Council approved an additional $55,000 to the Bow Valley Agricultural Society for upgrades.
In December, council approved $23,000 towards a $433,000 capital project that will provide upgrades to the Indus Recreation Center.
During a council meeting Jan. 29, Lorraine Wesley-Riley, acting general manager for community services for the County, said the reason the society was asking for additional funds was because they made an error when applying for a $230,000 federal grant.
To qualify for the federal grant, the society needs confirmation from the County that they will support the project with a funding requirement of $78,000 as soon as possible. If they don’t receive the letter within a few weeks, the society will have to withdraw the funding application, she explained. County approved the request unanimously. The additional money came from public reserve. The County’s contribution makes up 18 per cent of the total project cost, which will go towards the upkeep and maintenance of the current facility The remainder comes from provincial and federal grants.
Amendments approved
Council approved amendments to a fire hydrant water suppression bylaw that was created and approved last May.
“Basically, this outlines our responsibilities and commitment to provide fire services in the county,” Rocky View County Fire Services Deputy Fire Chief Perry Prete said to council.
The changes in the bylaw were made to deal with the extra clearance space needed to access hydrants in the winter, which wasn’t included in the original bylaw. Changes include replacing the fire hydrant connection figure and replacing it with a new drawing to reflect the clearance changes. For example, the drafting hydrants now need to be equipped with a six inch national hydrant thread female swivel connection instead of the stated four to allow a fire truck or pump to be hook directly to it. Other changes include
“… we need the clearance for any extra snow,” he said. “In essence it’s all to better facilitate winter use of drafting water from a pond or reservoir,” he said.
All three readings were passed during council Jan. 29.
Council provides feedback
Council spent the better part of an hour trying to determine how to provide three residents access to their homes in the Saddle and Sirloin community, located in Bragg Creek.
These three homeowners currently gain access to their property by driving on private property but do not have legal permission to do so.
The subdivision was created in 1958 at a time when the land was part of the Municipal District of Foothill and access to the homes was available via a municipal road. As development continued on the west of the subject lands and traffic levels increased, the road was realigned in the late 1960s, a report to council explains.
The road was reclaimed and a driveway was built on private property so people could still gain access to their homes but no formal access agreements were prepared.
The matter remains unresolved.
In September 2011, three residents contacted the County office and asked for assistance to resolve the issue. The area of the subdivision has been part of Rocky View County since the 1970s.
County staff suggested a land swap with the neighbour who owns the land and the landowner was open to the agreement but the other neighbours were not. They wanted to see the construction of a County-standard road. During the council meeting Jan. 29, three options were presented to council to deal with the land. Costs varied between $75,000 and $191,000.
Neighbours spoke to council and offered their ideal solution; the landowner said he would prefer the land swap because it wouldn’t cost the County any money.
“Why are we taking so long to talk about this?” asked Councillor Al Sacuta. “What’s on the screen now (land swap) seems eminently doable,” he said.
Councillors Lois Habberfield, Earl Solberg and Margaret Bahcheli agreed that the land swamp seemed to make the most sense.
Councillor Liz Breakey made the motion to wait six more weeks to see if the neighbours could come to an agreement.
“I think they need one last chance to discuss,” she said.
Councillor Paul McLean agreed.
“If you can’t figure it out in six weeks, we will,” said McLean. “It sounds like a plausible option is available.”
Council agreed unanimously to pass Breakey’s motion.
