Original Published 09:28 May 25, 2022

By Sean Oliver, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The May 9 regular council meeting saw Pincher Creek town council discuss the opportunity to host a junior A hockey team, pass first reading for an amendment to the land use bylaw, and grant a partial reimbursement to a resident’s water bill.

GMHL

At the invitation of the Greater Metro Hockey League, council directed administration to prepare a draft contract with the league for council to review. The contract would enable Pincher Creek to field a junior A hockey team.

The GMHL is composed of teams from British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec, with players aged 16 to 21.

The Municipality of Crowsnest Pass recently announced it had entered into an agreement with the GMHL to host an expansion team. Should the town follow suit, the community would commit to a team for a minimum of two years as a starting point.

Coun. Sahra Nodge said the opportunity was a positive one, especially since the team would use the ice at times when it is currently unscheduled.

“There could be some really great benefit getting into a contract with them,” she said. “I think it could have some motivation for us to have one of our facilities used in a revenue-generating capacity.”

The ultimate decision, she added, would need to balance the opportunity for economic revenue a team could provide for the town and local businesses versus the upgrades the MCC Arena would need to host a junior A team.

A new dressing room for the team, as well as expansion of the player benches and improvements under the bleachers and to the sound system, would be required.

Bylaw 1547-AN

Council passed first reading of Bylaw 1547-AN, which proposes to amend the land-use bylaw to redesignate a portion of land at Elk Avenue and Kettles Street from manufactured/mobile home to highway/drive-in commercial.

If subsequent second and third readings pass, the rezoning will allow the management of Stardust Mobile Home Park to build additional structures on its property separate from the current designation of mobile homes.

A public hearing for the amendment will be held June 13.

Water credit

A resident requested council grant a credit to their utility bill after a malfunctioning water softener led to a bill that was over $776. The resident paid the amount in full and then requested their account be credited.

While refunding a utility customer is not customary in a user-pay system, council members sympathized with the homeowner and agreed to credit the account one-half of the charged amount.

Next meeting

The next regular council meeting is Monday, June 13, 6 p.m. in council chambers.

This item reprinted with permission from Shootin’ the Breeze, Pincher Creek, Alberta