Magrath town council minutes

Posted on April 6, 2023 by admin

By Kenyon Stronski

Westwind Weekly News

The following are selected briefs from the Mar. 14 regular meeting of Magrath town council. 

Miscellaneous Business:

Before going into the regular council meeting, Magrath first welcomed a delegation of Tasha Carrell, Grace Wood and Holly Dyck who arrived to discuss their want to provide fitness services to Magrath. During the delegation, the group expressed their interest in using the Community Center as a place to hold such fitness services and it was decided for Coun. Ken Baker and Ryan O’Neill to meet with the group and discuss further details for their program. 

CAO’s Report:

James Suffredine, Magrath’s CAO opened his report by commenting on the town’s Community Safety Survey that was conducted Mar. 3. Suffredine said the initial response has been good, and the survey will close early this month. In other news, Suffredine said the pricing for a town suite came in at rates that were deemed not fiscally responsible for administration to bring forward for consideration, and the archery that took place in the Community Center was well received. 

The town also welcomed auditors into administration, where Suffredine said, “Our appointed financial auditors were on site for the test portion of their review. Things went smoothly and a clean report for the Town is anticipated to be presented by them to council on April 11.”

To close the report, Suffredine ended with noting that ATCO’s line servicing on 1st Ave West was initiated with locates being finished and drilling still to come depending on the weather. 

Councillors Reports:

Coun. Ken Baker was first to take the plate and present his past weeks to council, initially commenting on the Magrath and District Recreation Committee and saying the Magrath Day’s Market will be run by Mellissa Olson. In addition to sitting on the Recreation Committee, Baker also attended the Local Society Coordinating Committee, Family and Community Support Services board, the Golf Board, Remembrance Day board and Oldman River Regional Services Committee. 

Coun. Gerry Baril attended the Chinook Health Foundation, Magrath and District Emergency Services, Oldman River Regional Services Commission, Seniors Society, Intermunicipal Committee and Human Resources Committee. 

Coun. Mark Bennet also reported attending the Human Resources Committee as well as the Sustainable Agriculture Education Partnership, Magrath and District Regional Water Services Commission, Magrath and District Ag Society, the Municipal Planning Commission and Intermunicipal Committee. 

Following his presentation, Bennett brought forward a motion to raise the Councillor’s per-meeting fee to $125 from $100. This motion was carried. 

Coun. Darryl Christensen reported sitting on the Chinook Arch Regional Library Board where he commented he is now part of the facilities committee. Alongside this he also sat on the Municipal Planning Commission and reported how they rejected an application for a gym addition as the exceptions were too great to approve. 

Coun. Cynthia Ralph sat on the Chinook Health Foundation, Magrath and District Regional Water Services Commission and the Municipal Planning Commission. 

Finishing off their reports, Coun. Aaron Zaugg attended the Community Futures Lethbridge meeting and reported on McCain’s expanding their facility with a $600,000,000 addition that is looking to create 250 new jobs.