MARCH 2021 BIGHORN NEWS In This Issue: MD Elections........................................2 MD Finance.........................................3 Flood Projects Update....................4 Bylaw News........................................5 MD Information................................6 Community Services.....................7 Municipal Calendar......................12 Photo Credit: ROB FULLEN FABLE MOUNTAIN MD ELECTIONS THINKING ABOUT RUNNING FOR MUNICIPAL OFFICE? The Municipal General Election will be held Monday, October 18, 2021 The Nomination period began on January 1, 2021 and runs until 12:00 p.m. (Noon) on September 20, 2021 (Nomination Day) If you are thinking about running, here are some important things you should consider before you file nomination papers. Qualifications of a Candidate A person may be nominated as a candidate in the municipal election if, on Nomination Day (September 20, 2021), the person is: ◊ 18 Years of age or older, ◊ a Canadian citizen, ◊ you must have been a resident of the local jurisdiction for the 6 consecutive months preceding nomination day. **You must also have been a resident of the ward in which you intend to run for the same six-month period.** ◊ Not otherwise ineligible or disqualified. Are you eligible to be nominated? You would not be eligible to become a candidate under any of the following circumstances: • If you are an auditor of the municipality • If you are a municipal employee, unless you take the entitled leave of absence • If your property taxes are more than $50 in arrears or you are in default, for more than 90 days, for any other debt in excess of $500 to the municipality. • If you have, within the previous 10 years, been convicted of a offense under the LocalAuthorities Election Act, the Election Act or the Canada Elections Act. • If you are a judge, member of parliament, senator, or member of the legislative assembly, you must resign that position before you take office as a member of council. Do you understand the position? As a member of Council, you will have the opportunity to significantly influence the future of your community. Your power as a member of Council depends on your ability to persuade the other members of Council to adopt your view. All decisions must be made at meetings, held in public, at which a quorum is present. Do you have the time? The demands on your time will be heavy. You will be elected for a four-year term of office and during that time you will be required to attend: ► regular and special meetings of council ► council committee meetings ► meetings of other boards and agencies to which you are appointed as council’s representative ► conferences, conventions, seminars, and workshops for training and discussion ► social and other events promoting your municipality Being a member of Council is more than a part time job. Potential candidates for the Municipal District of Bighorn must be willing to expend the time and energy required to provide quality governance for our rate payers. Effective decisions involving budgets, policies, bylaws, and corporate operations can only be achieved with a full commitment to be engaged and willing to read, listen and understand the information required for sound decision making. You will also need to spend time reading material and talking with residents, the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), and others. This will all be part of the necessary preparation for meetings so that you can make informed decisions. For more Candidate information visit our website at www.mdbighorn.ca Page 2 MD FINANCE PROPERTY ASSESSMENT NOTICES The MD of Bighorn has enlisted the services of a new property assessment contractor – KCL Consulting. KCL Consulting continues to visit MD properties to better understand the assessment base. You may visit their website at www.kcl-consulting.com The annual Assessment Notices have been mailed. If you have not received your notice, please contact the office and we would be happy to send you another copy. Please note: 1. The deadline to file an appeal of your assessment will be 60 days after notices are mailed. Forms for filing an appeal are available on our website or can be picked up at our office. 2. An advertisement that assessment notices have been sent is placed in three local newspapers, which constitutes as mailing, whether the owner actually received the notice or not. We make every effort to ensure that notices are sent to all property owners, but sometimes the addresses we have on file are incorrect. Please remember to update our office and Land Titles Alberta (through your nearest registry office) when your mailing address changes. The MD of Bighorn has an online form to update your address. 3. The MD encourages you to contact KCL Consulting Inc. to discuss any concerns you have with your assessment before filing a formal appeal at:www.kcl-consulting.com/inquiry-form or 1-888-419-2128. 