Council Meeting Highlights — Regular Council Meeting January 8, 2026

The items below focus on key decisions and issues that have emerged from the January 8, 2026, Regular Council Meeting.

Key Items on the Agenda

Council Business

• Council reviewed and adopted meeting minutes from:
  • December 12, 2025 Regular Council Meeting
  • December 23, 2025 Special Council Meeting
  • December 30, 2025 Special Council Meeting

Public Input

• During the public input session, local ratepayer Andy Harapchuk spoke directly to Council to thank Trista Court for her Interim CAO work, and express appreciation of the new CAO hiring choice and concerns with past CAO severance.

Operations

• Council received correspondence from a local ratepayer Milton Breitkreuz regarding compensation for upkeep of service road.
• A development application was presented for a manufactured home located in Belle Vista Estates, including details related to placement and site preparation. Council directed Administration to rescind previous motion and defer giving Administration and Landowner the opportunity to develop a suitable plan.
• Council accepted the discussion regarding Township Road 540 Construction for information.
• Council approved the information update regarding road signs located south of Highway 37, adjacent to Tax Roll 5401303001.

Corporate Services

• Administration presented information regarding the Provincial Education Requisition Credit (PERC) asking Council to cancel $1,109,644 in uncollectible 2025 oil and gas property taxes so that the County can apply to the Province of Alberta for education and industrial tax credits totalling $140,267.16. Many oil and gas companies have defaulted or gone into receivership, leaving significant unpaid taxes; cancelling these arrears is a provincial requirement to access the PERC funding and the Designated Industrial Requisition Credit (DIRC). Council moved to approve.

Community Engagement

• Fire Services brought forward:
  • A grant application related to FireSmart Wildfire Community Preparedness Day—Council approved the application.
  • An update on fire apparatus purchasing, including current status and planning considerations was accepted for information by Council.

Administration

• Council directed Administration to schedule a meeting with the Alberta Minister of Municipal Affairs, The Honourable Dan Williams at the 2026 Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) Spring Convention in March.

Bylaws & Policies

• Council considered Bylaw 01-2026, a Borrowing Bylaw brought forth by Corporate Services related to establishing an Operating Line of Credit for municipal operations. The bylaw was given 1^st and 2^nd readings.

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.