Page 10 - June 17, 2019
P. 10
PAGE 10 MONDAY JUNE 17, 2019 THE WEEKLY ANCHOR
County develops
enhanced disaster
preparedness
by Dana McArthur
With the recent wildfire near Marlboro and the
evacuation of affected residents, the results of a
debrief were presented to County Council on June 11.
The debriefing was held to discuss the outcomes and
takeaways from this incident.
"The debrief covered how quickly the fire spread
and with residents being moved out of their homes the
need quickly develops to house and care them. Many
evacuees did not have the ability to find another The Kinsmen Spray Park was bustling with families recently as it was the perfect place to cool down from
location to stay, on short notice. For this incident, this the hot weather. photo Deanna Mitchener
was done at local hotels in Edson," stated County
CAO Jack Ramme.
Concerns were raised if a wildfire broke out that
was not so close to services like in Edson. "But it also
raised the issue of what do for accommodations for
the standby first responders that stayed in Marlboro. Phone: 780-723-4800 Toll Free 1-800-665-6030 Fax: 780-723-5066
Where could Yellowhead County stage more 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
incoming crews and house them?" Ramme posed.
"Timelines given for a provincial response to
provide cots and bedding for the evacuees was pegged
at 24 hours from call out to arrival and set up. There
were several other fires underway in the province
during this fire," Ramme explained to Council.
To bolster the County's emergency preparedness a
list of equipment totalling $55,193 was prepared for
Council's review and approval, including:
- A cache of 40 quick deploy/clean cots for residents
displaced by any incident. Cost $3188.
- A cache of 15 quick deploy/clean cots for first
responders staying in the evacuated communities.
Cost $1189.05.
- Bedding for all 55 cots. Cost $1435.
- Place 20 permanent beds in the Evansburg Fire
Station for staging crews for incidents. Cost $ 9575.
- Provide 55 Hygiene kits. Cost $745.
The list also includes additional connector hoses for
the County's fire protection sprinkler trailers:
- 100 pieces of 11/2 inch 100 foot long forestry hose.
Cost $14,740.
- 60 pieces of 21/2 inch 50 foot long yellow supply
line. Cost $ 16,878.
- 100 pieces of 5/8 50 foot long hose. Cost $ 4650.
- 100 pieces of 5/8 hose 25 feet long. Cost $ 2810.
Ramme noted the items have not been budgeted for
in the 2019 budget and would require Council
resolution to procure and fund out of a reserve.
Councillor Anthony Giezen said, "I would have
hoped some of this would have come from the
provincial level. But I see the need for us to be
prepared for our residents, so I support this motion."
Councillor Sandra Cherniawsky agreed, stating, "I
support the need for this."
Council voted all in favour to approve the funding
request for the emergency preparedness items out of
the unrestricted reserve.
Tax agreements:
During the meeting, County Council approved a
proposal by Canlin Energy Corporation to enter into a
property tax agreement where the company pays 50%
of its outstanding tax amount of $1,788,954.62 on
June 30 and then the balance in six equal monthly
instalments without being subject to penalty. The
company's correspondence outlines that their
operations have been adversely affected by the current
economy.
On a similar matter, Notine Holdings Inc. requested
to enter into a property tax payment agreement with
the County. The correspondence indicates they would
like to pay their property taxes in 12 equal monthly
instalments starting August 1, 2019 with no interest or
penalties. Reasons stated include the lower natural gas
prices and an impending turn-around affecting
operations. The current tax amount owing is
$543,602.09 with taxes due on a new acquisition.
Council defeated the first motion to grant the request
with concerns this was the third year Notine has made
such a request. Instead, council passed a second
motion that proposes Notine pay 50% of the
outstanding taxes by June 30th this year with the
balance paid by Dec. 31, without incurring further
interest or penalties.
County develops
enhanced disaster
preparedness
by Dana McArthur
With the recent wildfire near Marlboro and the
evacuation of affected residents, the results of a
debrief were presented to County Council on June 11.
The debriefing was held to discuss the outcomes and
takeaways from this incident.
"The debrief covered how quickly the fire spread
and with residents being moved out of their homes the
need quickly develops to house and care them. Many
evacuees did not have the ability to find another The Kinsmen Spray Park was bustling with families recently as it was the perfect place to cool down from
location to stay, on short notice. For this incident, this the hot weather. photo Deanna Mitchener
was done at local hotels in Edson," stated County
CAO Jack Ramme.
Concerns were raised if a wildfire broke out that
was not so close to services like in Edson. "But it also
raised the issue of what do for accommodations for
the standby first responders that stayed in Marlboro. Phone: 780-723-4800 Toll Free 1-800-665-6030 Fax: 780-723-5066
Where could Yellowhead County stage more 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
incoming crews and house them?" Ramme posed.
"Timelines given for a provincial response to
provide cots and bedding for the evacuees was pegged
at 24 hours from call out to arrival and set up. There
were several other fires underway in the province
during this fire," Ramme explained to Council.
To bolster the County's emergency preparedness a
list of equipment totalling $55,193 was prepared for
Council's review and approval, including:
- A cache of 40 quick deploy/clean cots for residents
displaced by any incident. Cost $3188.
- A cache of 15 quick deploy/clean cots for first
responders staying in the evacuated communities.
Cost $1189.05.
- Bedding for all 55 cots. Cost $1435.
- Place 20 permanent beds in the Evansburg Fire
Station for staging crews for incidents. Cost $ 9575.
- Provide 55 Hygiene kits. Cost $745.
The list also includes additional connector hoses for
the County's fire protection sprinkler trailers:
- 100 pieces of 11/2 inch 100 foot long forestry hose.
Cost $14,740.
- 60 pieces of 21/2 inch 50 foot long yellow supply
line. Cost $ 16,878.
- 100 pieces of 5/8 50 foot long hose. Cost $ 4650.
- 100 pieces of 5/8 hose 25 feet long. Cost $ 2810.
Ramme noted the items have not been budgeted for
in the 2019 budget and would require Council
resolution to procure and fund out of a reserve.
Councillor Anthony Giezen said, "I would have
hoped some of this would have come from the
provincial level. But I see the need for us to be
prepared for our residents, so I support this motion."
Councillor Sandra Cherniawsky agreed, stating, "I
support the need for this."
Council voted all in favour to approve the funding
request for the emergency preparedness items out of
the unrestricted reserve.
Tax agreements:
During the meeting, County Council approved a
proposal by Canlin Energy Corporation to enter into a
property tax agreement where the company pays 50%
of its outstanding tax amount of $1,788,954.62 on
June 30 and then the balance in six equal monthly
instalments without being subject to penalty. The
company's correspondence outlines that their
operations have been adversely affected by the current
economy.
On a similar matter, Notine Holdings Inc. requested
to enter into a property tax payment agreement with
the County. The correspondence indicates they would
like to pay their property taxes in 12 equal monthly
instalments starting August 1, 2019 with no interest or
penalties. Reasons stated include the lower natural gas
prices and an impending turn-around affecting
operations. The current tax amount owing is
$543,602.09 with taxes due on a new acquisition.
Council defeated the first motion to grant the request
with concerns this was the third year Notine has made
such a request. Instead, council passed a second
motion that proposes Notine pay 50% of the
outstanding taxes by June 30th this year with the
balance paid by Dec. 31, without incurring further
interest or penalties.
