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Economic Development, Transportation and Health top County of Grande Prairie’s Advocacy Priorities County Council approved their new 2022-2023 Government Advocacy Priorities to guide advocacy over the next year. Council identified three priority areas: economic development, transportation, and health. For more information, read the media release.  

Establishing Regional Fire Services level of service – Council approved a Standard of Cover document for County Regional Fire Service. The Standard evaluates the service, including capacity and benchmarks to measure effectiveness compared against industry standards and accepted best practices.  

Council also approved Policy H1 – Levels of Service, which was updated to remove confined space rescue and to align with the new Standard of Cover. Council directed Administration to prepare a business case to add water rescue as a service for future consideration.  

La Glace Water System Connections – Council approved the option to connect eighteen properties in the Hamlet of La Glace from the main water line to the property curb stop. The intention will encourage properties not currently connected to the hamlet’s water system to make the connection while upgrades are underway. Council directed Administration to investigate options to recover the associated costs for discussion at a future Council Meeting.   

Update on New Emergency Youth Shelter – Representatives from the Grande Prairie Youth Emergency Shelter, also known as Sunrise House, provided Council with a progress update on their new emergency youth shelter. Groundbreaking for construction took place last month, after the project was delayed due to the pandemic, and will expand emergency support available to local youth.   

Council approved releasing $200,000 in capital funding for the project, which was approved in 2020. Council encouraged the organization to submit further project funding requests to the 2023 Capital Grant funding program.  

Joint Municipality Fall Event – Council approved up to $10,000 as the County’s contribution to an event in Calgary, planned for this fall and hosted in partnership with the City of Grande Prairie and MD of Greenview for Calgary business leaders to raise the profile of the region. Council authorized Reeve Beaupre to attend the event on behalf of the County of Grande Prairie.  

Joint Communications MOU – Council approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for joint communications from the County of Grande Prairie, City of Grande Prairie, and MD of Greenview in the event of collaborative events, projects, and initiatives.  

Policies Presented for Approval – Council is undertaking a review of all County policies in 2022. The following policies were reviewed: 

  • Council approved Policy D3 – Weed Control Along County Property and Right of Ways as presented. 

  • Council approved Policy D4 – Brush Control Along County Roadside Right-of-Ways as presented. 

  • Council approved Policy D5 – No Spray Program as presented. 

  • Council approved Policy K12 – Community Beautification Initiatives as presented.  

  • Council approved Policy N8 – Dust Control as amended.  

  • Council rescinded Policy N9 – Application of Dust Control by a Party Other Than the County. 

  • Council rescinded Policy N15 – Standard Road Top Widths for Construction. 

  • Council approved Policy N49 – Bond Agreement as presented. 

Rio Grande Sportsground Paving Project – Council approved $120,740 from the Division 6 road bonding reserve to be allocated for the Rio Grande Sports Grounds paving project.  

Organic Farming – Council directed Administration to draft a resolution for the October Agricultural Service Board Regional Conference to require organic growers to comply with Provincial regulations, including the Weed Act, to achieve and maintain their certification.  

Curbside Collection Rolling Waste Cart Inventory – Council approved $40,427 to purchase 506 rolling waste carts for new and replacement cart inventory over the next four years.  

Equipment Tender Awards – Council entered into agreements with Windsor Ford to provide trucks for the County’s equipment fleet, including $787,819 to provide 12 pickup trucks, $185,471 to provide an F-550 mechanic truck, and $91,427 to provide one 4500 one-tonne flatbed truck.  

Council directed Administration to investigate current trends and potential solutions related to increased costs and reduced availability for fleet replacement.  

2022 Tax Sale – Council approved November 8, 2022, as the date of the annual tax sale. Council approved the estimated market value for 12 potential tax sale properties and directed Administration to reassess the value of a property prior to the tax sale. Council also approved terms and conditions for tax sales.  

Public Hearings – Council held the following public hearings:  

  • For Bylaw 2680-22-018 to redesignate 18 acres of land, located four miles north of the Town of Sexsmith, adjacent to Township Road 744 and Range Road 54, from an Agricultural (AG) District to the Country Residential (CR-4) District to allow for the development of six residential lots. Council gave the bylaw second reading. 

  • For Bylaw 2680-22-019 to redesignate 10 acres of land, located four miles northeast of the Town of Sexsmith, adjacent to Township Road 744 and Range Road 54, from an Agricultural (AG) District to the Country Residential (CR-5) District to allow for the development of two residential lots. Council gave the bylaw second reading.  

  • For Bylaw 2680-22-020 to redesignate 11.25 acres of land, located west of Range Road 34 and south of Township Road 713A, from a Country Residential (CR-4) District to a Country Residential (CR-5) District to accommodate the subdivision of two residential lots. Council gave the bylaw third reading.  

  • For Bylaw 2680-22-021 to redesignate 21.5 acres, located at the west boundary of the Town of Wembley north of Township Road 712, from an Agricultural (AG) District to the Country Residential (CR-4) District to accommodate the subdivision of one lot. Council gave the bylaw third reading.  

  • For Bylaw 2680-22-022 to redesignate 2.27 acres of land, located one mile northwest of the Town of Beaverlodge, adjacent to Township Road 722 and Range Road 103, from an Agricultural (AG) District to the Country Residential (CR-5) District to allow for a boundary adjustment for an existing subdivision. Council gave the bylaw third reading. 

Sponsorship Request – Council approved $800 to purchase a table of 10 for Councillors to attend the Nitehawk Year-Round Adventure Park’s 26th Annual Comedy Nite Fundraiser, with all proceeds going towards the Landslide Remediation & Facility Improvements.  

External Committee Appointment – Council appointed Reeve Leanne Beaupre to the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital Culture Guiding Coalition Committee for a term expiring December 2023.  

Staff Introductions – Council welcomed staff member Chris Bain into a new role as Area Foreman for the West County in Public Works.   

The next Regular Council Meeting will take place on September 12, 2022. The next Committee of the Whole Meeting will take place on August 26, 2022. 

Council and Committee meetings are available to the public via live stream. Find connection instructions and meeting agendas through the events calendar on the County website.