June 22, 2026 Council Highlights

June 22, 2026

Additional Funding for Teepee Creek Water Well Drilling Project — Council approved $285,000 in additional funding for the Teepee Creek Water Well Drilling Project. Administration has completed the final scoping for the project, and alongside the anticipated costs, will bring the total approved project budget to $935,000.

Interprovincial Committee of Municipalities Terms of Reference — Council approved the amended Terms of Reference for the Interprovincial Committee of Municipalities, which now includes the County of Northern Lights and Municipal District of Greenview   following their acceptance of an invitation to join the Committee in late 2025. The Committee aims to foster collaboration and share innovative ideas among municipalities in Alberta and British Columbia.

Additional Funding for FireSmart™ Vegetation Management Project — Council approved $32,656.70 in additional funding for the FireSmart Vegetation Management Project. This brings the total project funding to $323,780.40, including existing grant funding from the Forest Resource Improvement Association of Alberta. The project involves the harvesting of selective timber, tree thinning and pruning, removing deadfall, and mulching debris as part of the County’s ongoing Wildfire Mitigation Strategy to reduce wildfire risk. 

2026 Forest Resource Improvement Association of Alberta Community Fireguard Program Grant Update — Council directed Administration to enter into an agreement with the Forest Resource Improvement Association of Alberta (FRIAA) Community Fireguard Program to complete Priority Areas 1 and 2 as identified in the 2025 County of Grande Prairie Wildfire Mitigation Strategy. The additional areas identified for a fireguard and thinning/pruning north of Township Road 704A and east of Resources Road, with in-kind contributions of $20,250, and funding for consultant services and Indigenous and community engagement costs of $79,750, subject to FRIAA project approval. 

Flag Protocol Policy — Council approved a policy to guide which County facilities have flagpoles and how flags are raised and lowered at County Administration and Community Services buildings and fire halls. Flags will be lowered to half-mast on designated dates and for other significant events, with Legislative Services coordinating communication when unscheduled half-masting is required.

Hythe Arena Cooling System Line Update — Administration provided Council with an update on the Hythe Arena cooling system line project, including a detailed breakdown of project costs.

Pier or Viewing Site at Clairmont Lake — Council directed Administration to explore potential locations and estimated costs for a pier or viewing site at Clairmont Lake and report back to a future Regular Council Meeting.

Development Permit Veresen Midstream General Partner Inc. — Council approved a permit for the expansion of an existing gas processing facility, including a new natural gas liquids extraction plant and three dugouts. The approval is subject to conditions related to site development, safety codes, lighting, waste management, and required approvals from pipeline operators and other regulators.

Funding Source Change for Land Purchase — Council approved using the General Capital Reserve to fund the purchase of the land originally acquired for a proposed RCMP detachment in Clairmont, rather than borrowing the funds. Following a change in the project, part of the property was sold, and the sale proceeds will be returned to the reserve to offset the County's remaining investment.

Horse Lake First Nation Partnership – Climate Ready Funding Application — Council approved partnering with Horse Lake First Nation to apply for funding through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Green Municipal Fund for climate-related planning. Council also designated Councillor Brian Peterson as the municipal contact for the application.

Northwestern Polytechnic Northern Edge Technology Centre — Council approved providing a letter of support for Northwestern Polytechnic’s Northern Edge Technology Centre project.

Sunnybrook and Brookside FireSmart Initiative — Council approved providing a letter of support to the Sunnybrook and Brookside Community Group in recognition of their FireSmart initiative.

Wembley Health & Wellness Society Board of Directors — Council appointed Councillor Brian Grant to the Wembley Health & Wellness Society Board of Directors for a term ending October 31, 2026.

Bioelectrical Anaerobic Sewage Treatment Testing — Council postponed the request to finish testing the Bioelectrical Anaerobic Sewage Treatment (BEAST) system to the July 13, 2026, Regular Council Meeting to allow Administration to bring back further information.

Public Hearings:

• Council gave final reading to Bylaw #2680-26-024 to redesignate 4.37 hectares (10.79 acres) of land located approximately six miles north of the Town of Sexsmith, east of Range Road 54, and south of Township Road 744 from an Agricultural (AG) District to a Country Residential (CR-5) District.
• Council gave final reading to Bylaw #2680-26-025 to redesignate 21.28 hectares (52.60 acres) of land located approximately four miles southwest of the Town of Sexsmith in the Emerson Trail Industrial Area from an Agricultural (AG) District to a Rural Medium Industrial (RM-2) District.
• Council gave first and second readings to Bylaw #3276 — The Windsor Area Structure Plan Bylaw and directed Administration to submit the Bylaw for Ministerial approval, and that the bylaw be brought back to a future Regular Council meeting for consideration of third and final reading following approval.

Sponsorship Request — Council approved the following sponsorship request of $3,000 to the Canadian Motorcycle Tourism Association for the Veterans Memorial Garden & Interpretive Centre.

The next Regular Council Meeting will take place on July 13, 2026. The next Committee of the Whole Meeting will take place on June 25, 2026.

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