Agricultural Service Board October 26, 2011 - 9:30 AM County Administration Office

PRESENT: Chairman Kevin Haines; Members Allen Balay, Denis Willcott, Doris Splane, Christi Bilsky, David Yurdiga, Jack Dowhaluk, and Larry Armfelt; Director Ron Jackson; Farm Production Specialist Trent Keller; County Manager Gary Buchanan; and Recording Secretary Roxanne Senyk.

ABSENT: Member Mike Demko

CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Haines called the meeting to order at 9:34 a.m.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA:

Resolution Moved by Member Balay to accept the agenda with the addition, as ASB 11-118 presented:

6.4 Sale of Shed Motion Carried.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

Resolution Moved by Member Dowhaluk to approve the minutes of the meeting from ASB 11-119 September 28, 2011. Motion Carried.

BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES: NW Regional Conference - Review Mr. Jackson reviewed the presentations from the regional conference hosted in on October 24th. Discussions were held regarding bounty on wild boars; ALUS (alternative land use strategies); use of the subdivision process to complete property weed inspections (as done in Parkland County); along with the direction of investigating the purchase of a wet blade mowing system to control weeds. It was noted that County of Thorhild will host the northwest regional conference next year.

Alberta Environment Meeting - Creek Information was shared with Members regarding the meeting attended by Mr. Jackson with Environment, County, and Ducks Unlimited. Discussion was held about the cost of maintenance on Dapp Creek along with funding of maintenance on water resource projects. Alberta Environment noted that Athabasca County was the only

Chairman Agricultural Fieldman

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municipality that had received funding for maintenance of these projects and indicated that an increased tax assessment on improved lands could theoretically be used to fund these maintenance projects. Further discussion ensued.

Resolution Motion by Member Armfelt that Administration develop a list of concerns ASB 11-120 regarding maintenance costs of drainage channels to be addressed by County Council through an upcoming AAMDC meeting with Alberta Environment. Motion Carried.

Disaster Recovery Program - Baptiste Lake Mr. Jackson reviewed the process taken to aide residents around the perimeter of Baptiste Lake with the recovery of flooding damage costs. Damage claims have been forwarded through the County to Alberta Emergency Management Agency's (AEMA) Disaster Recovery Program. Member of the Board extended thanks to Mr. Jackson for taking the initiative to help the County residents around Baptiste Lake.

Proceedings postponed at 10:08 a.m. (Chairman spilt his coffee). Resumed at 10:10 a.m.

Weed Control - Woolly Burdock Project Mr. Keller reported on the plans to control the noxious weed, Woolly Burdock covering a significant area on SW 03-66-24 W4. Members discussed the need for public awareness on this noxious weed (e.g., County newsletter, website, workshops, Farm Women's Conference).

Boyle Seed Cleaning Co-Op Correspondence received from Brownlee LLP was reviewed by Members with regard to a legal opinion on what the County has secured through investments in the Boyle Seed Cleaning Plant. Discussion ensued.

Resolution Moved by Member Dowhaluk that Administration arrange to have Brownlee ASB 11-121 LLP proceed with drafting loan documentation to register Athabasca County's interest in the Boyle Seed Cleaning Plant which should include previous amounts provided by the County. Motion Carried.

Chairman Haines declared a break at 10:40 a.m. The meeting was reconvened at 10:55 a.m.

Mr. Buchanan joined the meeting at 10:56 a.m.

Chairman Agricultural Fieldman

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NEW BUSINESS: Rubik Project Mr. Jackson described the proposed water diversion project on the SW 27-64-24 W4. It was noted that roadside work along with the extreme moisture conditions of this year has caused flooding on the property.

Resolution Moved by Member Bilsky that the On-Farm Water Project be approved on ASB 11-122 the SW 27-64-24 W4 as presented. Motion Carried.

