In Attendance: 24 persons

1. Meeting opened at 6:10 p.m. at the Sundre Golf Club

2. Introductions of new members and guest speakers

3. Agenda; Accepted as circulated

4. Minutes of December 17, 2003. Motion by John Boulton; Seconded by Kirk Kluchka PASSED

5. River Valley School Renovations: Presentation by Ron Fisher, Chinook Edge Trustee; Principals Allan Tarnoczi and Ray Hoppins. Ron outlined the current enrollment of the School District as over 11,000 students in 39 schools. The current enrollment in River Valley School is 700 students, with 375 in the High School.
The plans for the River Valley School are a $10 million redevelopment to be completed by September 2005. The south end of the school buildings, the administration area and the West Wing become redundant and have been offered to the Town as a possible recreation and culture facility. Town Councilor Irene Pedersen says that the Town will accept the offer and is waiting for the School Board's architect to delineate the changes that are needed to separate the two facilities. Ron F says they would like to see the Town retain the administration area but it would cost an additional $60,000 to install a fire rated wall. Irene says that the town says it cannot afford that expense. If the West Wing is retained it would require an elevator. Gerald Ingeveld says there may be a possibility for the Town to access the County's Culture and Recreation capital grant of $25/local County resident for some of the renovations and that a further $25/ capita is available, if matched by County resident's contributions. This could total $150,000.
Alan Tarnoczi stated that River Valley School will still require the use of the gymnasium from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.after the transfer of title.
Gerald Ingeveld suggested there might be an opportunity to access funds from the RCMP to develop the existing Town offices into a Three Services Building. This would mean moving the Town offices to the West Wing of the River Valley School and accommodating the RCMP, Ambulance and Fire in existing Town Office Building.
MOTION: Moved by Bob McIntyre, Seconded John Boulton; That the Chamber supports the initiative of the Town of Sundre to acquire title from the Chinook's Edge School District to that portion of the River Valley School that could be made available to the Town after the renovations to the school. PASSED

MOTION: Moved by John Boulton, Seconded Kirk Kluchka That honorary Chamber of Commerce membership, with full voting right, is extended to the River Valley School, the Sundre High School and the RCMP Detachment. PASSED

6. State of Agriculture: Duane Grace reported that things in the cattle market are improving for feedlot operators. The Canadian Prime Minister and the US President are talking etc. The margins for those operators are similar to last year before Mad Cow. Processed beef is moving again.
Peter Schmiemann says the cow-calf operators and dairy farmers are not able to sell their culls; that the processors are not paying reasonable amounts; those with debt loads are suffering.
Gerald Ingeveld reported that without a current debt load, he could probably carry on for two to three years under current conditions.

7. Off Highway Vehicles: Calvin Rakach and Peter Schiemann made a presentation asking for support for an initiative to maintain access to wilderness areas for managed multi-use trail use. The current process of closing progressive areas to Off-Highway vehicles will cause future problems. The public will be restricted to an ever decreasing area with ever increasing pressure due to the concentration of users. The Alberta Off-Highway Vehicle Association wants the Province to seek a better solution by working with user groups to "harden" the existing trails to minimize environmental damage and enter into management arrangements with the users.
MOTION: Peter Denny; Seconded John Boulton That the Sundre and District Chamber of Commerce write the Minister of Sustainable Development recommending that the ministry work with multi-user groups to develop responsible managed development of wilderness trails for the areas now outside the existing development plans. PASSED

1. Economic Development Initiative: Chris Newton and Shelley Kohut attended the first all-day training session in Innisfail and Chris reported that they are investigating the techniques and methods to retain and expand small businesses. Chris noted one of the tools some communities use is to develop a business incubator and that the west-wing of the River Valley School would be ideally suited for this purpose.

8. Budget: The 2004 budget was briefly reviewed with a focus on the proposed partnerships with the Town and the County.
ACTION; Irene Pedersen suggested that the proposal should be made to the Town immediately as they are in Budget Deliberations at the present time.

9. Red Deer River Festival August 2004: Jim McAllister outlined broadly the water events that could occur on the August long weekend. He indicated that he would make all the river user associations aware of the event. The tentative plans call for a street dance in the evening.

10. Adjournment 8:30 p.m. Moved John Boulton, Seconded Kirk Kluchka.