July 25 Council Meeting Highlights Summary
All council members were present along with 8 members of the public. This was one of the best regular meeting turnouts we have seen. Keep coming folks! The more engaged we are, the better the chance we have of making Thorhild County be the community we want it to be!
Emergency Services Bylaw Survey – 850 responses (32% of the surveys mailed out). The vast majority (480/850) of people chose “Option 1” being that firefighting costs are included in our taxes. Now they will go back and decide what that looks like. If it will be an increase in taxes or if they will distribute funds from non-essential services to firefighting
Some input from the Councillors included:
Richard Filipchuk – He has received many calls and had many discussions with people on the topic of this bylaw and the biggest concern he has heard is that the current bylaw has no “right to appeal” option. Also concerns about how much, if any, increase to the mill rate will be applied to cover firefighting costs.
(***My PERSONAL OPINION *** is that there should be NO increase to the taxes whatsoever. What are taxes ultimately for if not essential services which are roads and emergency services? Funds should be diverted from non-essential services and NO tax increase should occur to accommodate this change. Again, this is my personal opinion)
Richard also stated that he feels the amended bylaw cannot be rammed through but requires further input from the public..
Angela Zilinski – She mentioned that in reading the comments that she saw several concerns of the possibility of non-taxpayers filling out the survey. She said she feels the survey results may be skewed if that is the case and that it is something to consider next time. Because the survey was anonymous anyone could have filled it out.
Janine Paly – She stated that based on survey results they have no option but to pick option 1, as the people made their wishes clear at the Town Hall and on the survey. She also stated that she agrees with getting more public input on the amendment but that the bylaw must be amended to reflect the choice to have the costs included with taxes.
Joyce Pierce – Says we have been here before, and the bylaw has been modified many times. Decisions need to be made now how it will play out with the budget.
Trevor Dafoe – responded to Pierce stating that we have been here before because it’s a complicated issue.
Result: Janine Paly – made a motion to amend the bylaw to include no charge for fire response.
Delegation Business – There was a presentation from Associated Engineering on the Opal Road ditch situation that Doug Olchowy brought forth in a delegation that devolved into Doug speaking up in frustration in the meeting and Reeve Joyce Pierce shouting at him that there are many roads and ditches in the county that need attention and the ratepayers are suffering because of it.
Some input from the councillors included:
Trevor Dafoe spoke up and said that he sees both sides but that he does not think that what Doug Olchowy is asking for is not unreasonable and that as long as a low cost solution is available.
Jeanine Paly suggested that it be referred to budget time and that there are many roads requiring attention
Joyce Pierce – stated that the road study did not identify this section of road as a priority item.
Result: Ultimately the decision was made to accept the presentation as information and directed the matter to the CAO for the 2024 budget planning session
Other items of note:
-Proposed Water and Wastewater Bylaw 10-2023 – was defeated
-Emergency Services Incident Command Trailer purchase – Approved
-An auctioneer was appointed for the Aug 8 land auction
-The matter brought forth by the Egremont Community Club regarding their request for the return of land was discussed and decided that since there is no evidence to support the request the matter is considered closed.
-“Rural Renewal Stream – Community Designation”. – This is a program that seeks to supply jobs in the community to foreign workers when the positions are unable to be filled locally. The decision was made to see if local business are in need of such a program before a decision is made to apply.
-Financial Report
Not every item is included in this post so
Click here for the meeting minutes
Click here for the meeting recording