Public concerns delay county passing bylaw

BY JANA SEMENIUK

The second and third readings of proposed changes to Lamont County’s land use bylaw (LUB) and municipal development plan (MDP) scheduled to take place during the County’s Mar. 14 council meeting were put on hold when a large crowd of residents came to express their concerns.

Nearly 40 people came to the council meeting, filling council chambers and gallery overflow in a nearby meeting room.

Some residents said they were upset around inadequate notifications of the readings and the Jan. public hearing in addition to some of the proposed changes.

Lamont County Reeve David Diduck said he believes a recent story around Thorhild County’s LUB motivated Lamont County residents to look more closely at their own LUB.

“There was a story that came up with Thornhild and the structure of their land use bylaw that precipitated a lot of response from the community. And obviously, it's also precipitated a lot of response in regards to what Lamont County's Land Use Bylaw is here,” he said.

In early Feb., the second reading of a draft Land Use Bylaw for Thorhild County was defeated after heavy community concerns around issues such as development permits for barbed wire fences. The story appeared on social media making residents question their own land use bylaws.

One Lamont County resident, who has asked to remain anonymous, said her application to speak as a delegate at the Mar. 14 council meeting was denied.

She said she received an email from the CAO’s office on Mar. 6 advising her that her application was denied according to a bylaw which states ‘Council will not entertain submissions from the Subdivision and Development Appeal Board, the courts, or that require a statutory public hearing’.

“I should have the right to speak as (they are) the only county that has a bylaw stopping us from questioning (them) after a public hearing, which is not right,” she said.

Deputy Reeve Neil Woitas commented during a break that he also thought she should have had her delegation.

Jay Zaal, Communications Director for Lamont County, issued a news release after the meeting stating that the LUB and MDP are typically updated every five to 10 years with the last one in Lamont County approved in 2007.

“It was overdue for an update,” he said.

During the Mar. 14 council meeting, a Lamont County staff member read the list of places the public hearing was advertised which included on their In Focus back page of the Lamont Leader, various social media sites, neighbouring community online calendars, in addition to the county’s website from last Nov. to Jan. Reeve Diduck addressed concerns from residents who said not enough notice was given around the Jan. public hearing, where only two ratepayers attended in addition to submissions received from local towns and villages.

“Council felt we did the proper notification process. The public meeting was held, the concerns of the couple of towns and villages taken under advisement as were the concerns of the (two) people present here. We’ve dealt with those concerns and incorporated the changes into the LUB that we have here,” he said. “I guess the long and the short of it is as your council, we want to get this thing right. We're not trying to hide anything. We're not trying to ram anything through that is going to impact you. I think council’s main mandate here is to grow Lamont County and make it a place that people want to come and live.”

Residents’ concerns centred around farms listed under non-traditional agriculture uses of land such as bug farms and data centres, in addition to a Right of Entry portion of the bylaw which states a designated officer can enter any land or building within the county for the purpose of ensuring compliance with this bylaw or the MGA (Municipal

Governance Act). The Right of Entry section also appeared in the previous LUB.

“It basically says whoever the designated officers are, can enter your land or building or structure at basically any time to see if you're in compliance with bylaws,” said a concerned resident.

Meanwhile, Reeve Diduck shared with the crowd that he had not fully read the draft LUB before voting to pass the first reading.

“I was being honest (when I said) we gave this thing first reading, knowing I had not read the entire document. Because of time constraints I was not able to read the entire document,” he said. “But this document has (now) been read. Second and third reading hasn't been done yet, so if I made that admission after second and third reading, then I think the press and you could hang me out to dry. But I don't think you can use those comments against me because I passed first reading without reading the document.”

Meanwhile, Reeve Diduck indicated that second and third reading of the LUB could be deferred until residents had a chance to write letters to the administration expressing their con- cerns. One resident had concerns around Chief Administrative Officer Peter Tarnawsky disposing of their letters before council had a chance to review them.

“That won’t happen, I can assure you that,” said Diduck. Deputy Reeve Woitas added if they were concerned, residents can copy councillors on their emails.

Continued on Page 14

The Koroluk and Dubuc families of the late Cole Koroluk wish to extend our many thanks to everyone who offered support, prayers and condolences to us in this difficult time. Sincere thanks for the many donations, flowers, gifts of food, cards and momentos in Cole’s memory. A very special thank you to Gordon and Patty Pawluk from Autumn Rose Funeral Home for all of your help, guidance, support, comfort and professionalism in the preparation of Cole’s service. As well, special thanks to Victoria Pawluk for preparing the video tribute - you did a wonderful job and we appreciate the time you gave to perfect it the way you did. It truly touched our hearts. Thank you to Father Robert Lee and Barb Bienvenue for conducting the church service and music. Lastly, very special thanks to the many ladies who contributed to, prepared and served the lunch. We feel very blessed to have the “army” behind us that we do. Our sincere apologies to anyone we may have missed thanking, but know that we are very grateful for everything done to help us during this extremely difficult time.

Many thanks and love, Aline Dubuc, Brant Koroluk, Brett Koroluk Don’t think of him as gone away, His journey’s just begun, life holds so many facets, this Earth is only one.

Just think of him as resting, from the sorrows and the tears, in a place of warmth and comfort, where there are no days and years. Think how he must be wishing, that we could know today, how nothing but our sadness, can really pass away.

And think of him as living, in the hearts of those he touched... for nothing loved is ever lost, and he was loved so much.