Part 2- Athabasca Region Joint Council Meeting - 10 January 2007

This blog stuff is time consuming.
But in the spirit of public openness.
Here are more of my notes about
the other agenda items discussed.

1. Alberta Hub (Cold Lake/Bonneville)did not come to the meeting. We are discussing with them whether or not to join a regional economic alliance with Hub, or with Growth Alberta (out of Westlock, Barrhead region). We met with Growth in the fall 2006. We will invite Hub to come in the future, but we need to decide which to join or to create our own hub. We find that we are a hybrid zone - a complex of agriculture and natural resource based industry (and public service employment). The impression is that Growth is agriculture focused, and HUB is resource focused. So, we need to get beyond these impressions and find the right fit. Apparently the Provinces wants all communities to align in these economic region/groups for their own benefit (and to qualify for funding).

One other issue is that the registration fees for HUB vs Growth differ considerably. The latter is much more expensive.

2. Rural Alberta Development Fund – Expression of Interest
The County drafted an application for funding to help us do more research into the design of regional economic development office, with an emphasis on job incubator, and day care, for example. The Town C. has approved sending in the application. Boyle wanted clarification. Their concern was to learn more about the intent of the application, and they expressed concern that day care was included (they do not see day care as a municipal issue).

Jim Woodward explained that we were hoping to take advantage of this new grant to further our planning in development are, and he argued that what he had in mind was not funding day care, but strengthening the infrastructure and training needed to run a break even day care.

3. Whispering Hills Day Care
This was on the agenda but no one could recall who put it there. When confronted with an opportunity, always take the time to educate. So, Mike G spoke in favor of municipal councils taking a role in day care issues. Day care is not a private issue (to be dealt with by parent/s) but a community and economic issue. Day care services are one part of the puzzle when trying to attract people to move here to work and take up residence. He noted how at AU we risk losing more people to the city if we do not provide a wide range of day care options – including a non profit day care that Council may want to support.
Some County and Boyle counselors mentioned that many ratepayers felt it was unfair to subsidize working people’s childcare, when others have made sacrifices to get family or parents to raise kids and received no government help.

I pointed out that this was not an option for all, especially when we are recruiting people from across the country and even internationally because we lack a trained local workforce. They don’t come with their families.

We need a mosaic of private, public, and personal solutions to the day care issue. The larger the service, the easier it is to generate enough funds to attract a trained, highly qualified day care director and staff.

4. Greater North Foundation Funding Discussion – http://athabasca.infomall.ca/greaternorth/
The three governments have all agreed to support regional seniors care residences in LLB and Athabasca. Each will pay their portions. The Cmt met with summer villages last week to outline their requisition portions. The Cmt will also meet with MD of Opportunity. If any or all of these groups do not support sharing in the funding of the service, the cmt will come back and ask the three of us to contribute more.

5. Regional Economic Development Issues
-see notes above on Hub and Growth discussion
- see notes above on decision and resolution on community economic development office/r.

6. Bulk Water Rates - Some county residents, water haulers, and councillors feel that the town raised the bulk water rates unfairly (from one dollar to two dollars per fill a few years ago), and that the water rates for country residents should be the same as those for town residents. The Town was asked to reconsider the issue. Lively, mostly uninformed, discussion by all sides ensued. TC will look into it, but I noted that when we go regional all this should go away with balanced tripartite (and public?) water board setting policy and rates for the region.

7. Regional Water – Boyle asked that now that they are in the regional system, they desire to be a full partner at the table with the province when meetings occur. They noted that they were not invited to the mtg announcing the Athabasca hub. They want lots of notice. Agreed.

8. Curling Rinks – Curling Club in Boyle has asked County for assistance, based on number of users who reside in County. They note County has assisted Athabasca and they should assist Boyle. County sees this as one of the ripple on effects of their supporting the Multiplex. The two parties agreed to meet. The message to TC was that this is a cost incurred because of their participatiojn in Multiplex, so we should not ask them for more help. Hmm. We agrees to disagree and go home for now.

Good meeting. To bad you were not there.
Next Mtg - I missed the date but there will be one.