Town of Picture Butte Feb. 12 Council briefs

Posted on February 29, 2024 by Sunny South News

By Heather Cameron
Sunny South News

The following are selected briefs from the Town of Picture Butte Council meeting that took place on February 12.

Public Hearing and First Reading of Bylaw No. 941-23 Road Closure of Crescent Avenue

Mayor Cathy Moore opened a public hearing into the matter of Bylaw No. 941-23 Road Closure of Crescent Avenue and explained to Council that with the development of Phase 2 of Sunset Park, Albert Transportation would not allow a new road (9th Street North) and Crescent Avenue to exit on to Highway 25 in front of the Water Distribution Centre. Moore then inquired if anyone present was speaking in favour or against the bylaw.  

Chief Administrative Officer Keith Davis stated that the Administration registered a plan for the realignment of Crescent Avenue, Avenue that included closing sections of the old Crescent Avenue and opening up certain sections of the new Crescent Avenue. Davis also emphasized that the plan had been advertised and shared with agencies including FORTIS, Alberta Transportation, Telus, and ATCO, and no negative feedback has been received from all this work. 

With no feedback coming from the public hearing, Mayor Moore closed the public hearing. ORRSC planner Kattie Schlamp explained that once first reading is held, they will share all of the information from the public hearing and circulation responses with Alberta Transportation and it will take approximately five to six months for this step to occur. Once Alberta Transportation responds and should they give approval, Schlamp says, then second reading can be held. A motion was then made for first reading of Bylaw No. 941-23 Road Closure of Crescent Avenue and the motion was carried.

Bylaw No. 942-24 Butte Landing Area Structure Plan – First Reading

ORRSC planner Kattie Schlamp explained to Council that Bylaw No. 942-24 Butte Landing Area Structure Plan is for the adoption of an Area Structure Plan for lands at 3A Street South or Highway 843. The lands, Schlamp said, fall within Planning Area 3A within the Intermunicipal Development that the Town of Nobleford has agreed to with Lethbridge County and a condition of that is that developments in the area require an ASP be created and approved by both the Town of Nobleford and County of Lethbridge. 

Schlamp said that the Town of Nobleford, herself, and fellow ORRSC planner Steve Harty have been working with others to create the Area Structure Plan and have already circulated it to associated agencies. Thus far, Schlamp said, nobody has taken issue with it, but the deadline has not yet passed to respond. Schamp stated that a Public Hearing for the Area Structure Plan has been scheduled for February 26, 2024, where agencies and Lethbridge County will have opportunity to raise their concerns. At the moment, however, Schlamp said, this Plan is being presented for first reading. Council inquired if further work on the matter could wait until the public hearing and Schlamp agreed that it could, so Council decided to let the matter rest until then.

Bylaw No. 945-24 Health Professional Recruitment and Retention Committee bylaw

Chief Administrative Officer Keith Davis explained to Council that in 2021, Council passed Bylaw Number 908-21 Health Professional Recruitment and Retention Committee Bylaw and that the bylaw outlined the terms of reference for the Health Professional Recruitment and Retention Committee. Davis stated that the committee would like to request some amendments to the existing bylaw, and he created a new bylaw number for the new bylaw, so the old one did not have to be amended. Motions were made to put Bylaw Number 908-21 Health Professional Recruitment and Retention Committee Bylaw through first, second, and third reading and all three motions were carried.

Health Professional Recruitment and Retention Committee Appointments

Council discussed a recommendation submitted by CAO Davis that Susan O’Donnell, Gloria Elaschuk, Dave Feist, Teresa Feist, Boyd Folden, Curtis Watson, and Mattie Watson be appointed to the Health Professional Recruitment and Retention Committee. According to Bylaw Number 945-21 the Health Professional Recruitment and Retention Committee Bylaw, Davis said, members must be appointed to the committee by Council and Council has already appointed Mayor Moore and Deputy Mayor Papworth to be representatives while Lethbridge County has appointed Councilor Hickey to be on the committee. A motion was made to appoint Susan O’Donnell, Gloria Elaschuk, Dave Feist, Teresa Feist, Boyd Folden, Curtis Watson, and Mattie Watson be appointed to the Health Professional Recruitment and Retention Committee and the motion was carried.

CAO Report Highlights

Keith Davis, Chief Administrative Officer for the Town of Picture Butte, presented a report to Council.

The Wastewater Project, Davis said, is working on final design details and utility right of way. Davis stated that he and Director of Operations Aaron Benson have regular meetings with WSP regarding this work and Phase 3 of the sanitary main upgrade. 

Davis also stated that the electric ice resurface has been delivered to Big Hill Services in Cochrane and Big Hill Services is planning on delivering it soon. Davis also said he was working with donors to get payment and logos so they can get a design put on it.

On top of that, Davis said he attended a Picture Butte Interagency meeting with FCSS representatives and was informed of initiatives they were working on for the area. 

Director of Operations Report Highlights

Director of Operations Aaron Benson presented a report to Council. The garbage truck, Davis said, is fixed after needing to be serviced due to a broken part. 

The new Olympia, Davis said, also arrived in Red Deer on February 8, 2024, and Administration now requires getting logos, staff trained, and a date for the unveiling as of February 8.