Affairs grants an exemption to Section 162 to allow Council to remain at 6 Councillors. It will then be within the 18-month window before a general election prior to the restrictions being lifted and considering that there is only one vacancy. After some discussion, Councillor Ward made a motion to bring this topic back to the next Council Meeting on May 5th. The motion was carried.

Digital issues of the Pass Herald are now available:

Subscribe and read the FULL Pass Herald online.

or read just this issue of the Pass Herald online.