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A Free Weekly Publication Serving All of Beaver County Wednesday, March 2, 2022, Volume 15, Issue 9 Wednesday February 16 2022 Volume 15 Issue 7
County holds first special committee meeting Patricia Harcourt Beaver County held its first Governance and Priorities Committee (GPC) meeting in a special two-hour session on Wednesday, February 23. This is the first time a GPC meeting, set up for every fourth Wednesday of the month going forward, has taken place since they were cancelled by the 2017-2021 council early in its mandate. However, the governance review commissioned by that same council before leaving office last fall recommended the GPC meetings return. That recommendation came from consultant Rick McDonald, who is now the county’s interim CAO. GPC meeting were formerly called Committee of the Whole (CoW) meetings during the previous administration. The first meeting for the newly resurrected committee was held to
define the GPC’s parametres. The committee members must define, “what a GPC is, how will it set criteria and prioritize a list of topics,” said McDonald, noting “there is a long list” of topics from which to draw. “And we want to ensure a committee meeting functions properly,” he said, adding: “So we have an RFD for council.” The RFD stresses they are called committee meetings, not council meetings. That means these meetings will have a chair and vice-chair, not a reeve and deputy reeve; and the committee does not make decisions but only hears information and asks questions. McDonald said a decision can be made, if it is time sensitive, but only after coming out of the committee meeting and going into a regular one. “But you need to be careful about it,” he said, “otherwise (the GPC) turns into a council meeting.”
The first GPC meeting was an orientation and training session. Such meetings allow for strategic planning, delegations and “is the best place for a presentation,” he said. And they wouldn’t be used for public hearings. Topics need to be identified for discussion, with 10-minute time slots allocated for presenters. “What we hope to do is provide the county with information,” he said, on which to base its decisions. Committee Chair Kevin Smook said the GPC is there to gather information only and share ideas. A decision would not be made until returning to a county council format. “It’s a fairly significant role in your governance model,” said McDonald, “and will give us better insight,” and can help topics become “much more clear.” He stressed, too, that it wasn’t just a chat over coffee but serves to provide significant insight and informa-
tion on which to make decisions. The committee also discussed what criteria would be used to set an agenda, and how to prioritize the topics in order of importance or time sensitivity, for instance legislative or budget issues. “It will help us to focus what council needs to be made aware of by just sitting and talking about it,” he explained. He said that this helps administration know where council is coming from through the discussion and brainstorming that takes place during a committee meeting. “We’re not trying to run the show,” he said, of county staff. “We’re trying to deliver the programs based on council’s direction.” The first regular Governance and Priorities Committee meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 23, at 1 p.m.
Council agrees not to close road allowance used as walking path Patricia Harcourt A public hearing was held February 16 regarding a road closure request at road allowance west of NW 35-51-20W4 (Range Road 202) in Beaver County. Council had given first reading to Bylaw 22-1117 as a way of getting public opinion for and against at a public hearing but no one appeared to speak on behalf of either position at the hearing. The person asking to have the road closed had safety concerns based on
issues such as dumping garbage, hunting, and theft in the area. County Development Officer Kim Vana recommended not proceeding with closure of the road allowance which is being used as a public walking trail, and she said that one neighbour had told her that people enjoyed using the walking path. Alberta Transportation indicated that written approval from the Crown would be necessary in order to close the road allowance. After the public hearing closed,
county council heard that this was “an established opening for Cooking Lake” access and there is a gate at the top of the path. Reeve Kevin Smook (Division 1) said there is a “no exit” sign that allows people who are driving to turn around. Deputy Reeve Gene Hrabec (Division 3) asked about any safety or liability issues regarding walking on the trail. Vana said no cars can go there but there are some ATVs, calling the trail “pretty steep,” with more walkers using it than anything else. She offered
to look into the liability issue for Hrabec. Councillor Lionel Williams (Division 2) said he has been on the path and said it is “definitely a walking trail,” and didn’t see many issues regarding liability. “It’s an access route and a public venue accessing public lands,” added Smook. A motion by Williams to defeat second reading of the bylaw, which means the request for closure effectively is denied, was passed by council.
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