Limited Local Government – Page 2 – Christopher Northcott

Update on MITACs Locating Missing Graves Cemetery Project

Christopher Northcott on December 1, 2023

The following update is provided on behalf of Councillor Laurie Lyckman and myself, with gratitude to the university researchers for the detailed overview, as well as our local volunteers for their ongoing work on this project.

Global New Lethbridge news story from November 23, 2023, can be found, HERE.

Calgary Herald Article from November 12, 2023 can be found, HERE.

Alternate link to Calgary Herald article as distributed in the Ottawa Citizen, with comments, can be found, HERE.

The University of Lethbridge Press Release from November 6, 2023:

collaborative_research_project_utilizes_geospatial_technology_to_locate_lost_graves_sites_in_vulcan_countynov0623 Download

The November 2023 Project Update:

Missing-Graves_November_2023_Update Download

Additional photos from September with some description. The first two are from Carmangay Cemetery and the third shows the outline of a church foundation in the Marquis Municipal (Milo East) Cemetery:

Locating Unmarked Graves in Vulcan County: The Frontiers of Remote Sensing Technologies

Christopher Northcott on October 8, 2023

Earlier this year, the Department of Geography at the University of Lethbridge and Vulcan County successfully applied for a MITACS research grant, funding for a project that pushes the limits of remote sensing technologies in looking for unmarked graves in Vulcan County.

To make this project happen, MITACS provided 50% of the funding or $15,000. Vulcan County has funded 25% of the project or $7,500. The remaining 25% of the funding came from the communities of Carmangay, Lomond and Milo, with each village contributing $500 and each community contributing $2,000. The sponsoring community groups are the Carmangay Historical Society, the Carmangay Agricultural Society, the Lions Club of Lomond, and the Lions Club of Milo.

This project will help resolve a longstanding problem of “lost” graves, enhancing our awareness of local history while contributing to the respectful management of our cemeteries. The data generated will have significant practical applications, especially as it concerns creating and updating cemetery profiles to local geographic information system (GIS) profiles that then identify unmark graves.

In this effort, we are fortunate to be working with Dr. Craig Coburn of the University of Lethbridge, benefiting from his expertise as well as the additional resources that he has at his disposal. Supporting his research and field work is research intern Paul Novoseltzev.

2024 Council Remuneration Adjustment

Christopher Northcott on September 29, 2023

As mentioned in my September “Notes from Council,” please review the following and let me know what you think about a one-time adjustment of 15% to council remuneration in addition to the 10% adjustment that was approved in November of 2022. Council has approved this for inclusion in the 2024 interim-operating budget, so I welcome your thoughts, especially if you can let me know what you think before November when the budget will need to be approved and this matter can be revisited.

The internal review used the same methodologies as the external review. It found that remuneration was still well-behind market comparators (other comparable municipalities).

2023-09-20-Council-Remuneration-Internal-Review Download

Bylaw 2023-019 Tarping Bylaw

Christopher Northcott on August 31, 2023

Feel free to contact me should you wish to discuss.

Comments are enabled. Respectful commentary regarding the proposed bylaw is welcome, be it for or against. Please avoid referring directly to individuals, staff members or otherwise. I am interested in knowing what you think. There will be public consultation by way of a public hearing before it is considered for second and third reading.

Bylaw-2023-019-Tarping-Bylaw Download

Tarping-Bylaw-Survey-Results Download

Notice of Motion, October 19, 2022, re Delay Linear Tax Incentive Bylaw

Christopher Northcott on October 16, 2022

For those interested, I have uploaded my forthcoming Notice of Motion here: “Update Municipal Development Plan Before Passage of Linear Tax Incentive Bylaw.”

Sign up for Community News

Christopher Northcott on April 8, 2022

Community news is frequently hilarious and helps one keep up on new business ventures, events, and everything else that is happening in the area.

In the era of “fake news,” I’m sure we can all agree that the standard bearers of truth, intelligence and accurate reporting are most certainly the Milo Can Opener and the Champion Chronicle!

If you are not presently subscribing to either one or both (why not?!), your life is poorer for it.

With New Year’s resolutions soon upon us, you can subscribe to the Champion Chronicle by emailing [email protected] or the Milo Can Opener by emailing [email protected] .

A digital subscription to the Champion Chronicle costs $12/year. A paper copy can be mailed to you each month for $20/year (Champion local mail) or for $25/year (outside Champion local mail but in Canada).

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Different rates apply for hard copy mail delivery outside Canada.