Mountain View County council has received a report on the impact of oil and gas activities on county roads.The Road Damage Report was prepared at the request of council by Michael MacLean, director of operational services.The purpose of the report was fourfold: to identify the types of damage that MVC roads received as a result of oilpatch activities; identify the costs incurred as a result of those damages; determine if there are damages, are those damages paid or repaired by MVC, and is there is a lack of participation by industry in addressing any concerns.County policy No. 4006 requires all oil and gas companies operating in the county to enter into a master road use agreement with MVC. The procedure identifies the requirement and process used to apply and monitor the master road use agreement and identifies the requirement for a yearly blanket letter of credit.In his report MacLean reported a review conducted by the county's road use agreement management section indicated no record of MVC paying for any damage associated with an oil and gas road use agreement move.As well, there is no record of MVC ever utilizing the line of credit associated with an oil and gas road use agreement.“It should be noted that oil and gas (companies) utilize their own equipment or contractors to repair damages as they occur or immediately after the haul is complete,” he said.Also, he reported that “to date oil and gas companies operating within MVC have been very responsive to repairing any damage that has occurred as a result of their having road use agreement moves.“There have been occasions to stop hauls as a result of road haul damages to roadways. However, the oil and gas company did repair all damages at their costs and as a result finished the move.”In a note accompanying the report, administration noted that the county's road use agreement policy and procedures are being reviewed by operational staff having responsibility “to ensure we are carrying out our responsibilities as per the policy and procedures.”“The CAO and Director of Operational Services are also meeting with all oil and gas companies that work with MVC. The focus of the meetings is to enhance communications, sharing of work/project plans and to ensure an understanding of obligations when working within MVC,” administration said.Administration also noted “there have been no findings of MVC maintenance funds being spent on roads that have been damaged by oil and gas activities.”Councillors accepted the report for information.Reeve Bruce Beattie and councillors Al Kemmere and Kevin Good did not attend last week's council meeting.PEACE OFFICER MUTUAL AID AGREEMENT REVIEWEDIn other news from last week's meeting, councillors were presented with an update on the peace officer mutual aid agreement in place among the municipalities in the county.At the county's August 22 policies and priorities meeting, administration was instructed to bring forward information about cooperation among the peace officers employed by the municipalities.The agreement reads, in part: “The purpose of this agreement shall allow the special constables (now called peace officers) to assist other special constables of the five municipalities in the performance of their duties by working together with the intent of achieving the objectives of Road Safety Vision 2010.”Road Safety Vision 2010 is a national traffic safety initiative to decrease road fatalities and injuries by focusing on education and enforcement.The multi-municipality agreement also states that the municipalities “shall be liable for all costs and action of their special constables while they are assisting the special constables employed by any of the other five municipalities.”Under the agreement, peace officers in one municipality can request the assistance of officers from another municipality, but that officers cannot on their own initiative conduct enforcement outside their own specific municipal boundary, council heard.COUNCIL ACCEPTS NEW ELECTRONIC RECORDING POLCYCouncillors have reviewed an updated electronic recording policy for council and other meetings.The amendments to the policy are intended to align the policy with provincial regulations, administration said in a note to council.In addition, the new policy name is ‘electronic recordings', reflecting the fact that the policy now applies to all county activities and not just council meetings.The original policy was titled ‘Access to council meeting electronic recordings'.Under the policy, the recording secretary may use electronic recordings to assist with accurate composition of draft minutes, and once approved by the appropriate authority, the written minutes of the meeting will become the official record of the meeting.“On certain occasions and on some subjects, it may be desirable to retain electronic recordings for an extended period of time. The preservation of audio recordings beyond approval of written minutes must be supported by legislation or receive approval from the CAO,” the policy states.Council passed a motion accepting the updated policy.COUNCIL DEFERS FIRE SERVICE AGREEMENT VOTECouncillors have passed a motion tabling a vote on a new fire services agreement with the Town of Carstairs.MVC and the Town of Carstairs have an existing agreement, which was put in place in 2006. The proposed new agreement includes a number of amendments, including cost sharing fixed at 50/50, unlike the current agreement, which is 50/50 up to a maximum of $130,000 then by population percentage, and that facility upgrades and capital repairs will be approved annually by each council and shared equally.The vote on accepting the new agreement was tabled until after talks scheduled for this week (Sept. 13) between the municipalities.Meanwhile, councillors passed a motion approving the new Mountain View Regional Mutual Aid Agreement.The agreement provides for mutual assistance to the regional parties (all municipalities in MVC) for control of fire, fire prevention, emergency medical service, hazardous materials control, and other emergency support in the event of a major fire or other emergency.