4. The fees for appealing 2021 assessment are $50.00 for each residential/farmland and $650.00 for each commercial/industrial appeal. If your appeal is successful, your fees will be returned to you. 5. The Assessment Review Board Clerk is Lana Hill. If you need to submit your assessment review board appeal please send it to [email protected] or mail it to PO Box 310, Exshaw AB, T0L 2C0 or drop it off to the Administration office at #2 Heart Mountain Drive, Exshaw, Attention Lana Hill. A list of all assessed values and complaint forms will be available on our website, www.mdbighorn.ca, or at the M.D. offices. PROPERTY TAX NOTICES The annual Property Tax Notices will be mailed in May 2021 and are due June 30, 2021. Please note: 1. Be sure to put the correct date on your payment, to avoid the application of a 9% penalty on July 1, 2021. 2. Consider signing up for our monthly tax installment payment plan (TIPP). Contact our office for more information. For more information contact our office or check out our website at www.mdbighorn.ca Page 3 FLOOD PROJECT UPDATE HEART CREEK - DRONE IMAGE BY BOW KOR EXSHAW CREEK The Exshaw Creek flood mitigation and landscaping projects are complete and in the warranty period. In January, 2021 two piezometers were installed near Exshaw Creek to replace two piezometers that were removed during construction. These piezometers will be used to measure groundwater flows. HEART CREEK Due to technical difficulties experienced by a subcontractor, completion of the Heart Creek project has been delayed until 2021. The contractor has constructed a temporary channel to carry the spring runoff. The emergency stockpile of class 4 rip-rap is still available for use in case of a debris flood in spring 2021. In the event of a debris flood, this rip-rap will be used to partially block the culvert under highway 1 to divert the main flow to the east, thereby protecting the community of Lac Des Arcs. JURA CREEK Final design of the Jura Creek flood mitigation project is currently underway. If all regulatory permits and stakeholder approvals can be obtained in a timely manner, construction could start as early as July, 2021. FUNDING FOR FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECTS Over the last three years the MD of Bighorn has secured an additional $8.5 million in funding from the federal and provincial governments for purpose of completing flood mitigation projects at Exshaw, Heart, Jura and Pigeon Creeks. Page 4 BYLAW NEWS PET LICENSE RENEWAL NOTICE As we are well into the new year, the M.D. of Bighorn is reminding pet owners to renew their dog’s license. A dog license and accompanying identification tag are required for every dog over six months of age in Harvie Heights, Dead Man’s Flats, Lac Des Arc and Exshaw. Licenses are sold for $20 (neutered) or $100 for intact male/female. Key Points • Dog owners are required to purchase a license every year. • A dog license acts as a critical piece of ID. In the event of a lost or missing dog is found, the tag can be used to contact the owner. You can also provide a photo to be attached to the license. • Dog licenses can be purchased at the Municipal Office in Exshaw at #2 Heart Mountain Drive or by visiting the form center on our website http://mdbighorn.ca/FormCenter/Financial-Services-7/Pet-License-Form-47 The fine for this offence under the Domestic Animal Control Bylaw is $75. Owners in the Hamlets of Dead Man’s Flats, Lac All dog owners are reminded to clean up des Arcs and Harvie Heights are also reminded to after their dogs! please keep their pets on a leash! It’s not only a Every year complaints are bylaw violation but its also safer to have your dog received that not all dog on a leash. Being off leash is only one offence, but it owners are not cleaning up can lead to a host of others under the Bylaw. after their dog. There are health concerns linked to The current fine for this violation (first pet waste not being properly offence) is $100.00. disposed of. Bags and bins are provided by the MD in all Hamlets. The current Domestic Animal Control Bylaw states: “No Owner, whose Domestic Animal defecates on any Private or Public Property, other than the property of the owner, must ensure that defecation is removed immediately, and placed into a waste receptacle.” The fine for this offence is $250! Page 5 MD INFORMATION 2021 SPRING CLEAN-UPS AND LANDFILL HOURS LOCATION CLEAN UP WEEKEND PICK-UP DATES Dead Man’s Flats / May 8 & 9, 2021 May 10, 2021 Kananaskis Settlement Benchlands May 15 & 16, 2021 May 17, 2021 Exshaw May 29 & 30, 2021 May 31, 2021 Lac Des Arcs June 5 & 6, 2021 June 7, 2021 Harvie Heights June 12 & 13, 2021 June 14, 2021 RULES FOR 2021 SPRING CLEAN-UPS AND LANDFILL HOURS 1.