Information Items
Councillor Marcel Michaels - Michaels reported having attended a Community Futures West Yellowhead meeting.
Councillor Glen Barrow - Barrow reported having attended FCM. He heard many comments regarding geothermal from officials from other communities in attendance, many saying it's amazing to see and hear the science involved. Barrow went on to say that Hinton is at the forefront of this movement, so we as a community should lead and take advantage. FCM also offered an opportunity to attend Recreation Centre study shops, and saw many communities discussing similar issues and items as we are. He rounded out his reporting with a shout out for seniors week.
Councillor Ryan Maguhn - Maguhn reported having attended a Northern Rockies Museum of Culture and Heritage meeting, informing the community that there will be a paint night coming up, and that the museum is now a Chamber of Commerce member
Councillor Stuart Taylor - Taylor offered his congratulations to Elaine Koch for her seniors lifetime achievement award, and spoke to seniors week. He also reported attending a MPB event. Taylor requested information regarding the cleanup of the firesite along highway 16 near the Hinton Highway Inn; CAO schwirtz informed him that ToH staff consider the cleanup a priority and have been working with the relevant insurance company, and that work is expected to be complete by the end of the month.
Councillor Matthew Young - Young reported having attended a Library Board meeting, saying they anticipate to be hiring librarian soon. He thanked the Town for support with the HR particulars, as well as for help in using agenda format. Councillor Young reported there are Vacancies on the board, and that new members would be needed soon.
Mayor Rob Mackin - Council Representation on Boards & Committees - Mackin moved that Councillor Barrow replace Councillor Taylor on the Library Board, and that Councillor Taylor be placed as an alternate on the Hinton Golfing Society Board. This motion was carried.
Mayor Mackin offered Elaine Koch his congratulations for her lifetime achievement award.
Mackin reported having visited Ottawa alongside the Mayor of Whitecourt to represent the forestry communities of Alberta as guests of the Forest Products of Canada. They had an opportunity to speak to the challenges of forestry communities and work with other communities on issues like caribou management. Also spoke in regards to the mountain pine beetle, meeting with federal officials and representatives of Jasper National Park. Mackin reports that he will be facilitating a sit down with relevant scientists. There is work that can be done in Jasper that doesn't require an act of parliament and he will continue to push for it. Mackin is looking for Ottawa to step up, and is seeking connections with forestry lobbyists at a federal level.
Mackin reported that the North American Forestry Commision, including officials from the US, Mexico, and Canada, are all coming to Hinton for a field tour, spending the evening in Hinton, where he will bring greetings from the community.
Mackin went on to report that FPInnovations is sending an international delegation to tour our Lignin Plant and to visit our working forest next year.
Mackin also reported having met with MP Eglinski while in Ottawa in regards to Hinton Geothermal, as well as an MP from Edmonton who has submitted a private member's bill regarding supporting geothermal endeavours. Coming from this meeting will be a meeting with the Director for Natural Resources in regards to ways the federal government can support geothermal exploration in Canada.
CAO Mike Schwirtz - CAO Schwirtz offered some wisdom in recognition of his final Regular Council Meeting as CAO of Hinton. It is transposed below.
When you think of innovation, innovation is the cornerstone of survival. The human race would not be here today if not for innovators. Innovators look at things from a different perspective, they break rules, they embrace fresh thinking, and without them, we wouldn't be alive today.
Interesting thing about innovators; their mortality rate is considerably higher than other people.
This town is full of great people, with great energy, and they have the ability to take advantage of what is called the Alberta Advantage. Albertans are not afraid to take risks, they're not afraid to go bankrupt. And that's what's made this province so successful.
Embrace the fresh thinking, and lead the way. This Town is great, but that greatness doesn't happen on its own; it comes from people stepping up and leading.
CAO Schwirtz also took the opportunity to thank Mayor Mackin, who has recently announced that he will not be running in the coming election, for everything that he has done for the community. Schwirtz wished to draw attention to the fact that most in the public have no knowledge of how much work Mackin has done on behalf of the Town, as he is quite humble about it.
Finally, Schwirtz offered a thank you to everyone in the community for all the support he has received during his time with the Town, and as CAO. He encourages all of Hinton to provide that same support to the next CAO in the position.
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