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Council Sets Strategic Focus for the Next Four Years – Council approved the 2022–2026 Strategic Plan, which will guide the organization’s planning, initiatives and operations over the next four years.  

The plan identifies six strategic themes as the County’s most important priorities. The themes are Effective Transportation Networks; Fiscal Sustainability; Economic Development; Effective Land-Use Management; Community Wellness and Safety; and Governance and Leadership. Specific outcomes support the achievement of each theme. Read more on the County website.  

Funding Facility Improvements in Hythe – Council approved $23,810 for mechanical improvements to bring the Hythe Arena and Curling Rink to safety code standards. This funding is in addition to the annual Community Assistance operating grant funding for the Arena approved by Council. 

Regional Enforcement Services and RCMP Annual Report – Regional Enforcement Services Manager Stuart Rempel and Sargent Stuart Fry presented a 2021 year-end departmental summary to Council. Highlights included:  

  • The number of tickets increased to 3,228 in 2021 compared to 2,614 in 2020 
  • Calls for service reduced to 8,707 in 2021 from 10,954 in 2020 
  • Intakes at the Regional Animal Pound increased to 1,005 in 2021 from 830 in 2020 
  •  97 per cent of charges laid and 69 per cent of occurrences were related to Provincial statutes, including traffic safety and infrastructure  

 

Representatives from the Beaverlodge RMCP Detachment, Grande Prairie RCMP Detachment and Rural RCMP Detachment, and the Western Alberta District RCMP reported to Council on the past year, including a focus on the increase in cyber-crimes, and increased public education and engagement.   

Extended Memorandum of Understanding with the RCMP – Council directed Administration to work with the RCMP to extend the timelines of two pilot projects in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Enhanced Policing for an additional year, expiring March 31, 2023.  

Regional Ball Diamond Bookings – Council directed Administration to advise the City of Grande Prairie that the Crosslink County Sportsplex will resume bookings of baseball diamonds in-house. The City and County had collaborated on a pilot project to centralize bookings of baseball diamonds through the City’s recreation software. Through the pilot, feedback from users was mixed, and utilization did not increase through the trial. 

Council suggested that Administration consider compatible software in the future to support a simple experience for users across the region, as indicated in the 2016 Joint Recreation Master Plan. 

Updated Road Use Agreement Bylaw – Council approved an updated Road Use Agreement Bylaw with amendments to the notification requirements that align with best practices from other municipalities and industry needs while allowing the County to complete the required inspections and fulfill agreements with industry to protect the County’s road network.  

Board Appointments – Council accepted the invitation from the Grande Prairie Public Library Board to appoint a member of County Council to the Board of Directors. The Board will request a bylaw amendment by the City of Grande Prairie which would allow a member of County Council to be appointed to the Board.  

Council appointed Jeff Nutting and Niki Morrison to the Local and Composite (Joint) Assessment Review Board for a three-year term.  

Council appointed Erin Schroeder to the Intermunicipal Subdivision and Development Appeal Board for a three-year term.  

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

  • Council approved Policy H1 – Levels of Service as presented. Council directed Administration to develop a Standard of Cover policy for Regional Fire Service to present at a future Council Meeting  
  • Council rescinded Policy H6 – Equipment Testing. 
  • Council rescinded Policy H8 – Standard Operating Procedures.
  • Council approved Policy K1 – Barbeque Rental as presented.
  • Council approved Policy K15 – Operating Assistance Recreation Advisory Boards as presented. 
  • Council approved Policy K16 – Funding of Major Community Projects as presented.
  • Council approved Policy M9 – Development Securities as presented.  

Respectful Workplace Policy – Council approved a Respectful Workplace Policy as presented. The policy replaces the Protection of Workers from Violence in the Workplace policy, aligns with Occupational Health and Safety requirements, and focuses on the County’s value of maintaining high standards of ethical and professional conduct. 

Public Hearings – Council held a public hearing for Bylaw 2680-21-038 to re-designate 21 acres of land located west side of Range Road 91, south of Township Road 720, and north of Highway 43 from an Agricultural (AG) District to a Country Residential (CR-5) District to accommodate the subdivision of two lots for country residential use. Council gave the bylaw third reading.   

Council held a public hearing for Bylaw 2680-22-005 to re-designate 3.2 acres of land located east of the Hamlet of Bezanson, north of Highway 43, and adjacent to Range Road 30 from an Agricultural (AG) District to a Rural Medium Industrial (RM-2) District to accommodate a boundary adjustment to an existing industrial lot.  

Tender Award – Council approved entering into an agreement with Brandt to replace equipment, including a compact loader for $98,600 and a planer for $38,673, for a total cost of $137,273. 

Project Awards – Council approved partnering with the City of Grande Prairie to obtain high-resolution air photos of the region to support various municipal services and entering into a contract with The Orthoshop for the project for $116,287.  

Council approved entering into a contract with The Orthoshop to complete LiDAR imaging of specific areas in the County for $178,100. LiDAR imaging provides a detailed representation of the ground for uses including land use planning and flood mitigation.  

Aquatera Dividends to Shareholders – Council provided shareholder consent for Aquatera Utilities’ discretionary dividends for 2021, as declared by the Board of Directors.  

Municipal Government Act Review Request – Council confirmed the Municipal Government Act Section 545 Order issued related to the contravention of Section 21 of the County’s Animal Control Bylaw.  

Big Hearts for Big Kids Funding Support – Council approved the purchase of nine additional tickets for the Big Hearts for Big Kids Concert Fundraiser for the Grande Prairie Youth Emergency Shelter Society, which takes place on April 2, 2022, at the TARA Centre at Evergreen Park. The tickets are in addition to the Elite Silent Auction Sponsorship for $2,500 approved by Council during Interim Budget Deliberations.   

Letters of Support – Council will provide letters of support for the following:  

  • Support for the Sexsmith and District Agricultural Society’s application to the Co-op Community Spaces Grant for $150,000 for a new arena compressor  
  • Continued support for the Grande Spirit Foundation’s Seniors Self-Contained project in Spirit River
  • Support for the Wapiti Community Support Association’s (Wapiti House) request for increased provincial funding  

Proclamation – Council will proclaim May 1–7, 2022, as Goodwill Week in the County of Grande Prairie to raise awareness of the work of Goodwill Industries across the province.  

Intermunicipal Government Meeting – Council will advise Administration of topics to discuss at the April 12, 2022, Intermunicipal Governmental Meeting.  

Spring Municipal Leaders Caucus – Council approved attendance at the Alberta Municipalities 2022 Spring Municipal Leaders Caucus on March 9 and 10, 2022, at the Edmonton Conference Centre or virtually. 

Staff Introductions – Council welcomed Aime Greene as the Hythe and Area Community Program Coordinator with Family and Community Support Services (FCSS).  

The next Regular Council Meeting will take place on March 21, 2022. The next Committee of the Whole Meeting will take place on March 31, 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.