The Community
Press Telling your story
Volume 112, Issue 44
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
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Flagstaff County Council eliminates May tax penalty Leslie Cholowsky Editor
During their regular meeting held Wednesday, April 22, via teleconference, Flagstaff County Council discussed cancellation of the May 2020 property tax penalty. Flagstaff County’s present bylaw applies late payment penalties Oct. 16 and May 1 of each year, where the May penalty on unpaid taxes would be six per cent. “Currently the tax arrears are $4,462,375 of which $4,237,488 is outstanding oil and gas companies which we are currently having difficulty collecting the 2019 tax levy,” Council heard. In order to cancel the May 2020 penalty, Council repealed the former bylaw with a new Bylaw 06.20, which passed third reading during the meeting. Flagstaff CAO Shelly Armstrong said, “We are following what other municipalities are doing amid COVID-19, and considering the collection rate on nonresidential, this will have minimum impact. We are doing our part for relief.” Councillor Melvin Thompson asked about future changes, if Council consid-
ered a further change in October. Armstrong advised that a new bylaw would be required then if Council decided to provide further relief at that time. Council rescinded a motion made during their April 6 meeting regarding a tax repayment agreement, passing a new motion with a corrected tax roll number noted. Council discussed a revision to their public input policy due to having to cancel an open house that was to have taken place April 8, with a recommendation from Administration to move forward this year with more of an inform-basis, potentially moving to a public information session in September or October if the situation allows. Thompson said, “I think it’s the only way we can do it and keep the public informed, with the current methods and avenues available to us.” Councillor Erik Skoberg asked, “Can we publish this information, and give the public a time frame to review it and provide feedback?” Armstrong said, “If we had something to put in front of them and then give their input. This differs from our previous input prior to the plan, and allows us to get a budget done within our time-
line.” Skoberg asked, “So this is a change from ‘consult’ to ‘inform’?” Armstrong said, “In our normal timeline, Council reviews department activities with public participation and consultation then a budget is prepared; we’re switching to a September or October consultation, at that time we’ll talk further.” County Reeve Don Kroetch said, “There will still be an avenue for public participation.” Armstrong said, “Yes, with a method to be determined by the pandemic situation in the fall, whether it is done by survey, or by feedback of the first draft budget.” Skoberg said, “So this is a change from consulting to informing?” Armstrong said, “In a way, to inform then consult.” Skoberg said, “As long as we are not eliminating the consultation.” Council moved to committee reports, with Thompson reporting on the Battle River Research Group, with some positives to report. “We have been using internet meetings, and they’re holding a webinar series that has had good participation.”
Kroetch asked if the group had heard any more about research funding, Thompson said that no definite plan had been made for smaller research groups, with funding to continue at a reduced rate. “They are making as good of progress as they can right now.” Councillor Jeff Eckstrand reported on a Flagstaff Regional Housing Group meeting, giving some highlights, including improved vacancy rates, and Bethany Group’s management changes that will save the group in management costs. Council remarked on there being no COVID-19 in the facilities, and Eckstrand added, “I asked about the mental wellbeing of residents. They claimed that most residents are appreciative of the measures being taken, that they understand their vulnerability.” Eckstrand said that staff had taken over some of the roles that visitors and volunteers generally did for residents. He added, “Big Knife Villa is on a list of facilities to move people to if necessary due to COVID-19 outbreaks at other facilities. “We don’t want to bring any risk here, but are willing to take in vulnerable peo See COUNCIL P9