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November 25, 2024

Action on Unsold Tax Sale Properties — Council directed Administration to bring the unsold properties from 2022, 2023 and 2024 with additional information to a future Committee of the Whole meeting for discussion. The County’s Land and Development Services department will review these parcels and provide future recommendations on how to proceed.

Short-term Borrowing Bylaw — Council gave final reading to Bylaw #3243, which will take effect on January 1, 2025, replacing the previous borrowing bylaw. The Short-Term Borrowing Bylaw allows the County to borrow funds, from time to time, as may be necessary to meet the County’s operating obligations.

Tax Rates for the Hamlet of Hythe — Following the dissolution of the Village of Hythe in 2021, the County implemented a plan to bring the tax rates for the Hamlet of Hythe in line with the rest of the County over a four-year period. Council directed Administration to present tax rates without additional tax options for the Hamlet of Hythe at the 2025 interim budget discussions.

Franchise Fees for the Hamlet of Hythe — Council directed Administration to invest $650,776 into 26 coupon investments over the remaining 26 years to address the former Village of Hythe loans related to ATCO Electric and ATCO Gas franchise fees. The returns from these investments will be used to pay off the outstanding balances. Once the investment returns are sufficient to cover the debt, the annual debt repayment tax currently charged to Hythe residents will be eliminated, with franchise fee revenue covering the balance instead.

County Business Plan Updates — County Manager Joulia Whittleton presented updates to the County Business Plan. The plan, based on Council’s Strategic Plan, is an internal working document for administration which is updated twice annually.

County Financial Software Contract Extended — Council directed Administration to extend the Serenic software contract for 2025 at a cost of $191,000 as the transition continues to the new Enterprise Resource Planning system.

Event and Funding Requests — Council deferred the following funding requests to the 2025 interim budget deliberations:

  • $50,000 annually in operating funding for a three-year term (2025 – 2027) to the Grande Prairie Technical Search and Rescue Association which reflects an increase of $25,000 from the previous three years.
  • $25,000 annually for a three-year term (2025 – 2027) to the Grande Prairie Regional Tourism Association for the Visitor Information Centre.
  • $60,000 annually for a three-year term (2025 – 2027) to the Grande Prairie Regional Sport Connection which includes a 3.4 per cent increase in operating funding from the previous year.

Request to Waive Rezoning and Subdivision Fees — Council took no action on the landowner request to waive the rezoning and subdivision fees for the property located approximately seven miles west of the Town of Beaverlodge adjacent to Range Road 113 and south of Township Road 722.

Public Hearings — Council held the following public hearings:

  • Council gave final reading to Bylaw #2680-24-035 to amend Penalties of the Land Use Bylaw 2680. The amendment specifies offences and fines within the Penalties section of the Land Use Bylaw. 
  • Council gave final reading to Bylaw #2680-24-036 to amend the format of the District Maps within the Land Use Bylaw #2680. District Maps form part of the bylaw and are required to establish the correct zoning for properties.
  • Council gave final reading to Bylaw #2680-24-037, which amends the Land Use Bylaw, allowing Administration to update forms and notices as needed, without requiring a bylaw amendment and public hearing.
  • Council gave final reading to Bylaw #2680-24-041 to redesignate 1.21 hectares of land, located approximately 8.5 miles east of Grande Prairie and 0.5 miles north of Township Road 724, adjacent to Range Road 50, from the County Residential (CR-5) District to the Agricultural (AG) District to accommodate consolidating the existing lot into the quarter section, followed by a farmstead separation. 

Development and Subdivision Officer Appointment — Council appointed Municipal Intern, Chetna Sidhu, as a Development Officer, under the County of Grande Prairie Land Use Bylaw #2680 and a Subdivision Officer under the Subdivision Authority Bylaw #3222.

Staff Introductions — Council welcomed the following new staff to the County:

  • Stacy Davidson as the new Home Support Program Coordinator with Family and Community Support Services (FCSS).
  • Evi Ebede as the new Development Officer in Planning and Development Services.

The next Regular Council Meeting will take place on December 16, 2024. The next Committee of the Whole Meeting will take place on November 28, 2024.

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