Council Meeting Highlights — Regular Council Meeting February 12, 2026

The items below focus on key decisions and issues that have emerged from the February 12, 2026, Regular Council Meeting.

Key Items on the Agenda

Council Business

• Council began the meeting with a prayer and reflection, followed by a moment of silence for the victims of the tragedy in Tumbler Ridge, BC.
• Council reviewed and adopted meeting minutes from the January 23, 2026, Regular Council Meeting.

Delegations & Presentations

• Council received the following presentations:
  • Deep Creek Camping & Events owners — Corrie and Jackie Shura, expressed concern about a monthly $6 per site sewer fee despite not receiving direct sewer services from the County, and spoke further to the inequality between the level of service for County-owned campgrounds and privately-owned campgrounds. Council accepted their presentation for information.
  • Development Permit 25D0220 Bell Vista Estates — Liliana and Dan Nistor, owners of lot 17, seeking clarification on the Land Use Bylaw regarding foundation requirements for their new home. Council accepted for information to discuss in a later agenda item with the Planning & Development department.
  • Council received for information a presentation by Christian Neudecker resident and landowner in Diamond Country Estates — regarding neighbourhood issues and asking for enforcement of the County’s Land Use Bylaw to address his list of concerns.

Public Works & Operations

• Council received the proposed Contracted Truck Haul Rates for the 2026 gravel program. Upon deliberations, Council approved the 2026 Gravel haul rate for the upcoming Winter Gravelling Program only and requested a proposal for detailed fuel surcharge rates for further Gravelling Program activities.

Planning & Development

• Council explored County Development Permit 25D0220 with Administration staff and proceeded to address this specific situation as a discretionary decision to approve development using screw piles and plan a forthcoming examination of the Land Use Bylaw to ensure appropriate controls are in place for future developments.

Assessment & Taxation

• Tax Penalty Cancellation Requests:
  • Council reviewed three penalty cancellation petitions received by Administration and, after deliberation, denied each request.

Corporate Services

• Council approved the premium increase of $21,000 arising from County claims for Additional Named Insureds (ANI) Insurance, to be funded within the 2026 Operating Budget for Insurance.
• Council approved and will acknowledge the letter confirming engagement with the Metrix Group for the upcoming financial audit in the first week of March, and has requested a meeting with the group at the beginning of the process.
• Council approved the allocation of $11,664 from the 2025 Operating Budget carry-forward to fund the Fire Services Personnel email accounts for 12 months.

Health & Safety

• The County has maintained its Certificate of Recognition (COR) for its Health and Safety Management System since 1992, using the program as a benchmark to measure and continuously improve workplace health and safety through a structured three-year audit cycle. Following a successful 2025 peer audit the County achieved a score of 86% reflecting the organization’s strong commitment to safety excellence. Council commended these results and accepted for information.

Community Services

• Council moved to acknowledge as information the request from the County Library Board to provide a budget increase of 5% per capita funding for 2026 but deferred further consideration of the request pending upcoming budget deliberations.

Bylaws & Policies

• Council gave Bylaw 02-2026 its second and final reading, passing the Water Distribution Utility Bylaw into effect.
• Council gave Bylaw 03-2026 Sangudo Utility Bylaw first reading, directing Administration to bring back to a future meeting for further consideration.
• Council gave first reading to Bylaw 04-2026 Solid Waste Utility Bylaw, and directed Administration to bring forward at a future meeting for consideration.

Chief Administrative Officer

• Council moved to ratify that Administration was directed to send letters to our Members of Parliament and Members of Legislative Assembly and put forth a resolution for the Rural Meeting of Pembina Zone 3 Rural Municipalities Association to assist in lobbying efforts against the proposed closure of the Lacombe Research & Development Centre.

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.