M.D. of Taber council meeting briefs from Sept. 10

Posted on November 21, 2024 by Vauxhall Advance

By Heather Cameron
Vauxhall Advance
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The following are selected briefs from the M.D. of Taber council meeting that took place on September 10.

Announcements and Recognitions

Councillor Turcato thanked all the volunteers that made the Cornfest celebration successful, as a lot of the volunteers were present at the meeting and staff also helped with the set-up. The Cornfest event, Councillor Turcato stated, was very successful as usual and it wouldn’t be as successful without the volunteers from the community, Council, staff, Administration, the Town, and from the M.D. of Taber. 

Councillor Claasen expressed congratulations to Nakamura Farms Ltd. as the 2023 Pepsico Frito Lay Grower of The Year not only for Canada, but for North America along with their recent publication in Spud Smart Magazine. Councillor Claasen thanked Nakamura Farms for their continued dedication to the community and keeping with farm successes.

Council also acknowledged TFS Feedlots Ltd.’s 50th anniversary and the contributions that they continue to make to the municipality.

TWP 13-2 Road Closure Bylaw No. 2004 – Request for Decision

Administration presented Council with a Request for Decision regarding Bylaw No.2004, WP 13-2 Road Closure with the recommendation that the M.D. of Taber give second reading to Road Closure Bylaw No. 2004. Road Closure Bylaw No. 2004, the RFD states, is a proposal by the M.D. of Taber to close a 700-metre segment of Township Road 13-2 in order to facilitate traffic safety concern resulting from a farm building development constructed within the 350- foot intersection site triangle setback. Administration outlined that first reading of Road Closure Bylaw No.2004 took place on February 13, via a motion made by Councillor Claasen, and that a motion for a public hearing, dated April 23, 2024, was carried on March 26, 2024. The public hearing for Bylaw No.2004, Administration stated, took place on April 23, 2024, and was recessed pending further information from Administration, later being resumed on May 14, 2024, when it was completed. On May 14, 2024, Administration stated, Councillor Turcato made a motion that the M.D. of Taber direct administration to proceed with Road Closure Bylaw No. 2004, addressing any outstanding stakeholder concerns and authorizing administration to request ministerial approval from Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors (ATEC) and that motion was carried. Ministerial approval, Administration stated, has since been received for Road Closure Bylaw No. 2004. A motion was made second reading to Road Closure Bylaw Number 2004 for a portion of Township Road 13-2 as described and the motion was carried.

SAEWA – Letter of Support Request (Alberta Community Partnership)

Administration brought a Request For Decision before Council regarding the fact that the Southern Alberta Energy to Waste Association SAEWA (in partnership with Wheatland County as the Funding Sponsor) will be submitting an application to the Alberta Community Partnership Grant Fund for the October 1, 2024 intake to begin the Regional Waste Agreement Discussions and Engagement Process, and as part of that process, they must identify regional impact through Letters of Support for the application. 

Administration stated that as such, SAEWA is requesting a letter of support from the M.D. of Taber. 

Ultimately, a motion was made that the M.D. of Taber provide a letter of support to Southern Alberta Energy from Waste Association with Wheatland County as the Member Municipality Application Partner under the ACP Grant program October 1, 2024, intake and the motion was carried.

SAEWA – Letter of Support Request (Community Initiatives Program)

Administration brought a Request for Decision before Council about the Southern Alberta Energy from Waste Association seeking a letter of support for the Community Initiatives Program and said that there was no financial commitment with respect to the specific grant application or the previous one. Administration further explained that The Southern Alberta Energy from Waste Association (SAEWA) is a non-profit coalition of municipal entities and waste management jurisdictions in southern Alberta committed to the research and implementation of energy recovery from non-recyclable waste materials that will reduce long term reliance on landfills. 

The M.D. of Taber has been a member of SAEWA (including Council representation) since 2021, Administration stated, and SAEWA is in the final planning stages to develop an Energy-from-Waste Facility that will handle the conversion of municipal and other sources of solid waste into energy. SAEWA’s mission, Administration’s RFD stated, is to develop an Energy from Waste (EFW) Facility in Southern Alberta as an alternative to landfilling that will result in over 7,000,000 tonnes of GHG’s carbon reduction, and an Energy-from-Waste (EFW) facility will significantly help the Province of Alberta reach its goals set towards 30 per cent reduction of carbon by 2030.

Ultimately, a motion was made that the M.D. of Taber provide a letter of support to the Southern Alberta Energy from Waste Association for the Community Initiatives Program and the motion was carried.