Back to SearchApplying for FireSmart Funding to Review the Wildfire Mitigation Strategy – Council directed Administration to apply to the Forest Resource Improvement Association of Alberta (FRIAA) Grant for $50,000 in FireSmart Planning grant funding to review and update the County’s Wildfire Mitigation Strategy, as discussed during the July 27, 2023 Committee of the Whole Meeting.
Incentive Approved for New Physician – Council approved $10,000 in grant funding for incoming physician Dr. Chantelle Scrutton, who will open a full-time practice in the Town of Beaverlodge. The County’s Physician Recruitment and Retention Policy outlines incentives for physicians practicing in the County or towns of Beaverlodge, Sexsmith or Wembley. The County is a member of the South Peace Physician Attraction and Retention Committee (SPPARC), which works to coordinate physician attraction and retention across the region.
Requests for Support – Council considered the following requests for sponsorship and grant funding:
- Council approved $2,500 in Community Assistance Grant Funding for the Canadian Motorcycle Tourism Association for the 80th Anniversary of the Italian Campaign memorial event on September 8-10, 2023.
- Council deferred a request from the Peace Country Wolves Athletic Club (PCWAC) for $250,000 in funding for the Legion Track and Field Enhancement Project to 2024 Capital Grant deliberation meetings on November 1-3, 2023.
- Council defeated a motion with a request from the Wedgewood Homeowners’ Association for $4,800 to support legal and insurance costs. Council asked the Association to explore how costs could be shared among subdivision residents.
Policy Approved – As part of the ongoing review of all County policies, Council approved amendments to Policy B18 – Flag Protocol as presented.
Municipal Planning Commission Processes – Council took no action on a request from the Municipal Planning Commission to update the County Land Use Bylaw (LUB) to streamline development permit and application referral processes. Council requested that Administration consider the feedback as part of the Plan Your County public participation project to review the Land Use Bylaw beginning in 2024.
Development Permit Request– Council approved the development permit, subject to conditions, for a cold storage accessory building for oilfield equipment, located south of the City of Grande Prairie, north of Highway 668 and east of the Highway 40 Industrial Park.
Seeking Funds to Support Post-Secondary Internships – Council directed Administration to apply to the Alberta Community Partnership (ACP) Municipal Internship program under the Finance Officer and Land-Use Planner Stream for 2024. If approved the County would receive a $60,000 grant (per intern) for an 18-month post-secondary graduate internship.
Council Event Attendance – Council endorsed an annual political calendar of events as presented and approved that the Reeve or designate and the County Manager or designate attend events outlined in the calendar.
Council also approved attendance at the following events-
• Reeve or designate to attend an Alberta Enterprise Group event in Calgary on October 25, 2023
• Councillors to attend the Bear Lake Growing Project Harvest Day on September 9, 2023
New Staff Introduction – Council welcomed Jason Hemerle to the Facilities department as a full-time Janitor.
The next Regular Council Meeting will take place on September 11, 2023. The next Committee of the Whole Meeting will take place on August 31, 2023.
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.