Council Meeting Highlights — Regular Council Meeting April 23, 2026

The items below address key decisions and issues that emerged from the April 23, 2026, Regular Council Meeting.

Key Items on the Agenda

Council Business

Council reviewed and adopted meeting minutes from:

• April 9, 2026 County Council Meeting

Public Input

Resident Andy Harapchuk addressed Council regarding a safety concern on TWP RD 564 involving fallen trees and willow growth obstructing the road. Reeve Preugschas assured Mr. Harapchuk that Public Works would investigate and address the hazard.

Public Works & Operations Reporting

• Work Orders: 104 work orders were logged, with 58 completed during a month of challenging weather.
• Winter Gravelling: The County completed approximately 38% of its total annual gravelling program during the winter months (75 of 88 planned miles).
• Seasonal Staff: Nine seasonal labourers and three grader operators are scheduled for onboarding on May 4 to support summer maintenance.

2025 Financial Audit Results

Curtis Friesen (Metrix Group LLP) presented the audited 2025 Financial Statements.

• Opinion: The County received a "clean" audit, meaning the records are a fair representation of the County’s financial status.
• Position: The County ended the year with an accumulated surplus of $84 million and a cash position of $15.6 million.
• Transparency: Following a suggestion by Reeve Preugschas, Council directed that future salary and benefits disclosures in Note 14 include the specific names of Councillors for improved public transparency.

Assessment & Taxation Reporting

• Tax Relief Approved: Council approved the Agricultural Parcel Tax Relief policy and the Small Parcel Tax Refund. These measures alleviate the tax burden on government-leased land or tiny, unusable parcels impacted by minimum tax rates.
• Market Trends: The County passed all provincial audit stages. Overall, the County saw a 0.6% increase in total assessed value, with improved lake properties rising while vacant lake lots saw a slight decrease.
• Interactive Assessment Map: Council reviewed a new interactive map on the County website, which allows residents to view property assessments and recent sales data.

Emergency Management Reporting 

County Fire Chief Randy Schroeder presented the AEMA annual review. While the County’s Municipal Emergency Plan (MEMP) is in good standing, the review highlighted that new Councillors must complete the mandatory Local Authority of Elected Officials course. Reeve Preugschas emphasized the urgency of completing this training before the peak of the wildfire season.

Planning & Development Reporting 

• Whitewood RV Park Expansion: Council moved forward with the application for the Whitewood RV Park Expansion (expanding from 32 to 63 sites):
  • Approved first reading of Bylaw 13-2026 (Area Structure Plan).
  • Approved first reading of Bylaw 22-2017-01-2026 (Rezoning from AG1 to Commercial Recreation).
  • A Public Hearing for both bylaws is scheduled for May 28, 2026, at 10:30 AM.

• Review of Municipal Development Plan 23-2014: Council considered the respective roles and responsibilities of Council and the Municipal Planning Commission, along with the legislated restrictions within the County’s planning documents related to subdivision applications. Council then directed the Proposed Subdivision Application for SE 03-56-01 W5M be resubmitted to the Municipal Planning Commission for a decision.   

Electoral Boundaries & Advocacy 

Council discussed the proposed provincial electoral boundary changes that would split the County between two ridings. Council authorized a formal letter to the Province advocating for a unified riding to maintain effective rural representation.

Council Appointments

Deputy Reeve: Council voted to extend Dale Johnson’s term as Deputy Reeve for an additional six months.

Summer Villages Conference: Councillors Johnson, Knysh, and Gifford were authorized to attend the Association of Summer Villages of Alberta conference in October.

Looking Ahead

Residents are encouraged to stay informed by attending public meetings in-person or online, viewing meeting recordings, and reviewing Council Highlights, Council Meeting Minutes, and future Council Agendas.