DELEGATIONS: 11:00 AM Darcy Boucher, District Fish & Wildlife Officer, Alberta Sustainable Resources Mr. Boucher attended the meeting at 11:00 a.m. and introductions were made at this time.

Mr. Boucher thanked the Board for inviting him to the meeting and he informed Members that he has recently accepted a new position within Sustainable Resource Development (SRD). Information and discussions included the following:  Athabasca area was very busy this year with bear complaints  Area covered by district office includes south of Westlock, Thorhild, , Atmore, La Biche River, Calling Lake, Orloff Lake, Smith  two year old male bears were majority of problem (landowner legally able to shoot bear, wolf, coyote, skunk, fox, and recently added cougar)  landowner can hunt beaver on their own land with a license at any time  SRD permit allows holder to remove beaver  any person can remove a dam on crown land provided it does not affect a beaver house  effectiveness of coyote bounty  M.D. of Big Lakes has started wolf bounty this year ($500/wolf)  wild boar is not established in this area to his knowledge  organizational shift in the department  enforcement field has been moved under solicitor general effective October 5th  discussion regarding improvement of department reputation  Alpac tree planting along hwy 2 on both sides of the hwy cause of wildlife collisions  compensation on wildlife damage  Baptiste Lake flooding  Mr. Jackson thanked Mr. Boucher for his cooperation and support working with ASB staff

Chairman Agricultural Fieldman

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 cougar are establishing more numbers throughout the province  lynx are often confused with cougar

Chairman Haines thanked Mr. Boucher for coming to the meeting and wished him good luck in his new position. He left at 11:46 a.m.

NEW BUSINESS: 2012 Preliminary Budget Review Mr. Jackson presented the ASB preliminary budget and discussion ensued.

Resolution Motion by Member Willcott to accept the ASB 2012 Preliminary Budget as ASB 11-123 information. Motion Carried.

Alberta Invasive Plants Council Sponsorship Request Members reviewed correspondence from Alberta Invasive Plants Council requesting sponsorship.

Resolution Moved by Member Dowhaluk that a $100.00 membership to the Alberta ASB 11-124 Invasive Plants Council be approved. Motion Carried.

Sale of Sheds Members discussed the disposition of the 10-12 bunkhouse sheds currently housed on the Wandering River SRD property.

Resolution Moved by Member Dowhaluk that Administration be directed to proceed ASB 11-125 with the sale of the sheds currently located on the Wandering River SRD site through an advertised bidding process. Motion Carried.

Chairman Haines declared a break for lunch at 12:00 p.m. The meeting was reconvened at 12:48 p.m.

Member Bilsky did not return to the meeting.

Mr. Buchanan was not present at this time.

REPORTS: Director of Agriculture & Emergency Services Mr. Jackson reviewed his activities for the month of October.

Mr. Buchanan joined the meeting at 1:00 p.m.

Chairman Agricultural Fieldman

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Member Yurdiga left the meeting at 1:04 p.m. He returned to the meeting at 1:06 p.m.

Resolution Moved by Member Willcott to accept the Director's Report, as presented. ASB 11-126 Motion Carried.

Farm Production Specialist Mr. Keller reviewed his activities for the month of October.

Resolution Moved by Member Splane to accept the Farm Production Specialist Report, ASB 11-127 as presented. Motion Carried.

Backsloping Report Members reviewed the updated job costing report on the 2011 backsloping projects.

Resolution Moved by Member Splane to approve the updated 2011 backsloping report, ASB 11-128 as presented. Motion Carried.

INFORMATION: Cow Calfenomics Seminar Information was presented to Members regarding the one-day seminar being offered in Westlock on December 6th or in Bonnyville on December 7th.

Resolution Moved by Member Willcott to accept the Cow Calfenomics Seminar as ASB 11-129 information. Motion Carried.

NEXT MEETING: November 30, 2011

ADJOURNMENT: Chairman Haines adjourned the meeting at 1:16 p.m.

Chairman Agricultural Fieldman

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