County of Two Hills Council Minutes for Meeting, December 21, 2022

attend the Brownlee LLP Emerging Trends in Municipal Law by live stream on February 16, 2023.

Motion Carried

RMRF re: Municipal Law Seminar

The CAO informed Council that Reynolds Mirth Richards and Farmer will be holding a Municipal Law Seminar Friday February 10, 2023 in Edmonton at the Delta Hotel Edmonton South.

Council having discussed this item; it was moved by:

R-120894

Recess

D. SASKIW

That Council and Administration be authorized to attend the Reynolds Mirth Richards and Farmer 2023 Annual Municipal Law Seminar held on February 10, 2023 in Edmonton at the Delta Hotel Edmonton South.

D. GULAYEC

Council having discussed this item; it was moved by:

R-120895

Romanian Pioneer Museum of Boian

E. YAKEMCHUK

That the County of Two Hills provide the Willingdon Agricultural Society the donation of one (1) load, 25 cubic yards, of Calcified Sand delivered to their facility.

Motion Carried

The CAO placed the letter of request from the Romanian Pioneer Museum of Boian for a donation to support the museum to keep it operational and a tourist attraction. Council having discussed this item; it was moved by:

R-120896

Mutual Fire Aid Agreement

S. DUTRISAC

Motion Carried

That the meeting be recessed for lunch at 12:13 p.m.

Motion Carried

The meeting reconvened at 1:11 p.m., having all Councillors in attendance.

Willingdon Agricultural Society

The CAO placed the letter of request from the Willingdon Agricultural Society for two (2) loads of Calcified Sand and delivered to their facility.

That the County of Two Hills add the Romanian Pioneer Museum of Boian to the 2022 Recreation Grant Funding in the amount of $2,650.00

Motion Carried

The CAO placed the Mutual Aid Fire Agreement between the Town of Two Hills, Villages of Myrnam and Willingdon, and the County of Two Hills, on the table for review and discussion.

Council having discussed this item; it was moved by: R-120897

Delegation(s)

1:30 p.m.

S. DUTRUSAC

That Administration review and bring back the Mutual Aid Fire Agreement between the County of Two Hills and Town of Two Hills and Village of Myrnam to the upcoming January Council meeting.

Motion Carried

Sgt. Daisley, of the RCMP, was invited into the Council Chambers to update Council on items of mutual concern.

There being no further discussion, Sgt. Daisley, thanked Council for their time and left the Council Chambers.

Correspondence & Information

Items

• Municipal Affairs regarding new Air Conditioner Replacement

• Card of Thanks for Donation to Ukrainian Family Support

• RMA:

• November 4, 18, 25 and December 2, 9, 2022.

• Member Bulletins:

• 2022-11-17 | New Ministerial –Mandate Letters Released.

• 2022-11-18 | Fall 2022 Endorsed Resolutions.

• 2022-11-18 | Fall 2019 resolutions Expiring.

• 2022-11-24 | Apply for a Fire Services Training Grant.

• 2022-11-24 | Lean More about

RMA’s Approach to the Upcoming Provincial Election.

• 2022-11-29 | MATI Nominations.

• 2022-11-29 | Register for Small Group Learning Community.

• 2022-11-30 | Third Phase of CRTC Broadband Now Open.

• 2022-12-31 | Join an RMA Webinar Exploring Rural Healthcare.

R-120898

Closed Session

S. DUTRISAC

That the County of Two Hills meet in Closed-Session to discuss Personnel – time 3:20 p.m.

Motion Carried

R-120899

E. YAKEMCHUK

That the County of Two Hills revert back to their open public meeting –time 3:44 p.m.

Motion Carried

Adjournment

Council having dealt with all items contained on the Meeting Agenda; it was moved by:

R-120900

M. PHILLIPS

That the meeting be adjourned at 3:44 p.m.

Motion Carried

An opinion from the saddle: Farmers, the Stewards of the Land

by Sebastien Dutrisac, C.C.A., C.A.F.

Currently, we are used to a centralized authority which tends to hold most of the decision-making power. It leads to situations where authorities (at the top) are responsible for identifying targets and directions. Afterward, in many cases the decisions made at the “top” flows down through the levels and the grassroots businesses or people are supposed to neatly attain these arbitrary goals and outcomes.

Nonsensical targets have been established from the federal government that agriculture needs to reduce fertilizer application because of the impact it has on the environment. Any studies, and even more to the point, farmers would explain that there is not a straight correlation between applied fertilizer amounts to crop yield. As the graph from Re- search gate, shows there are limits. Not only do unnecessary application of fertilizer plateaus yield, but even reduces yields in excessive use. Any excess lost would not only contribute a decreased profit margin, they would decrease the productivity of the land. So, a question arises. At the price of fertilizer, why would any good business person want to spend more money to get less of a return? The answer is simple, they wouldn’t and they don’t. Farmers and the Agricultural sector have been implementing integrated management practices for years, whether it be for fertilizer use or weed/pest control. Such management plans include the 4R Nutrient Stewardship (Right Source, Right Rate, Right Time, Right Place ®). The individual stewardship plans aren’t universal, each is tailormade for each region, climate, soil type, crop, and producer. Every decision is based on clear indicators justifying whether an application will be done or not.

You don’t become a Steward of the Land without knowing, loving, and caring for it. Prior to central authority making a decision, shouldn’t they ask those who would are affected and tend to know best? Rest assured, we have and will continue advocating to authorities to reach out and talk to stakeholders.

Register for the Farm to Market to Table Conference

This local food-focused conference takes place March 9 and 10 in Olds.

“The Farm to Market to Table Conference is a great resource,” says Eileen Kotowich, farmers’ market specialist with the Alberta government. “Producers can learn more about direct market production and connect with their peers and experts.”

The conference includes keynote speakers who focus on both production and marketing. Participants can learn about drip irrigation, planning for livestock emergencies, digital marketing, beneficial insects, and marketing meat, along with assessing land for horticulture production and preparing land for production.

“There are also discussions on the importance of insurance, what to get for your farm direct or agri-tourism operation and other risk manage-