Notes by Allison Capron
RCMP – Mark Amatto and Chris McKerracher
• The Community Policing Quarterly Report highlighted a contract for a new general duty service pistol, the Glock 45 MOS 7 Duty Pistol. A mandatory four day training program will be rolled out for the frontline officers will begin in late summer.
• Five Community Priorities
1. Enhances Road Safety – Aggressive Driving
2. Crime Reduction – Property Theft
3. Change Culture and Transformation – Violence in Relationships
4. Enhance OHV/ATV/Snowmobile Compliance and Safety
5. Police/Community Relations – Visibility
6. Staffing – Working at getting the detachment up to the 9 established positions
Northback – Mike Young and Daina Lazzarotto
• The Final Terms of Reference for Environmental Impact Assessment Report submitted in March is yet to be completed and available to the public.
• Northback’s Water Act Application was clarified. They will not draw water from local creeks or streams, they will instead collect water from precipitation and mine dewatering and store it for later use.
2024 CNP Coal Reunion – Ron Hungar
• Ron Hungar presented the idea of the Tallest Miner’s Davy Lantern in Canada to be constructed in the Crowsnest Pass.
• This proposed structure is to be some 50 feet high and serve as a tourist attraction.
• The lantern features a double helix, climbable staircase inside leading up to an observation deck.
• Construction is to be funded by grants and donations.
Boat Launch at Crowsnest Lake
• Government officers required the municipality to close the boat launch due to safety issues and it has been closed since the spring of 2025.
• The council has been unsuccessfully lobbying to get the province to take over ownership and costs associated with the boat launch.
• This is disappointing as they province owns and maintains other launches at nearby lakes.
• Council moved to remove the damaged ramp structure at the launch, remediate the shoreline and terminate the disposition.
• The estimated cost is $37,000 which will come out of the Millrate Stabilization Reserve.
• The cost of repairing the launch would be $141,000 and there is no guarantee that the repair would last as the launch has a history of being continually damaged by ice over the winter months.
South Bellevue Infrastructure Upgrades
• This consists of two projects that have overlap, the sewer main and a road section of undersized watermain.
• This combined project received four bids ranging from $1.7 to $2.4 million, the amount allocated in the budget for this work was $1.5 million.
• Council moved to award the contract to Canoco Energy.
• The project bid was $1,670,899 (plus engineering $140,410.13).
• Funds will some from
o $1,500,000 from Approved Capital Budget – Borrowing Bylaw 1223,2025
o $300,000 from Millrate Stabilization Reserve.
Public Input Period
• Larry Ruzek spoke on behalf of the Ratepayers Association. Carmen Roman is no longer president and he is taking over some of the duties.
• Henry Koopman brought up several of his concerns
o Disrespectful comments at meeting needing a formal apology
o Tourism is promoted, yet there is a lack of local accommodation
o Logging noise around Hillcrest and fines for this boing too low
o Need for large garbage bins in areas of the community so garbage is not left out to attract bears
Mount Tecumseh Logging Plan
• Councillor MacDonald brought to Council concerns local citizens have regarding West Fraser’s proposed logging of the Mount Tecumseh area under the Community Hazardous Fuels Reduction Program.
• The area of the proposed logging is used for backcountry recreation and connects to the Crowsnest Nordic trail system.
• A draft Council Advocacy Letter on the proposed Tecumseh logging plan was presented to Council.
• Council did not approve sending the letter out, but will review the concerns about this logging when West Fraser presents to Council on July 14.