Pincher Creek town council formalized how it will work with school divisions on future planning and shared use of facilities at its June 8 meeting, bringing the municipality into compliance with provincial requirements.

Council authorized agreements with Livingstone Range School Division and Holy Spirit Roman Catholic Separate School Division, replacing older agreements.

Council also postponed discussion on a funding request from the Pincher Creek Curling Club until after a public input session scheduled for this Wednesday, June 17.

School division agreements approved

Under the Municipal Government Act, municipalities and school boards were required to enter into joint use and planning agreements, commonly known as JUPAs, by June 10.

Administration told council the agreements were drafted using a template from the Local Government Administrators Association, adjusted to suit local needs. Town staff met with representatives from both school divisions and the agreements were reviewed by the boards before returning to council for approval.

The Holy Spirit board had already approved and signed its agreement as presented. The Livingstone Range agreement required additional revisions following a May 11 council meeting, with further amendments made to Section 3 of the document before it went back to council.

During discussion, Coun. Bernice Cyr raised concerns about a facility in Waterton she felt was not sufficiently addressed in the agreements.

Other council members clarified that the agreements are limited to school-owned properties operating within the town’s boundaries and do not extend to facilities owned by outside organizations such as the Diocese of Calgary.

“It’s the actual school buildings that are in our town, and there’s three of them, and that’s all that these agreements cover,” Mayor Wayne Oliver said.

Council approved the agreements with both school divisions by 6-1 votes, with Cyr opposed to each motion.

Council also voted 6-1 to terminate a 1990 joint use agreement between the Pincher Creek Regional Parks and Recreation Board and two former school divisions, and unanimously approved the termination of a 2006 agreement between Livingstone Range School Division and the Town of Pincher Creek. Both were replaced by the new agreements.

Administration noted that four existing agreements between the town and local school divisions will need to be reviewed for relevancy and redundancy going forward. A governing committee established under the new agreements will also be added to the list of council appointments reviewed at the annual organizational meeting.

Curling club funding postponed

Discussion on a funding request from the Pincher Creek Curling Club was deferred to allow for a public input session to take place first.

The session is scheduled for Wednesday, June 17, at 6 p.m. at the MD of Pincher Creek council chambers, located at 1037 Herron Ave. The motion to postpone carried 6-1, with Cyr opposed.

Workshop set for July

Council directed administration to schedule a two-hour workshop on updates to the municipal development plan for July 9 at 1 p.m.

The workshop will be facilitated by the Oldman River Regional Services Commission, which is currently leading the update process.

Councillor to attend pollinator garden event

Council unanimously approved a request from Coun. Cyr to attend an Oldman Watershed Council event focused on planting a pollinator garden in the Lavern area, with mileage expenses covered.

Cyr attended an earlier presentation by the organization and expressed interest in learning more about developing a similar pollinator garden at the Veterans Memorial Campground in Pincher Creek.

Mayor Oliver noted council’s role is primarily governance, but Cyr said the event would provide useful contacts and information for exploring future grant opportunities related to pollinator habitat projects.

Heritage park society makes land requests

Council received correspondence from the Pincher Creek and District Historical Society regarding the future of Kootenai Brown Historical Park.

In a letter, the organization made three formal requests: that the lease on a significant portion of the park’s land be transferred to the historical society; that six lots owned by the society immediately north of the leased lands be amalgamated into a single parcel; and that the entire property be officially designated as the grounds of Kootenai Brown Historical Park and zoned public and public/institutional.

The society noted it has already been using the six lots as part of the park and attached a conceptual land use plan that takes into account existing community assets including a community garden, the gazebo, orchard, creek pathway, established trees, the rose garden, Burns Cabin and utility restrictions along the east side of the property.

The letter indicated the society is open to attending a public hearing or future council meeting to discuss the requests further.

Council accepted the correspondence as information and did not make a decision on the requests during the meeting.

Community invitations received

Council approved Coun. Gordon McMullen’s attendance at the Claresholm Candy Parade and Coun. Mark Barber’s attendance at parades in Bellecrest and Cardston.

Council also received invitations to Pincher Creek Legion’s honours and awards night, June 27 at Dieppe Hall, and to the Bellecrest Days celebrations on the same date.

Additionally, the Pincher Creek Cruisers announced they will host a car and motorcycle show and shine on Father’s Day, June 21, with all proceeds going to the Pincher Creek and District Community Food Centre. Organizers encouraged local businesses to contribute prizes, gift cards or monetary donations.

Transparency motion introduced

Coun. Valerie Wynder introduced a notice of motion calling for councillors to submit written council reports to be included in the published, approved minutes of the meetings at which they were presented, beginning as soon as next month, but no later than August.

Wynder said the measure supports council’s stated strategic values of transparency, responsive and accountable public service, and collaborative community engagement.

As a notice of motion, the item was not debated and will return to the agenda at the June 22 regular council meeting for full discussion and a vote.