
September 11, 2023 Council Highlights
Grant Application for Highway 40 West FireSmart Area – Council directed Administration to apply for a Forest Resource Improvement Association of Alberta (FRIAA) Grant to complete further vegetation management in the Highway 40 West FireSmart area.
Underground Utilities Project Tender Awarded for New High School Site – Council approved funding in the amount of $1.5 million for the construction of underground utilities at the new Peace Wapiti Academy high school site. These costs will be recovered by the Developer. Site servicing is required for Peace Wapiti Public School Division to move forward with obtaining construction funding.
Regional Growth Study Funding Application – Council directed Administration to apply for Alberta Community Partnership funding under the Intermunicipal Collaboration Stream to support a Regional Growth Study with the City of Grande Prairie and Towns of Beaverlodge, Sexsmith, and Wembley as potential partners. The proposed study would provide insights into population growth, and land and housing needs.
Wedgewood Homeowner’s Association Funding Request – Council directed Administration to investigate a local improvement levy or appropriate funding source regarding the Wedgewood Homeowner’s Association’s recent request for support for legal and insurance costs.
Notice of Motion – A Notice of Motion was presented for administration to send a letter to Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors requesting a speed reduction on Highway 672 (Emerson Trail) from the west side of Range Road 63 to the existing 60 km/h zone west of Highway 2. The Notice of Motion will be considered by Council at the next Regular Council Meeting.
Rotating Deputy Reeve Position Research – Council directed Administration to explore the advantages and disadvantages of a rotating Deputy Reeve position based on practices of other municipalities, and to present their findings at a future Council meeting.
Annual Tax Sale – Council approved holding the annual Tax Sale at 2:00 p.m. on October 30, 2023, and established the terms and conditions for the tax sale.
Additional Funding Approved for County Enforcement Services Vehicle – Council approved an additional $32,045.62 in funding for the purchase and set-up of the 2024 Parkland Patrol Vehicle. Initially, Council had approved $60,000 in the 2023 Final Budget, however, due to the lack of available 2023 units stemming from ongoing market shortages, the additional funds were required based on updated 2024 manufacturer’s suggested retail pricing (MSRP).
Policy Review Tabled to Future Meeting – Council tabled the notice of motion regarding review of Policy M13 – Physician Recruitment and Retention to a future Council meeting.
Tender Awarded – Council awarded a tender for upgrades to Township Roads 714 and 713A to Wild West Dirt Works Ltd. for $2,568,745.
Lease Extended – Council approved the lease extension agreement for the existing Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) office space as presented for a three-year term beginning November 1, 2023, and expiring on October 31, 2026.
Appointments for Council Internal Boards and Committees – Council directed Administration to bring forward the documents for three County boards and committees, allowing the Chair and Vice-Chair to be appointed by the Board or Committee at their first meeting following the annual organizational meeting in October.
Alberta Chamber of Commerce Membership – Council directed administration to proceed with the process for the County to become a member of the Alberta Chamber of Commerce at an annual membership cost of $2,500. Membership will help support the County’s economic development goals.
Community Futures of Grande Prairie and Region Board Member Appointed – Council appointed Councillor Beaupre as their representative on the Community Futures of Grande Prairie and Region Board for the term expiring October 20, 2025.
Meeting and Event Attendance – Council authorized the following:
- Councillor Rosvold and a guest to attend the International Paper Grande Prairie's 50th Anniversary Jubilee Dine and Dance Event on September 15, 2023.
- Deputy Reeve Harris and one other member of Council, or a designate, to attend the Alberta School Boards Association Zone One Friends of Education Award presentation luncheon on September 20, 2023, in Peace River. The County of Grande Prairie was nominated by the Peace Wapiti Public School Board. The nomination recognizes the County’s commitment to the community schools in numerous ways; from sharing resources during the municipal and school board elections, advocating for a replacement high school in the Grande Prairie area; to the outstanding leadership and support during the wildfires in the area in May 2023.
Public Hearings – Council held the following public hearings:
- For Bylaw 2680-23-026 to re-designate 5.86 acres of land located approximately 2.5 km south of the Hamlet of Bezanson on the south boundary of Highway 670 and west boundary of Range Road 33 from the Agricultural (AG) District to the Country Residential (CR-5) District to accommodate a boundary adjustment. Council gave the bylaw third reading.
- For Bylaw 2680-23-027 to re-designate 44.51 acres of land located directly west of the Hamlet of Dimsdale and south of Dimsdale Lake, adjacent to Township Road 712 and Range Road 73 from the Agricultural (AG) District to the Rural Medium Industrial (RM-2) District to accommodate existing development on the property. Council gave the bylaw third reading.
- For Bylaw 2680-23-028 to re-designate approximately 24.51 acres of land located approximately 0.5 miles north of the Hamlet of Dimsdale, 0.5 miles south of Highway 43, adjacent to the northern boundary of Dimsdale Lake and Range Road 73 from the Country Residential (CR-3) District to the Country Residential (CR-5) District to accommodate a boundary adjustment of an existing lot and subdivision of the quarter section. Council gave the bylaw third reading.
County Office Closure – Council approved that County offices be closed to the public from Monday, December 25, 2023, to Monday January 1, 2024, reopening Tuesday, January 2, 2024.
New Staff Introduction – Council welcomed Shashi Goel to the Communications and Marketing department as a Senior Communications Advisor.
The next Regular Council Meeting will take place on September 25, 2023. The next Committee of the Whole Meeting will take place on September 19, 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.