Council Meeting Highlights — Regular Council Meeting July 23 , 2026

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

Key Items on the Agenda

Council Business

Council reviewed and adopted meeting minutes from:

• July 9, 2026 County Council Meeting
• July 13, 2026 Special County Council Meeting

Public Presentation

Resident Andy Harapchuk: Spoke about the ongoing landslide issue affecting a heavily travelled road in Sangudo. He emphasized the safety concerns created by the deteriorating road conditions, particularly given its regular use by school buses and other traffic. Mr. Harapchuk stated that water is the underlying cause of the problem and urged Council to focus on identifying and resolving the water issues before undertaking further road repairs.

Unfinished Business

Sangudo Landslide: Administration provided an update on the Sangudo landslide, noting that efforts to address the issue include land acquisition and investigations into underground water movement believed to be contributing to the instability. Council was advised that a report outlining potential solutions will be presented at the August 20 meeting.

Township Road 572: Administration also updated Council on flood damage to the partially paved Township Road 572, where repairs are being coordinated with the province. Options being reviewed include the installation of a culvert to help prevent future flooding, with cost estimates and recommendations expected in the upcoming report.

Public Hearing

Proposed Bylaw 22-2017-05-2026 (Wayfinder Corp): Council held a public hearing regarding Wayfinder Corp’s redistricting application. Its purpose is to give Council an opportunity to hear directly from the applicant, affected residents and landowners, and Administration.

Administration reported that submissions opposing the application were received, raising concerns about land instability, road safety, groundwater impacts, noise, dust, light pollution, wildlife disturbance, and communication with nearby residents. Opponents specifically pointed to recent sloughing on adjacent lands, which they believe may be connected to nearby resource extraction activities.

Representatives from Wayfinder Corp acknowledged that a sloughing event occurred following heavy rainfall and outlined their remediation efforts. The company stated it has remained in contact with affected landowners and is undertaking measures to restore impacted areas, including rebuilding grades, preserving topsoil, and replacing damaged fencing. The hearing allowed Council to gather public feedback before continuing its review of the proposed development.

Community & Protective Services Reporting

FCSS Annual General Meeting Resolutions: Council reviewed the annual call for resolutions for the 2026 Family and Community Support Services Association of Alberta (FCSSAA) Annual General Meeting. While administration did not recommend any specific resolutions at this time, discussions highlighted seniors’ transportation as a potential area for advocacy. Council agreed to revisit the matter on August 20 after receiving additional information on local FCSS services and potential funding priorities, providing time to determine whether any resolutions should be advanced.

Enforcement Services Level Delivery Report: As part of the County’s broader service delivery review, Administration presented an overview of Enforcement Services and their role in community safety. The report noted that six community peace officers provide approximately 729 service hours each month, while contracted enforcement services for nine partner municipalities generate roughly $388,000 in annual revenue. Reported incidents have increased significantly, largely due to the implementation of a 24-hour dispatch line, resulting in greater demand for enforcement resources.

Council questioned whether the current service model fully recovers costs and discussed the need for innovative approaches and clearer service priorities. Administration will return with future reports exploring alternative service delivery options and scenarios to assist Council in making informed budget and operational decisions. Enforcement operations are driven by factors including the 24-hour dispatch service, traffic enforcement, Council requests, Highway 43 traffic volumes, and municipal contract obligations.

High Acuity Dispatch for Medical First Response: Council reviewed correspondence from Alberta Beach regarding a proposed high-acuity dispatch model for medical first response. After considering existing mutual aid agreements and current response protocols, Council determined that the County’s existing service level continues to meet local needs. Administration was directed to prepare a formal response letter confirming the County’s commitment to its current dispatch approach and respectfully declining participation in the proposed dual-dispatch model.

Operations Services Reporting

Township Road 540: Administration provided a status update on the Township Road 540 project in response to previous Council direction regarding testing and quality assurance. The project, which was constructed in a challenging peatland environment, remains under budget despite engineering complexities and identified deficiencies. Because construction occurred under frozen conditions, Administration recommended delaying compaction testing and core sampling until 2027 to ensure accurate results after frost conditions have fully dissipated. The road will be covered by a one-year warranty once the project reaches completion, currently expected in late September 2026.

Alternative Land Use Services (ALUS) Alternatives: Council received an update on the ALUS stewardship program, which currently supports 27 participants managing approximately 1,700 acres under 38 conservation agreements. Administration presented options for the program’s future, including expanding, winding down, or modifying service delivery beyond 2026. Council discussed concerns regarding costs, administration, transparency, and the measurement of environmental outcomes.

Following both open and closed-session discussions, Council approved a modified delivery model to begin in 2027. Administration indicated the revised approach will be managed using existing staff resources and adjusted workloads, reducing reliance on external support while maintaining conservation programming in a more cost-effective manner.

Bylaws and Policies

Proposed Bylaw 22-2017-06-2026: Council gave first reading to Bylaw 22-2017-06-2026, which proposes redesignating several properties from Agricultural District to Aggregate Resource Extraction and Processing (AR) District. Council also scheduled a public hearing for August 20, 2026, to gather community feedback and consider any concerns before making further decisions on the proposed Wayfinder Corp expansion.

Administrative Reporting  

CAO Administrative Updates:  

• Municipal Service Delivery High-Level Costing: Administration presented a high-level overview of municipal service delivery costs as part of the County’s ongoing service review initiative. The report is intended to help Council better understand the costs associated with both legislated and discretionary services while evaluating whether they are being delivered efficiently and effectively. Administration emphasized that the review is focused not only on financial considerations but also on determining whether services remain valuable to residents and whether alternative delivery methods exist.
  Council accepted the report for information and identified seven priority service areas for future review: gravel roads, oiled roads, fleet services, fire services, the medical clinic, policing, and agricultural services. These areas were selected due to their significant impact on municipal budgets and overall service delivery.
  

• CAO Quarterly Tracking Update: This is a new quarterly, color-coded report intended to keep Council and the public informed of the status of outstanding resolutions, bylaws, and staff directions. Current updates include completion of the Snowmobile Club open house, a September 15 follow-up meeting on Darwell Lagoon funding, and the return of the CAO Bylaw and aggregate zoning items at the August 20 meeting.
  Council also noted that core testing request for Township Road 540 is complete, as the project report and testing delay was heard earlier in the meeting proceedings.

Council Business

Notice of Motion: Alberta Advantage Immigration Program: Councillor Stoney brought forward a notice of motion requesting a detailed report on the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program. Council approved the motion, directing Administration to prepare the report for consideration at the August 20 meeting.

County Council Monthly Committee Reports: Council discussed the purpose of monthly committee reports submitted by councillors. Administration clarified that the reports are intended primarily as a public transparency tool, providing residents with insight into meetings, events, and activities attended by Council members outside of regular council meetings. The reports are meant to demonstrate community engagement and keep residents informed about Council’s ongoing work throughout the month.

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.