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Fire Service Agreement with the Town of Sexsmith revised – Council approved the revised Fire Service Agreement with the Town of Sexsmith, as amended, to better reflect current practices. The County of Grande Prairie and Town of Sexsmith entered into a five-year Fire Services Agreement to include the Town’s fire service in the County’s regional fire service model between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2026.

Letter of Concern – Council directed Administration to send a letter of concern to the Premier of Alberta regarding the discontinuation of Alberta Health Services medivac fixed wing air ambulance service at rural airports.

Safety of roundabout near Five Mile Hall – Administration will implement temporary safety measures at the roundabout located near Five Mile Hall, including the addition of flashing lights to some of the existing signage and speed reduction signage in advance of the roundabout. Administration is also working to implement permanent safety measures, which include lighting and a partial visual barrier in the center of the roundabout to better alert drivers of the diversion ahead.

Applications to relieve burden of unpaid taxes – Council directed Administration to apply for the Provincial Education Requisition Credit (PERC) and Designated Industrial Requisition Credit (DIRC) programs. The Government of Alberta offers the PERC and DIRC programs to relieve the financial burden of unpaid taxes on municipalities. More than $37,500 is eligible for relief under these two programs.

Funding to repair erosion along 140 Avenue – Council approved $243,000 in funding for emergency capital improvement repairs to address erosion in the ditch along 140 Avenue near Trader Ridge.

Bylaw 3198 Schedule of Fees, Rates and Charges – Council gave third reading to Bylaw 3198 Schedule of Fees, Rates and Charges for 2023, which outlines the current user rates, fees and charges within the County of Grande Prairie.

Water and Wastewater Committee Bylaw – Council gave third reading to the Water and Wastewater Committee Bylaw to formalize the establishment, mandate, terms of reference and procedures of the Committee. Councillor Steve Zimmerman was appointed to the Committee that already includes Councillors Rosvold, Peterson and Frayn, and Reeve Marshall. At the October 11, 2022 Regular Council Meeting, Council directed Administration to convene an ad hoc committee to research water and wastewater rate scenarios for Hamlets in the.

Staff Accommodation Space Needs Analysis Committee Bylaw – Council gave third reading to the Staff Accommodation Space Needs Analysis Committee Bylaw to formalize the establishment, mandate, terms of reference and procedures of the Committee. Council appointed Councillors Frayn, Zimmerman, Peterson, Deputy Reeve Harris and Reeve Marshall to the Committee.

Request for Tax Arrears Relief – Council supported exempting the Helping Homeless Restart Society (HHRS) from property taxes, beginning in 2023, as they have met Community Organization Property Tax Exemption Regulation (COPTER) criteria. This is conditional on HHRS providing Council with its lease agreement and a statement of use for the leased property on an annual basis.

Numb Bum 24 Hour Ice Race – Council approved a request from the Wapiti Off-Road Association (WORA) for permission to host the annual ‘Numb Bum’ 24-hour ice race on Clairmont Lake during a weekend in February 2024.

Aquatera Dividends to Shareholders – Council approved Aquatera Utilities’ declared dividends, allowing the organization to pay dividends pending the approval of all shareholders. Council also directed Administration to bring a reconciliation of the Community Investment Fund Reserve to a future Committee of the Whole Meeting for consideration before 2023 final budget meetings.

Policies presented for approval – Council is reviewing all County policies. The following policies were reviewed:

  • Council approved Policy N16 – Approaches as presented.
  • Council approved Policy M7 – Waiving of Application Fees as amended.
  • Council approved Policy M11 – Subdivision Time Extensions as presented.
  • Council approved Policy F10 – Council and Board Member Honoraria and Expense Reimbursement as presented.

Council remuneration adjustment – Councillor compensation for attending meetings has been adjusted to reflect the same cost-of-living increase provided to County staff for 2023, which is 4.5 per cent. The recommendation to adjust elected official compensation in line with changes for staff was made by a County Committee that included public members as part of the formal review of Council and Board Member compensation in 2021 and is identified through policy. Council directed Administration to bring the process for determining Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) to a future Committee of the Whole Meeting for discussion.

Deputy Director of Emergency Management appointed – Council appointed Darryl Martin, Director of Community Services, as a Deputy Director of Emergency Management for the County of Grande Prairie.

Staff Introductions – Council and staff welcomed Darryl Martin as the new Director of Community Services. Martin comes to the County from Alberta Health Services where he spent 15 years working in emergency response management and has also served 19 years as both a ground and air ambulance paramedic with Alberta Emergency Medical Services (EMS).

Special Council Meeting Scheduled – Council approved a request from Administration to schedule a Special Council Meeting on January 31, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. to review the Fire Services Model.

Changes to 2023 Meeting Schedule – Council approved the following adjustments to the 2023 meeting schedule to accommodate conflicts:

  • The March 30, 2023, Committee of the Whole Meeting will now take place on March 16, 2023.
  • The October 26, 2023, Committee of the Whole Meeting will now take place on October 19, 2023.

2023 Farmer’s Bonspiel sponsorship – Council approved a $750 sponsorship for the Sexsmith Curling Club’s 2023 Farmer’s Bonspiel, to be hosted in Sexsmith on January 19-22, 2023.

The next Regular Council Meeting will take place on January 30, 2023. The next Committee of the Whole Meeting will take place on January 27, 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.