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Council Meeting Highlights - September 18, 2024

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Acknowledgements & Proclamations

  • Alberta Development Officers Week: September 22-28, 2024.
  • International Day of Older Persons: October 1, 2024.
  • Rail Safety Week: September 23 - 29, 2024.
  • Alberta Agricultural Society Day: Date: September 21, 2024.
  • Fire Prevention Week: Date: October 6 - 12, 2024.

 

Bylaws and Policies

Policy #HR-033 - Workplace Violence Prevention

  • Approved.
  • Changes in the policy include:
    • New procedures for responding to a resident, ratepayer, or customer who is aggressive towards a county employee.

Bylaw 24-1155 - Fees, Rates, and Charges

  • Approved.
  • Changes in the bylaw, that will come into effect October 1, 2024:
    • Development Permits - Permitted Use: $100, Discretionary Use (for value up to $1 million): $250, Discretionary Use (for value over $1 million): $400, Variances: additional 50% of application fee.
    • Subdivision Applications - Base fee: $750 plus, per lot fee: $250 per title created, title search: $15, endorsement: $200 per title created, recirculation of application to stakeholders after initial circulation: $250, subdivision approval extension: $350 with first and subsequent extensions.
    • Subdivision Development Appeal Board applications – increase to $300.

Policy #AG-008 - Overland Drainage

  • Approved.
  • Changes in the policy include:
    • As part of the County's Policy Review Project, several changes were made to the Enforcement of Drainage Complaints Policy. The policy has been simplified and merged with the Overland Drainage Policy to streamline the County’s drainage management efforts into one document.

Policy #INFR-015 - Road Use

  • Approved.
  • Changes in the policy include:
    • Clarifying definitions, such as Haul Routes, Road Ban, and Road Use Agreements, while removing the term "Heavy Truck" as it is now covered under traffic definitions. Road use agreements must be in place 24-48 hours before a haul begins, and the County may require a security bond based on the haul type.

Policy #INFR-014 - Road Maintenance

  • Approved.
  • Changes in the policy include:
    • Policy #PW-004 - Bus Stop Turn-Around has been amalgamated into the Road Maintenance Policy.

Policy #CS-006 - Centennial Settler Award

  • Approved.
  • Changes in the policy include:
    • A new administrative procedure was created to outline the steps for administering the award.

Policy #CS-007 - Community Hall Funding

  • Approved.
  • Changes in the policy include:
    • Increased funding for insurance and utilities to $1,500 for each eligible organization, while continuing to offer in-kind support for gravelling accesses and parking lots.

Policy #CS-008 - Community Support Program

  • Approved.
  • Changes in the policy include:
    • Improved consistency and clarity in the application process to align with other County funding programs.

Policy #CMM-002 - External Communications

  • Approved.
  • Changes in the policy include:
    • Amendments allowing the County to promote for-profit entities that align with tourism or economic development initiatives through dedicated accounts or web pages.

Policy #CORP-032 - Electronic Signatures

  • Approved.
  • Changes in the policy include:
    • Authorizes the use of electronic signatures for some internal and external documents to streamline processes and reduce paper waste.

Policy #CORP-018 - Operating and Capital Reserves

  • Approved.
  • Changes in the policy include:
    • Adjustments to the minimum and maximum reserve balances due to inflation and increased reserve amounts. Alignment of policy with current reserve amounts and integration with Council’s Long-Term Strategic Plan.

Policy #CORP-026 - Tax Payments Deemed Received

  • Approved.
  • Changes in the policy include:
    • Clarification of when a tax payment is considered "received." This ensures consistency, as some payment methods may cause delays in the actual receipt of funds.

Policy #CORP-028 - Unbudgeted Expenditures

  • Approved.
  • Changes in the policy include:
    • Adjustments were made to approval thresholds.

 

2025 Road Construction Program

Council members engaged in extensive discussion regarding the 2025 construction program. Ultimately, the following program was approved:

  • 2024 Carry-Over Projects:
    • Cementing 1.25 miles on Range Road 200 from Highway 630 to Blackfoot Grazing Reserve
    • Cementing 2 miles on Range Road 202 between Township Roads 502 and 504
    • Repairing 1 mile on Township Road 512 from Range Road 191 to Highway 834
  • 2025 Cementing Projects:
    • 1 mile each in Whispering Hills Estates, Kingsway Estates, and Beaver Creek Estates (50514 Range Road 202).
    • 4 miles on Township Road 490 from Highway 857 to Range Road 142
    • 3 miles on Township Road 490 from Highway 870 to Range Road 120
    • 5 mile on Range Road 200 from Highway 630 to entrance to campsite and east on Hoopers Drive
  • 2025 Maintenance:
    • 1 mile of repairs at locations to be determined by administration
    • 8 miles of re-chipping at locations to be determined by administration
    • 10 miles of fog overlay at locations to be determined by administration
    • 8 miles of shoulder pulls at locations to be determined by administration (as schedule and weather permit)
    • 5 mile of pavement overlay in the Hamlet of Bruce on Main Street from Highway 14 to 4th Avenue
    • 5 mile of pavement overlay in the Hamlet of Kinsella on Main Street from Highway 14 to 3rd Avenue and on 2nd Avenue from Main Street to King Street

 

Land Value Appraisal - 48208 Range Road 143, Beaver County

Council lowered the reserve bid for the County-owned land to align with a recent third-party appraisal. This adjustment ensures the property is competitively priced based on its current market value.

 

Council Meeting Dates

Council has scheduled a Council Meeting on October 29, 2024, at 3:00 PM at the Ryley Community Hall. This meeting will include a Public Hearing for the proposed Land Use Bylaw and Municipal Development Plan.

 

Council rescheduled the November 6, 2024, Governance and Priorities Committee Meeting to November 13, 2024, at 9:30 AM.

 

Pine Cliff Energy Tax Payment Deferral Request

Council agreed to a property tax payment agreement with Pine Cliff Energy Ltd. allowing payment of 2024 property taxes over six months and waiving late payment penalties for November 2024 and January 2025.

 

Alberta Counsel

Council directed administration to enter into a one-year agreement with Alberta Counsel for government relations services, including strategic advocacy and grant application development.

 

Village of Holden's Alberta Community Partnership Grant Application

Council approved supporting the Village of Holden in its ACP grant application for the "Holden Complex - Building Assessment for Multi-Use Programming" project, with the Village of Holden designated as the Managing Partner.

 

Holden Agricultural Society Request for Sponsorship

Council approved a 2024 ice arena gold sponsorship of up to $1,500 to the Holden Agricultural Society, with funding provided through the Community Support Requests program.

 

Council Outlines Key Requirements for Enhancing Regional Water Supply Services

Council authorized the presentation of requirements to the Highway 14 Regional Water Services Commission to improve the region’s water supply, including infrastructure assessment, evaluation of current and future needs, development of a strategic supply plan, preparation of business cases and grant applications, creation of a long-range capital plan, and a strategic review of water rates.

 

For more information on items discussed at the Council Meeting, please review the full Agenda Package for this meeting here. New and/or amended Policies and Bylaws are uploaded to the website after they have been signed.