2020-02-13 meeting Minutes

Rotary Club of Vermilion 
 
February 13, 2020
 
Call to order 7 am
 
Oh Canada                                                                                                                                               
Rotary Grace                                                                                                                                                                    
Four Way Test  
 
Introduction of guests: 
 
County of Vermilion River Reeve, Dale Swrypa
 
Birthdays and Anniversaries:
 
Randy Riley-Birthday February 19
 
Announcements:
 
Thank you Team 2  for breakfast
 
New Business:
  1. There will be a Flag Work Bee at Webb’s RV on Monday February 17 at 2pm for those who can come.
  2. Update on County of Vermilion River by Reeve Dale Swrypa.  Dale talked a bit about his background which includes raising purebred Charolais and beef cattle, a career as a gas utility manager and fitter, and an avid curler.  He is currently in the third year of his first term as a county councilor.  He says that we currently have a great group of people serving as county councilors that come from a very diverse background.  He gave members a very informative, interesting apdate about what is happening in the county and exactly what they are responsible for.   Council oversees all municipal activities, including
  • Municipal planning and zoning by-laws
  • Land development
  • Property taxes
  • The borrowing of money for capital expenditures
  • Bylaw Enforcement
  • Fire protection
  • Recreation programs and facilities
  • Building standards
  • Transportation/traffic
  • Storm sewer, sidewalk, road maintenance and improvement
  • Water & sewage
  • Disposal of garbage
 
      Dale stated that the main focus for the county are the roads.  There are around 5250 km of    roads in the county and around 4500km must be maintained.  This is the equivalent         to the distance from Vancouver to Miami.  The wet weather of the last few years has caused issues with road maintenance and higher water tables threatening the infrastructure         of several communities, another area of concern for the county. They are also responsible for maintaining 102 bridges throughout the county, this ranges from large bridges               spanning rivers to 60” culverts.  Dale is passionate about opening the door to natural gas usage to help reduce emissions and utilize gas through the use of “waste” energy.  He           listed many “Pros” going on in the county:
 
  • G3 Grain Elevator to be build east of Vermilion
  • Husky announced a new Steam Project(Clear Lake Project)
  • Natural Gas fill station in Kitscoty
  • City of Lloydminster land annexation
  •  
He also listed some of the issues the county is facing:
 
  • Higher moisture levels
  • Aging infrastructure
  • Rise in rural crime
 
Sargent report-  Erwin asked the group if they knew the special event that happened in Rotary this week…….115 years of Rotary.  Fine for those who did not know
 
Meeting adjourned
 
Upcoming meetings
 
February 20/20-Dance Impressions by Ryan-Presentation from their trip to Germany(Laurel to       MC that morning)
February 27/20-Presentation by Brian Match, Director of Primary Care Network