August 12, 2024 Council Highlights

West County Regional Landfill to Continue Temporary Transfer Station Operations – Council approved continuing to operate the West County Regional Landfill as a transfer station with a temporary capping of the existing cell due to limited capacity while the County investigates a long-term solution. A cell is a single waste storage unit within the entire landfill. In December 2023, the landfill temporarily changed operations due to lower-than-expected cell capacity. The West Grande Prairie Solid Waste Authority is a joint authority between the County and the towns of Beaverlodge, Sexsmith and Wembley to maintain, control, and manage the regional solid waste landfill system.  

County Extends Customer Service Hours – Council directed Administration to open the County’s Administration, Transportation and Utilities, and Community Services Buildings over the lunch hour beginning September 3, 2024. Hours of operation will be from 8:30 a.m.to 4:30 p.m. 

Town of Wembley Reimbursement Request Approved – Council approved reimbursing $381,999.17 to the Town of Wembley for expenses to upgrade Township Road 712 between Range Road 82 and Range Road 83. 

Compensation During Extraordinary Circumstances – Council approved Policy and Procedure L14 - Compensation During Extraordinary Circumstances as presented. The policy outlines how the County will compensate staff and Council during extraordinary circumstances, such as during wildfire response. 

Tax Notice and Returned Mail Process – Administration provided an information report on the overall tax notice process and County’s response to notices that are returned as undeliverable.   

Recreation Assistance Fee Program – Council approved additional funding for the Recreation Assistance Program up to $5,000 for 2024. The program is a collaboration between Family and Community Support Services Department (FCSS) and the Recreation and Culture departments. Council directed Administration to include additional funding for the Recreation Fee Assistance Program for Council’s consideration during budget deliberations due to increased demand in the program. 

Clairmont Landfill Tarp Shed Funding – Council directed Administration to reallocate $99,687 from the Clairmont Landfill Cell 4 Construction project to the Tarp Shed Replacement project at Clairmont Landfill to cover estimated additional costs. 

Municipal Utilities Budget Reallocation – Council approved a budget reallocation of $225,000 to address outstanding and emergent repairs necessary to maintain County water and sewer systems. 

Range Road 51 and Township Road 714 Intersection – Council took no action on a presentation from a County resident regarding reverting the intersection into a four-way stop and directed Administration to advise the County resident of the proposed course of action. 

Sexsmith and Area Foodbank Memorandum of Understanding – Council approved the Memorandum of Understanding between the County of Grande Prairie and the Sexsmith and Area Foodbank as presented. 

Development Permit Requests – Council approved a development permit for a gravel pit to operate on property located approximately four miles southwest of the City of Grande Prairie adjacent to Resources Road, subject to conditions, including restricting hours of crushing to 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Council tabled a development permit to operate an asphalt processing and storage facility located approximately one mile south of the City of Grande Prairie at the corner of 39 Avenue and 93 Street. 

Road Life Cycle Costs – Council directed Administration to bring back information to a future Committee of the Whole meeting regarding the total life cycle cost of paved and gravel roads, including capital investment and maintenance costs. 

Nitehawk Year-Round Adventure Park – Council approved the request from Nitehawk Year-Round Adventure Park to reallocate $62,500 of the $169,625 the County initially provided for2024 capital funding toward their 2023/24 seasonal operational deficit. Council also directed Administration to send a letter to the M.D. of Greenview and the City of Grande Prairie seeking formal engagement on a tri-municipal, long-term operating funding agreement for the facility.  

All-Terrain Vehicles – Council approved changing the 2024 Capital Plan to include replacing two quads with two six-wheeled all-terrain vehicles at a cost of$38,600 and replacing one quad at a cost of $12,000. 

Sponsorship Requests – Council approved the following: