Okay, good morning everyone. We'll get the uh
July 21st council meeting underway here. Uh any additions to the agenda,
councelor Cunningham. So I will add under close session intergovernmental
relations ATIa section 26 and I will also add under council
committee ports division 5 update please.
» Uh councelor Anderson
» I'd like to add for division one u uh a thank you from the hesus uh community.
» Okay. Uh, councelor Olsson. >> Yeah, I'd like to uh add under uh the
council and committee reports division 4 report and also uh for the
summer tour. >> Any other counselor or uh go ahead
» um administration would like to add third party business um ATI section 19
to the agenda. Okay.
Everybody's okay with that?
» Councelor Hopkins. >> That being said, I'll make a motion that
we approve agenda as amended.
» Any concerns or questions? All in favor? Carried.
That takes care of the adoption of the minutes or the agenda. Uh approval of
the council meeting minutes of the June 23rd. Anybody had a chance to go over
them? I didn't see anything pressing myself.
Any errors or omissions?
Councelor Olsson, >> I'd make the motion that we adopt the
minutes of uh June 23rd.
Any uh questions or concerns on that? All in favor? Carried.
Okay. Uh let's go to 4.1.
Good morning. >> Good morning, Reef, members of council.
This morning, I bring forth um a an RFD, but more for information and questions
if council has has any on the EPR program. uh it's the phase two that is
coming up and it's uh mostly involving the curbside recycling collection.
So the extended producer responsibility regulation is underneath the
environmental protection enhance enhancement act through the provincial
government. Um it basically is a regulation that transfers the
responsibility for managing uh designated recycled materials such as
packaging paper products from the municipalities and onto the um design
onto the uh producers. Um the middle person or the pro as they
call them is circular materials. Uh it's a non national not for-profit producer
uh responsibility organization which is the or the pro producer responsibility
organization and they're responsible for implementing Alberta's residential
recycling program. The EPR is uh being implemented in phases across Alberta.
Phase one focused primarily on the depot's collection and not uh and did
not materially change the level of service already available at at our
Nehill County transfer sites. Phase two though represents uh the more visible
service change for Neihill County residents as uh they will be eligible
for curbside recycling collection within our hamlets. Um the new uh collection
will start October 1st, 2026 and each resident within the hamlets will receive
a recycling cart. Um for this the phase one of the program, it was
implemented in 2025 and included Neihill County transfer sites as rural depots.
Um there wasn't much change in this. Uh they pretty much kept what was there.
So, at our transfer sites, we collect cardboard, paper products um at all of
our sites except for at Three Hills, we do have a single stream recycling bin
that can be used for plastics, um plastics, paper, and that sort of thing
as well.
Phase uh phase two of the CPR program, as I mentioned, begins October October
1st, 2026, and introduces that curbside collection services. Um
so basically to be eligible for this we did have to provide uh curbside garbage
collection in these urban facilities which we've been doing for many years.
So they were um placed into this phase two.
This phase two residents will be able to place a wider v variety of recycling
into these bins. Um, not only will we be just be taking cardboard and paper and
some plastics, but now um quite much quite uh oh man, I'm trying to lose my
things here, but a broader range of recycling products. Uh like we weren't
able to take a lot of the plastics, but now we'll be able to take the plastics.
We'll be able to take glass containers, foam packaging, um cardboard, metal,
metal containers, and everything else inside these carts as well as our single
stream bin at the Three Hills transfer site will also be able to accept this um
expanded material list. So, the Nihill County communities that
are included in this phase 2 implementation of curbside recycling are
are the hamlet of Huxley, Sunny Slope, Swallwell, Torington, and Wimbornne.
These are selected because they were the communities that were receiving the
curbside garbage collection. The EPR curbside recycling program
applies only to eligible residential premises. Commercial, industrial,
institutional and community use priorities properties um even if they
are currently participating in the Hamlet Gurbside collection will not be
uh part of this recycling. Um through the mandate through the Alberta
government, it is residential only. um anything other than non-residentials,
they'll be responsible for arranging their own recycling services such as
using our transfer sites or one of the other depots around.
Alternatively, um as I said, since non-residential properties are
responsible for their own, alternatively, the county could consider
providing a separate service. However, that service would fall outside of the
EPR program and any cost associated it would be the county's cost.
So specific for this new collection that's starting October 1st, um Circular
Materials did issue out requests for proposals back in in uh 2025 for the
services to begin. Um these agreements were finalized and they are now
effective October 1st, 2026. And as I mentioned, the hamlets that were
included were Huxley, Sunny Slope, Swallwell, Torington, Wimbornne. The
collection contractor that won the RF RFP was Emperingham Disposal Corp.
They're going to begin October 1st and the collection frequency is going to be
bi-weekly on Mondays. And like I mentioned before, new um collector bins
will be distributed to all residents.
So ahead of time that EP Eham disposal corp, they will be doing a uh a roll out
of the bins prior to October 1st. So residents should start seeing new bins
arriving throughout September. Um they are asking that they don't put them out
until October 1st because they won't be collected until that first scheduled
thing. As I mentioned, um these bins will be
considered single stream recycling. Um, this is so that you can put any of your
materials in from glass to cardboard to paper products to tins all into one bin.
They don't have to be sorted. This will now be done at the sorting centers when
they are brought into the uh to the main hub.
So, this is a little bit easier for residents because they don't have to
worry. Like I said, it's it's just a one one drop bin and uh you can recycle.
So some of the key milestones that have been going on and they've kind of
basically started is July and August um circle materials has hosted introductory
meetings with municipalities and their designated collection centers. So I did
uh participate in this zoom and did meet Epingham and uh that sort of thing. So
they are ready to go and uh this isn't the first this isn't their first RFP.
They've been doing this around the communities um not within Nihill County
but around Nih Hill County. They've been uh been doing this. So there is
experience there. So it's not going to be a brand new companies doing this uh
mid July. So basically now um we're coming up and we're going to start uh
promoting this onto our social medias. I don't know if you're on social medias,
but if uh Circle Materials has been uh putting out a lot of ads lately on um
Facebook, Instagram, all that sort of stuff, targeting people and letting them
know that, hey, this is all starting to come out. So, uh we'll also be doing the
same thing on our on our social media channels just to make sure that people
in the in the area know that this is this is going to begin.
As I mentioned in September, the cart delivery is going to begin. Uh so the
residents within the hamlets will will uh be will uh be receiving those. And
October 1st, well I guess the the first Monday in October is when our collection
will begin within our hamlets. As this curbside collection program is
managed by Circular Materials, um residents will be be directed to them um
or the contractor for any concerns that they may have. Um this isn't a program
run by the county. It's run by these other individuals. So, we'll obviously
take the the calls, but we will be redirecting them to Circular Materials
or the contractor. So, for example, if uh their their recycling wasn't picked
up, that call will be directed to the contractor to make amends, it won't be
the county that makes amends and goes pick up the recycling. It'll be the
contractor that does that. um if there's inquiry about why this program is
running or that sort of thing or why isn't this collected or that collected
that's going to be directed to circular materials and that'll be up to them to
um get back to our our residents on. We're not going to ignore them obviously
but we are going to direct them to those appropriate places and that information
is going to be out there so they can actually call these people directly
instead of going through the county because it is a separately run um
program.
So for uh this one, so like I mentioned, this is a program run by the provincial
governments which push the financial responsibility onto the producers of
this material. So there is no um direct cost to the county or the residents. Um
indirect cost would be more staff time um putting it out on our social medias
um maybe answering rateayer questions. So there is a cost to the time some of
our staff but no direct purchasing of the bins, no direct uh paying of a
contract or anything like that but there are some small indirect um costs to it.
So that's uh a quick overview of it. Um it's I guess it is my understanding that
maybe the counselor have also received some of this information. I was told on
one of the Zoom meetings that uh counselors were going to get a
information package by email. I don't know if that's been happened yet. If it
hasn't, I'm sure it should be coming is what I've been told on some Zoom
meetings. Um but anyways, if you have any questions or anything, then uh yeah,
we can open that up. >> So, one question I have is uh we're
providing these guys are providing another service that we didn't provide
before. How can they do that for free?
How much is this costing the right pairs >> through the reef? Directly nothing. It's
costing the right pairs. Um the onus has been put back onto the producers of
this. So a producer of this material is someone who basically sells products
that have over a certain amount of tonnage of material waste would be
considered a producer. For example, Nihill County could be considered a
producer if we produce a certain threshold of material such as like when
we um mail out taxes or utility bills or anything and we
produce a certain threshold of paper products, we could become a producer. We
don't meet that threshold, so we're not um but
» so that that threshold is set by the Alberta government.
» That's correct. >> So it's it's like a tire tax.
» Not so much like a tire tax. um >> similar though they rather than tax you
they're actually doing something with it.
» It's not a tax on a product but I guess in a roundabout way I guess I mean if if
you're getting charged you know to run a certain project maybe your price goes up
right but there's not an actual direct cost or a tax on to these people to do
this. Councelor Olsson, >> do we have I know this is a program run
by the government or by Alberta government, but um do we have any idea
what this is costing? Are we privy to what it costs? Because I'm just worried
that the government may start these programs and then eventually
turn them over to us. So if we have an I at least have an idea what we what we're
seeing here. >> Yeah. through the reef that I don't have
a answer to for the cost. Um that would probably be something maybe the uh
provincial regulatory body that's running it is the uh Alberta Recycling
Commission. Um so maybe that would be um you know something that they would be
able to share, but I don't know. I don't know that.
» Any other questions or concerns?
Councelor Cunningham. Well, >> I was just going to say I I agree with
councelor Olsson like we've seen so much provincial downloading. Is this going to
be something that's going to come to us? So, do we maybe want to send an email to
um the what you say it was count the recycling council and find out what the
cost is like might not hurt. Hey, >> so through the reef, this isn't uh new.
Alberta is actually one of the last provinces to uh to start doing this.
This has been run through all different provinces throughout Canada. So, it's
not a new uh type of a program. It's kind of a uh you know
just just another part through all like the other provinces done it. So, we're
not creating the wheel. They're basically uh just implementing here. So,
and I I don't know if there's ever been any issues in other provinces where
they've downloaded it on. Well, if we're uh you say we're going to
get some information from these guys, maybe they'll have some of that
» um through the re. It won't be information like that. It'll be
information about um you know the collection of it, the the new products
and stuff like that. I don't think there'll be any financials information
in that. >> Yeah. Okay. We should look into it
somehow because one way or the other we're paying for it.
Okay. Any other questions, concerns?
Uh let's go to 4.2 road committee update.
Good morning, council. Uh on June 20 or June 17th, uh the Rome
committee completed a tour. During that review, uh we looked at several sites
throughout Neil County, including operation concerns, cap current capital
projects, and potential future uh maintenance and capital projects. So
through the road committee, there was a few things identified that we uh or the
committee decided to bring back to council.
So just starting at number one here, so we uh visited three hills yard. The
stockpile location was was identified as a concern. uh why is that stockpile
located in three hills? Uh we discussed the the concerns around the gravel
trucks traveling through town. Uh the uh and considered recommended to council
that the the removal of the three hill stockpile from our stockpile uh sites.
Further discussion from that noted removing the stock piles would increase
hall distances uh for county operations that could result in uh reduced
operational efficiency. The committee discussed the possibility of completing
a broader review of county stockpile locations and evaluate the oper
operational requirements, hall distances, cost, and potential
alternative locations of of stockpiles. uh excess equipment. Uh there was uh
attachments looked at on the south fence uh committee uh is or the administration
is going to review and see what what we currently are utilizing and what can be
potentially sold. Um the other one that was brought up was
the old shop. Uh the committee reviewed the old shop. Discussions uh were uh
happened along the lines of uh subdividing and selling that. There's
things and what we store in there. So, we store a number of graders, four
graders, three plow trucks, and multiple other pieces of equipment, uh, water
trucks, and multiple little pieces of equipment. Uh, potential things that we
would have to look at if there was a subdivision and sale of that shop would
be, uh, separation and relocation of all the power services currently shared with
that building and water, installation of f fences along the boundaries,
relocation of power to the south gate. uh what would the shop be worth versus
what the cost of all that would cost? Uh and then another one that was not in
there that got brought up afterwards is potential for our fuel tank being too
close where we'd have to remove our move our fuel tank as well.
So that was three's location. Our second location was the Gore Road culverts. Uh
both bridge files have been completed. Uh committee reviewed both sites. There
was no comments on that. Uh for 2026 capital projects uh we looked at the
Lynden overlay site was viewed work was ongoing. There was no comments. Road
stabilization uh program potential sites were visited if the project were to move
forward about possibly doing Sharples Hill. Uh that project was then cancelled
at the following uh council meeting there. Uh major bridge maintenance. Uh
no sites reviewed as they it's still in uh determination what's what bridges
we'll be completing. Uh the gravel purchase program we stopped by the
Redlands uh stockpile site. Uh bridge file 2288. Uh the site was
viewed admin or administration noted that that the current uh bridge file is
current actually two culverts that are about 200 meters apart. After the
construction uh or possible construction next year, uh each culvert will be
registered as its own bridge file. Uh township 340 west 251. Uh that would
be a tree removal project. Uh dirt road that needs some brushing. Site was
viewed. Uh we'll administration is going to bring it back to council for uh
potential operating project for consideration.
Uh we looked at uh Torington gravel pit there with uh the water pumping that was
going on there. There was no no recommendations from that.
Sharpel Hills was viewed. Uh gravel general maintenance on the road was
needed. It was bladed uh June 18th the next day actually the greater was in the
area. Um committee discussed the possibility of moving the road
stabilization. Once again uh project was cancelled.
uh range road 242 south of highway 27 or 575. The site was viewed uh committee is
recommended to council or committee is recommending to council to direct
administration to install maximum 30 km an hour signs through the curves um and
then back to 80 km an hour in the straight parts of that highway. Spot
graveling may be required just as part of oper operational u maintenance.
Uh the other program that we looked at was the edge of the road uh spraying
that was happening north of highway 27. We reviewed many sites committee
discussed the current edge of the road grass encroachment spraying program.
Admin advised that the primary purpose of the program is to control vegetation
along the edge of the roadway reducing the amount of vegetation that the
graders can pull onto the road surface while maintaining the shoulder.
Uh the committee discussed the concerns about sprain maybe contributing to
shoulder deterioration because that sprain is making it past the edge of the
road onto that shoulder and then the possibility of uh kosha being able to to
sprout up easier easier in those areas that have been sprayed.
uh committee recommended to or recommendation to council would be to
direct a men to review the edge of road strain program uh including its
effectiveness, benefits, potential impacts before determining whether the
program should be continued or modified. Uh brushing once again range 230 south
of Buffalo Jump site was viewed. Uh we'll bring that back, administration
will bring that back as a operational project for council's consideration
during budgeting. uh Heskith uh road we looked at a uh
committee looked at a few sites. So a ditch wash out uh site was viewed uh
it's going to be brought back for council during 2027 budget uh as a
potential cap capital project. The valley next to the road is is failing
and the ditch is falling into that valley. It keeps working closer and
closer to the road. Um and the only way to fix that properly is to go to the
base and work our way back up. So, there's some potential cheaper options
of moving the roads. So, that'll come back as a future project
for council's consideration. Uh ditching on the south hill. Uh
there's a site that needed some uh dish maintenance to get the water off the
road. Uh and then ditching in front of the old schoolhouse.
So from from what we reviewed the financial and staffing implications, the
recommended motions one, two, and one, two, four, and five will be funded
through approved 2026 operating budget and are not uh anticipated to have any
other financial impact. Everything else that would be coming forward as projects
would be uh up to council's consideration.
Uh so there's a few options uh we or recommendations to go through. uh we can
uh and the council has a few options from those of whether they approve uh
them as presented or or uh provide uh uh revised directions. So um first
recommended motion would be that three hills shopyard
that council direct administration to complete a review of county stockpile
locations including operational requirements and potential alternative
locations and report findings back to council.
The second uh motion would be that council direct administration to install
30 km hour signs, advisory signs, speeds through the curves on range road 242
south of highway 575 with speeds returning to 80 km an hour in the
straight sections. The third recommended motion would be
the council direct administration to review the edge of road spraying program
including its effectiveness, benefits, potential impacts before determining
whether the program should continue or be modified.
Uh the fourth motion be the council direct administration to include
township 34 uh z tree removal project and range 230 south
of Buffalo Jump brushing project as potential uh projects for consideration
during the 2027 budget deliberations. And then the next motions would be the
council direct administration to include the range 222 220 at the valley slope
failure as a potential capital project for consideration during the budget
deliberations 2027 budget deliberations. Um
the the next motion would be that council direct administration to
investigate the feasibility of the drainage improvements on range road 22
220 two sorry Hesus road including the utility constraints. Um that one is
already ongoing just through op uh daily operations. So,
uh, the count the next last one would be that council direct administration to
complete the ditch cleaning on range road 220 from the old schoolhouse appro
approach eastward approximately 100 m.
Yes, I believe that's it. Okay. Uh couple couple things I'd like to discuss
on this uh road committee report. Um I'd like to see going forward the minutes
come to the council to the committee prior to coming into council because it
looks like there's been some liberties taken on what we've said or what we've
discussed and I'll use an example. Um we talked about the edge of road spraying
where we've killed the grass over the edge.
uh their shoulders deteriorating and we we do have kosha growing. Uh we as road
committee recommended that that pro if I remember correct me if I'm wrong what we
discussed is we were going to recommend to council that this stops immediately
that spraying program. >> Yeah.
So I mean going forward if we can just get these minutes sent out to us prior
to getting into council we can correct some of these. Uh that being said um
we can carry on with this till the next road committee. I'm okay with that.
Every any other concern >> from road committee.
Um just another question the Okay, you do have it is never mind. It's 2027
coming out of the 2027 budget. Yeah, correct. Okay.
Councelor Olson. >> So, with regard to the spraying on the
on the shoulder, um, do we need to have a motion to have
that stopped because I think it was added, right? So, if it was added by
administration, then it can be just deleted by administration. Is that not
correct? >> Um, that being said, I don't we don't
know where that came from. It came from prior to to Mike um going on. But I mean
in order in in to get into a big discussion, we can do that right now.
But to me, I mean, road building 101, we don't do that. You just destroyed our
roads and and we've saw it. We we we saw it all throughout the county. And Kosha
is growing in those areas big time. Now, um I I don't really want I I don't
think we need to bring back that to council, but that's up to you guys if
you want. There's motions on the floor there.
» Yeah. No, I'm okay with that. We can just
adopt it as read. >> Yeah.
» Go ahead. >> Through the chair. So with the road edge
spraying program, uh the reason like in the minutes there it's recommended or
it's not recommended that it's canceled, but that's where it was going. Uh where
administration came through in in the this RFD about that is there are
benefits to it. I don't think the program uh has been executed to it what
it's supposed to be. It needs to be refined. I I think there's still
benefits to this program. The original intent was just to spray that very edge
of the road where the graders drag in that that u saw and and we uh grass and
have that encroachment. Uh the intent was never to spray the shoulder. This
year obviously the shoulder got sprayed and we've seen that on the roads where
where it was not executed correctly uh to what what we need the program to. So
that's where administration was coming from with the the review on the program
of refining it and actually laying out specific roads that may be having it. If
we make a motion or if council makes a motion uh to cancel that program
together, it kind of ties our hands on if we have a problem, we can't go spray
four miles that we're having issues with that grass encroaching where the graders
can't keep up to it. Uh so that that's where uh administration was coming from
on the review on it and and maybe refining it, not such a broad program,
but bringing it down to certain areas and making sure it's just that edge of
the road, not the shoulder. Uh so that that's where administration was coming
from on that one. So >> okay, if I remember right, and correct
me if I'm wrong, guys, the motion was stop that procedure. We don't need to be
spraying grass. We can't even spray the the kosha
and now now we're out there spraying grass, killing grass on the edge of the
road. That was a discussion that we had. Also,
our motion was to or our our our thought was to bring this back to comm
to uh council to recommend that that program stops. There's more ways to kill
the grass or to get rid of grass on the road than what what we're doing there.
That's just not even That's not even road building 101.
Councelor Penner, I guess the comment that I would make though is that if
council was to make a motion like that, we're getting dangerously close to
dealing with the day-to-day operations of things. Administration has taken your
information. They're going to refine their techniques
and probably cut them back
an extensive amount from what might have occurred this year.
I don't think we want to get into the position where we're on a day-to-day
basis guiding administration's
duties. That would be my comment.
That being said, that that's fine. I I I agree for we are uh number one, I don't
think we are. This is a level of service I don't think we need to provide. And
what it's doing is destroying the roads. And no one has a right here to destroy
these roads. These shoulders are getting destroyed. They're they're falling
apart. They're getting widened out. The graders are digging them down. We could
we could spend days going through this and and we looked at it through real
committee. Um it's this is this is a pro process that doesn't need to be even be
done as far as I'm concerned. It's a level of service we don't even need to
provide. That's my thought.
» Council Olson. >> Yeah, I think we've seen it as a
recommendation that it's something we didn't want to do. Not that we're um
trying to, you know, steer
administration, but we are making suggestions that we don't like this just
because of what it is doing.
» Council Pa, >> do we have a um delegation at nine or
» I'm not here. Oh, there. Okay. I can ask my questions afterwards if you want to.
» Do you want to go through this? We can just uh go through this approve whatever
you want >> and then we can get into the
» No, sure. >> Can I just I just have a question to ask
first. >> So, did the road committee then not
recommend the sale of the old shop at the
» No, we did recommend the sale of the old shop, but that it's just the way it's
wrote here. So, >> Okay. No, I mean I I think you explained
it very well because that was in my head. I'm like I'm assuming just the
location of that old shop it would complicate things a little bit to have
to well we haven't saz here but we would have to subdivide that piece of property
and then to me the access like it would change to me there would be quite a bit
of cost to that to have to change the access into that property and like you
said I mean what's the cost of that versus what the potential income of the
sale would be so I just I I I just myself I just don't know if we would
come out on top of that but I don't
Councelor Olson. >> Yeah. No, that was again that was some
of our discussion. I'm not in favor of that as well, but I mean some of our
some of our uh committee is, but I mean, yeah, that was just that was some
discussion that we had along the way. So it's nothing that uh yeah there's a
broader absolutely thanks
you guys want to carry on with this councelor Olson
» I think we've beat this up enough I think we just uh acknowledges as as as
read for now and we can uh bring maybe more specific things forward later.
» Okay. Councelor Coney >> just one more for me. So number five,
the water pumping concern. I know um there was a rate pair that felt that his
um well had substantially changed and so I just want to clarify that we've
confirmed that there was nothing on the county's end that was altering his water
well um production >> through the chair. No, we did not test
uh local land owners water wells. It's an artisian well from my understanding.
Uh he's upstream from where we are. Uh the water levels are right back to where
they are. So water levels on artisian wells are going to fluctuate. Uh
we've never tested any of the other wells in the area and no one else has
called us with any effects. So uh but the water levels are back up to
pre-pumping levels. So >> just to confirm that we've followed up
with him just because I was contacted as well. Okay. Thank you. Can can you just
uh expl give uh uh councelor Cunningham a little more information on how quick
that well or those springs fill that? >> Yeah, it's not as if we're we're drowned
in things or taking things out. >> Yeah, I I don't have a specific uh cubic
meters per minute. Uh um but it they pumped in April and it was full by mid
June. Uh, and they pumped 300,000 cubes, just under 300,000 cubes, and it barely
dropped that level of that uh that water body. I think it dropped at 3 ft
roughly, 4 feet maybe. So, it was very minimal. So,
» no, I appreciate that. I just wanted to make sure because I I had received a
message from him as well. So, just wanted to make sure that he he uh had
been followed up with. So, thank you, >> Dr. Rosson. You want to move that as
information >> and then we can move on? Yes,
» I need a motion. Uh I would make the motion that we receive uh this
information as read. >> Okay. Any more discussion? All in favor?
» Carried.
» Yeah, we if that's okay. We'll take a quick break. Five minutes then we'll go
with the delegation. >> We'll go with the delegation in five 10
minutes.
Okay, we're back. 9:15. Uh, let's go to 3.1.
Uh,
the Grant Prairie Christian Academy grant application.
Good morning. Uh, we'll start with some introductions here. We'll start with my
right.
Good morning, Lorley Michelle Cunningham, division five.
» Looney Mook, division seven. >> Good morning, Richard Hoppins, division
six. >> L Olsen, division four.
» Good morning, Darcy Penner, division two.
» You got the floor.
» Our project. Uh, also want to thank you guys for serving our county. Um,
so there's probably a word in there that might not make much sense. Gaga pit, but
I'll get I'll get to to it and why it's a valuable piece for our community and
our our project we do see is going to enhance uh uh what we've already brought
to our community. So, uh, if you want to go to the next slide,
I want to officially thank this uh this uh council as well. In 2019, you granted
us money towards our larger project. So, I go to the next slide. Uh this
playground, which is the only playground in the north part of our town, and uh
it's been used not only at school, but all through the summer, uh soccer games,
people send their kids over there. It's it's well well used, well well loved.
So, this is an a second or third thank you. Um but along with that, I want to
just go to the next slide, please. It's a part of a bigger um activity area
where our students in that community in that part of our town have access to it.
And if you see on the on the right side and go further, yeah, we can go down.
This is the Gaga pit. Okay. So, gaga means hit. And it's a Hebrew word. I
just learned that today by googling. And uh you can see how well worn it is on
the sides. It's been a very big part of our our community. Kids go out there.
It's a game that is a tag game, uh, but it uses a ball and so it kind of has
quick cycles. Uh, so you have young kids in there on one and and older kids on
the other and they have to manage themselves and the kids kids love it.
Like we've seen it being used over and over again. So, we had put this in as
part of the project um near after the project and uh as you can see it has a a
gravel pad and it's dirty and and muddy and so I just go down a little further.
Um it's, you know, kids are wiping out and
they're they're pulling uh pulling the dirt back into the school and back into
their and their homes are in as they use it. And uh yeah, go on down. And so this
is this is just a picture I took of the the Three Hills uh school location. And
they have this rubber on the on the bottom. And we've had parents asking us,
is there possibility for for this to uh this to be enhanced at our location. Um
it it's cleaner, it's it's safer, uh it's durable, and it looks it presents
well, and it would definitely kind of clean up our our whole playground. Um,
and so this playground serves, and this is this
is true, this playground serves the north end of of Three Hills. It uh it
has a lot of activity heading into from that area. Um, the Gaga Pit is enjoyed
and well used by kids of all ages and it teaches them how to how to win, how to
lose, how to play together and start again and do it all over again. and we
see them using it. Um, and then the present Gaga pit, the hit pit needs a
base that is both clean and safe for kids. And then the next one, um, we have
half the funds needed to complete this project and would love for you to
partner with us to make this improvement a reality. Um,
this this uh this year we have half the funds and we'd ideally love to be able
to finish it this summer. so that September or even into October comes and
it's it's ready to be used. Uh we we're committed to completing this. Um but it
might not be this this summer if if we need to go into the next spring or
summer. That wouldn't be ideal for us. But that's uh what we're committed to
do. We want to do it and uh we're excited. Um I don't know. Again, it's
been such a privilege to to be able to think this through and to add this value
because uh I do think that it will
be well welcomed and our hope is to to obviously communicate to people who who
is uh part of the project and helping it be communicated and completed. So that's
part of our strategy and plan. So thank you for listening to my presentation.
any any questions about the details of that the um I guess I
should add like through our getting quotes and stuff um the paving comm uh
companies that I think that's they did on the side but they did that for the
three hill school and the quote came to about 15 which is like putting all the
rock and underneath the base making a solid base that it'll last a long time
and then the UV protected rubber um product and then walking away and having
it useful then we will complete it by painting it making it fresh and look
brand new. >> Have you uh any other funding or looked
for any other funding? >> Um we I mean we have our own funding uh
process in our society. So that funding is part of what we've done. We uh just
raised funds for it ourselves. I've looked into some of the larger projects
and they're like looking at like 50,000 ones. And the way that I looked at I
went through it locally and I was like um I don't think we being it's a smaller
project uh and a big pool of people um I guess our our plan was if we could
expedite the process and invite you guys into it. That's how I was processing
because the other ones would have required like some like like ACO had one
and >> I was basically thinking like the town
of Three Hills. >> Oh, I haven't I haven't asked.
Okay. council. >> Um, yeah, I don't know anything about a
gaga pit or so. I haven't seen any kids playing do this, but obviously it's
getting used. Um, I love kids things. I I you know,
I'm glad to hear that the playground's being used,
» but uh yeah, I I see this as a as a good thing, but uh
yeah, I Jerry says to why that you haven't asked
the the town as well, but uh there is a lot of
» there is a lot of uh kneehill residents kids that that that go to the school.
So, uh yeah, anything anything with kids I'm kind of a sucker for.
» Thank you for the presentation. >> Thank you, C. So, this is interesting
because I didn't know what a gaga pit was either until last week when I had my
grandkids and we drove by the Three Hills School and they're like, "Hey,
it's a gaga pit." And I'm like, "What?" So, yeah, I got educated on that last
week. So, no, they apparently really enjoyed them. So, that's awesome. Could
you just let me know um provincial wise, does the province provide your school or
any schools for that matter any money for playground equipment?
» Our last project, we as a society fundraised the whole thing. So there
wasn't anything there for that. >> No, that's I I kind of figured that, but
I just wanted to clarify that. Now, I think as councelor Olsen said or I know
people from all over town and even me as a Nihill County resident, when I bring
my grandkids, I go to different parks in town, right? So, we're certainly using
them. But do you folks have it broken down at all for Prairie Christian
Academy, how many children attending are Nehill County residents?
» It's a good question. Uh I mean our busing system we I definitely know we
have kids from Carbon and Lyndon and all around but percentage wise I don't have
that on my head. Sorry. Yeah. We definitely do serve a wider community
because we're we have people looking for our school. So
any other questions?
» Thank you. >> Thank you. Yeah. Appreciate your time.
Yeah.
» Let's go on to 5.1.
Good morning. >> Good morning, Mr. Reed. Members of
council, I'm coming back to you with the request for decision for further
readings on three different bylaws. uh area structure plan amendment bylaw 1927
which is for prairie view estates direct control district 9 which is bylaw 1928
and direct control district 10 which is bylaw 1929 for second and third
readings. So an application was received by the majority of the lot holder within
saddleup estates to amend the bylaw 1586 which is the saddleup estates area
structure plan. An amendment did require a new bylaw. It also required or the
applicants also proposed a new name which is the Prairie View Estates. This
application came to us also with two land use bylaw amendments for the
creation of two new direct control districts and a homeowners association
as well as some revised wording and clarification. This request for decision
is for second and third readings for each bylaw. Each bylaw will require
separate motions and we've tried to break them out by color in the uh
recommendation. Council can approve, amend or deny any
of these. If council's choosing to amend anything, then um if you want to tell us
what you choose to amend, administration will make those changes and then we will
bring it back for third reading. So you would have that amended copy at that
point in time. So again, any applications to amend an area structure
plan require a public hearing to be held prior to amending a statutory plan.
Amendments to the land use bylaw also require a public hearing. Because they
were all related, we did hold one public hearing to address all of them. Um and
that public uh first reading was given to each of these bylaws on March 24th.
All information information and questions regarding the applications
were brought forward at the public hearing held on May 12th, 2026. Council
moved to table this public hearing to resume on June 9th. This gave further
opportunity for participation in the hearing. The public hearing process is
legislated and as per the municipal government act, council must hear any
person or group of people who claim to be affected by the proposed bylaws and
also in this instance the amendment of the area structure plan. Any land owner
who felt they were impacted by the proposal either positively or negatively
had the opportunity to attend and speak to the matter directly at the public
hearing. Affected parties could also submit their comments in writing and
these comments were all included in the public hearing package for council
consideration at the time. In your package, we've also included uh the uses
of the recreation district as well as what would be the revised uses in direct
control districts if they're successful in that. And again, council can change
any of those uses as they see fit. Um an area structure plan does provide the
framework for subsequent subdivision development within a certain area of
land. So, it does give an extra layer of rules to that property. In this
instance, Saddleup esta states the existing area structure plan encompasses
the entire quarter section of the southwest of five 3326 west of four.
This amendment would not be a permit to develop or subdivide, nor does the
creation of the direct control districts give automatic permission to develop.
The direct control districts encompass land which was previously zoned
recreation. The recreation district allows multiple uses on the lands which
can can now be better controlled through a direct control district.
So again the direct control districts are unique that compared to other
things. So the municipal planning commission reviews development proposals
in a direct control district and they make a recommendation to council. We
bring that back to council. Subdivisions are the exact opposite. We bring those
to council. they make a recommendation to the planning commission and then we
take it to the planning commission for approval. Um again there was no
financial implications other than that and we do need motions on each separate
bylaw number um separately.
Okay. Any discussion
motions
Anderson? because it has to be done. I guess I
will move that we give second reading of bylaw
1927 for the purpose of amending the area structure plan formerly known as
saddle up estates as presented.
» Any discussion or concerns?
All in favor? Opposed?
Motion defeated.
» [clears throat]
» Second motion.
» Councelor Penner. I would move the
I would make the motion that council move second reading of bylaw 1928 for
the purpose of creating a deck control creating a direct control district 9
within the southwest of 53326 west of the 4th
formally zoned recreation encompassing approximately 48.66
plus or minus acres as presented. Any questions or concerns on the motion?
All in favor? Opposed?
Motion defeated.
» Councelor Hawkins. >> Yes. Make the third the council move
second reading of bylaw 1928 for the purpose of creating direct control
district 10 within southwest 53326 west of four formally zoned recreation
encompassing approximately 19.44 plus or minus acres as presented.
» Questions or concerns on the motion? All in favor?
opposed. Motion defeated.
Thank you.
Uh let's go to back to 5.1.
» Oh, wait a minute. Sorry. You want to do 4.3?
» Oh, we can leave mic here for a bit. Let's [snorts] do five. Let's do that.
5.1.2.
Have we got time? >> Yeah.
» Um, this is regarding our redesignation. So, bylaw 1935, a redesignation from
country residential to agriculture. So Jesse and Ashley Ryder, Timothy and
Elizabeth Miller and Isaacam have recently purchased the country
residential property north of the town of Three Hills and would like to
redesate the 20 acres from a portion of the northwest of 63223 west of 4 from
the country residential district to the agricultural district. The subject land
is located around along range road 240 which is hard service. This parcel was
redesated to the Country Residential District in January of 1998,
which by bylaw 1385. The developer at the time intended to
create multiple lots and sell them. The current land owners have no intention of
doing this. Under the municipal government act, the applications for
redesation of land require a public hearing before the bylaw creating the
due district can be adopted. The first reading of this proposed bylaw was given
on May 26, 2026. This is the mechanism for getting an application into the
queue. All information and questions regarding the application were brought
forward to the public hearing held on June 23rd, 2026. As per the municipal
government act, council has to hear any person or group of persons who claim to
be affected by the proposed bylaw. Again, any landowner who feels they will
be impacted either positively or negatively had the opportunity to come
and speak about the matter directly at the public hearing. They could also
submit their comments in writing. As council reviews and discusses the
content of the public hearing, it can approve, amend, or defeat the proposed
bylaw. The public hearing process is a legislative process, and participating
in the public hearing is the legislative method to provide comments to council
for consideration for applicants wanting to redesate their land. Once a public
hearing is closed, no additional information should be considered in the
decision-making process. Redesations are about the proposed use. A redesignation
establishes a land use district and is not a development permit. The
redesignation focuses on overall site suitability and not specific development
conditions. This property is located approximately 0.368 miles north of the
town of Three Hills and most of the areas designated agriculture with three
other country residential uh properties in close proximity and one direct
control district to the west of the proposed redesignation. In the country
residential district, land owners are not allowed to have livestock and the
current owners want to raise chickens, sheep, and cows for their own use. The
property currently has one dwelling on the parcel that was converted into a
duplex by previous owners. And again, we are just looking for further readings on
this bylaw.
» Thank you. >> Council Olson.
» Uh yeah, there's no further discussion. I would make the motion that uh council
move second reading of proposed bylaw 1935 for the purpose of amending land
use bylaw
1808 by red designating 20 plus or minus acres on the portion of northwest 632
23 west of four from country residential to district
country residential district to agriculture district.
Any questions on the motion concerns?
All in favor? Carried.
» Councelor Hopkins. [laughter]
I move that council council move third reading of proposed bylaw 1935 for the
purpose of amending land use bylaw 1808 by redesating 20 plus or minus acres on
a portion of northwest 63223
west of 4 from country residential district to agricultural district.
» Any concerns?
All in favor?
Thank you.
» Okay, let's go to 4.3.
[clears throat] Good morning again, council. Uh just
here to do an operations verbal update again. So, uh graders have continued
working through their regular rotations uh while focusing on the gravel roads uh
when they're passing the dirt roads if conditions allow just due to the
weather. We've been uh trying to hit them as we're passing by that area.
We've had a new greater operator start. Uh he spent two weeks with in-house
training with another divisional grader operator and now is operating
independently. Uh division 10 uh is uh blading along with following the gravel
crew and reshaping those roads once the gravel crew is applied. Uh we got u spec
crude uh dust suppression coming July 23rd. So the Roma grader has been out
prepping for that. our gravel program. We're currently uh regraveling program.
We're currently in division 10. Uh we did shut down for a couple days there
just uh due to con congestion in the pit for loading for gravel sales as well.
Uh dust control, the spec crew is going to be applied hopefully this Thursday,
weather dependent. Uh we uh we had four additional top sprays that have been
received. Uh we're going to do our calcium second application in the second
starting after the long weekend there of August.
Men maintenance crew has been busy uh doing several ditch repairs, culvert
extensions, uh water line repairs, crack sealing, culvert uh uh and then they've
also been prepping at that at the hearten pit there for the 2026 crushing
uh gravel sales. So we've sold quite a bit of the hands gravel out of the
Troshi stockpile there. town of Troshi purchased about 4,600 tons of material.
Um we had couple colonies by various amounts and a couple rate pairs by
various amounts. Uh had uh 48 uh service requests since
the last uh verbal update. Majority of them have been answered and once again
if they they've all been responded to some of them may still be open just
waiting for the work to be completed. Uh moving into capital projects. Lynen
overlay uh projects going well uh re really real well so far. The scratch
coat was played or finished on July 14th. Uh we did have a few people call
in about that. Uh it's just that level course to get all those wheel ruts out
so that we get a true true uh final layer of nice material. So the final
lift of paving began on July 15th. Uh I'm not 100% sure on the anticipated
completion date yet, but hopefully within the next couple weeks here. So,
uh gravel purchase, I believe our contractor is getting ready to start
crushing our our next stockpile. So, that's good to hear. Uh roads and needs,
uh preliminary engineering continues. Uh G& technical drilling on the Alenham
curves there has been scheduled uh for July 20th. Uh so yesterday there uh
Bergen Pit uh the site site prep continues uh crushing tenders closed.
We're just waiting for a signed contract before we announce the successful
bidder. Uh the property survey uh has been completed. Uh fence work uh is
waiting on the brushing to be finalized. Uh bridge file 13480 on Range Road 251.
Uh detailed design is done. Uh unfortunately we received notice that uh
we were not successful in stip funding. Uh so administration will be bringing
forward a a recommend an RFD to council to to tell us to reapply and uh
hopefully we'll hear back next year with better news.
Uh township 304 culvert uh that tender is live. It's uh supposed to close July
28th uh with current construction hopefully to be completed in the fall.
And then bridge file 2288 preliminary engineering is continuing. So
» thanks Mike. Couple questions. >> Yes.
» Um I know we discussed this but uh I I'd like to see and correct me if I'm wrong.
I'm probably wrong on this, but uh when we did the detour, the detour up for
around the torrent, pardon me, Chosu uh pit
» for the culvert on 585, >> um I think we need to to basically send
something out, just a quick a quick email or something to all the
counselors so we know what's happening on it. I don't know if there's anything
in the in the uh reports prior to that. I can't remember, but I think that way
then I can save a lot of time when I when I get all the phone calls asking or
or anybody gets a phone call asking what's going on there
» through the chair 100%. Uh yeah, yes, it was not in the the updates by any means.
We did uh do that uh detour road use agreement with with at over a year ago.
Um so once it was we'll make sure we get notice out to council beforehand as
well. It was posted on social media as soon as we got word that they were going
to do construction. We got it out there as soon as possible for for the local
residents. So, we will make sure to >> try to get the local counselors involved
that don't use social media. [laughter] >> Um, next question. Who who they're in
charge of dust control andor signage? >> Correct.
» Are we checking up on them? >> Correct. Yes, we are.
» All right. Thanks,
» Councelor Olsson. Um, just with regards to the the
Bergen Pit, um, we're waiting on the fencing there. Um, just wondering about
the the holes and did that previous landowner get his equipment moved yet
through the chair. Uh, the test holes that were dug there are were being
filled in as of yesterday. I'm not sure if they completed them 100% or not. And
then, uh, the equipment, majority of it's moved out. I'm just waiting
confirmation on the last piece. I can get a update for you momentarily soon.
So, >> are we So, are we you're just getting
the pit cleaned up like is this where's the budget coming from?
» I guess in what asks like on the prepping for the crushing is what you're
asking. >> Yep.
» Through operating budget currently.
So if we have operators that we have like we are just have we got screening
piles through the chair. We have screening piles in the bottom of the pit
there that need to be moved. So when we have an operator available or two, we
send them out there to help move material just intermittent in between
jobs as things are lining up currently. So that was just being funded through
current operation operation budget. Uh the fencing is being will be paid for
out of the additional $200,000 that you guys uh uh council allotted to get the
pit up and operational. So that's where that money for that
fence will be coming from. >> Okay.
» Any other questions for Mike?
Thanks, Mike.
5.3.
» Good morning, council. Um I'm bringing you today a request to dispose of two
towers that we have. Um so relevant legislation
uh the MGA the section contains limits on municipal powers in relation to
disposal of land but this is not land this is just the asset um so it does not
apply uh council bylaw. So and policy we have a policy 1613 which is our tangible
capital assets accounting standards and depreciation
um including asset disposals and writedowns. This is something that um if
you wanted to look at that full policy but it um this we pulled out the one
section and it refers to the CIO can um adjust the C TCA records including the
book the book values. uh disposal of assets may occur by sale, trade-in,
destruction, loss, abandonment or donation when it when the asset becomes
obsolete or which serves no useful purpose. Um so
that whole policy is there for you to look at. Uh council will approve the
disposal of assets that are not budgeted for. This is part we can use some of
this disposal cost as part of the budget and I'll kind of go over that a little
bit when we get to the finance part of the RFD.
Uh so background, Nihil County owns a communications and tower system and it
has been operational within the protective services department due to
its use for emergency communications for fire. The tower system consists of two
large towers and two smaller ones. Um in 2020 we moved our emergency
communications to the Alberta first responders radio communication system
which is called A-Fra. This now means that we use the
proincially operated and maintained tower system, Aphra. Handheld radios,
in-car radios, and mobile repeaters that work with the new system are operational
within the fire agreements with each of the municipalities for fire services.
The old tower and radio system is no longer used by the emergency
communications teams. They are now only used by private companies for internet
services. The ham radio club is on carbon. Um and
I think the Calgary Club actually is also on carbon as well and the Aqua 7
water radio system is also used. Um they use some of the towers as well.
In 2025, we conducted an assessment on Wimborn, Carbon, Torington, Sarscy, and
Lynen towers, and many deficiencies were noted and in order to keep operational
work needs to be completed. And this was a project that was passed by council,
the towers project 2026, which we actually just put out for bids. So, we
just received those back. um council. So the discussion in the options is that
council approved that 2026 budget, the tower project for repairs and
maintenance for 1708 $887,000. That's how much that project was. As part of
the review of the project, we're recommending that two of those towers,
the SARC tower and the Lynen Tower, um because they're only used by the private
companies, that those two towers actually just get disposed of through a
sale of purchase. So we could just sell those two towers just because they're
not used by us. The SARC tower, it's used by a private company company only.
It is located on private property which we do not have a lease for. This would
be had to be negotiated between the purchaser and the land owner and that
legal advice has been received on that tower and we're confident in this
process. The Lynen Tower is used by a private company and by the Aqua 7 Water
Group in it is located on private property which we do have a lease for um
that can either be transferred or we need to give oneyear notice to get out
of that lease. Uh disposal of these towers through the sale will save us
money in the long run not only with the lease agreement but also with the
repairs and maintenance on these two towers.
Uh option one is notice of intent to sell which would be posted on our
website to notify public that we are selling an asset. Um and then option two
is notice of sale. This would be posted on our website publicly to take bids
from anybody. This would put the existing provider in jeopardy and
possibly risk losing that sale. Following the assessment of 2025, the
towers both need an amount of work and their book value in the asset records is
no longer relevant. The sale of these towers may look may be less than book
value with the price being negotiated outside of this process. The difference
between the book value and the sale value would be a written down and
expensed to the project. So, we have that $187,000
and if we don't sell it for whatever our book value is, that would come out of
the project um cost or project budget, sorry. Um and
there is an advertising requirement because we're selling an asset and not
interested in land. We do not need to advertise this under section 70 of the
MGA. So financial impact may write down the
asset value and would be processed through the disposal system and impact
to Aqua 7. A negotiation for the tower space may need to be um negotiated for
the Lynen tower. Um so both of these towers are used by the same company that
we would be looking to privately sell to. Um they do work though for
Aqua 7. They have a contract with Aqua 7. Um, I I do believe that Aqua 7 is
eventually going to move to a different system. Um, I think that's what they're
looking into anyway. Um, but for now they do require those towers.
So, council options [clears throat] include disposing of the Sarscy Tower
and the Lynen Tenw through the notice of intent to sell privately. Dispose of the
Sarc Tower only through a notice of intent to sell privately. That council
disposes of the Lynen Tower only through a notice of intent to sell privately.
that council advertises both or only one of the tower through the sale um through
a sale of tower notice through a bid process and that council keeps both of
the towers within our operations.
That's all I have. There's a recommended motion there.
» Questions? Councelor Penner >> is administrative
sorry is administration relatively comfortable with the price
that they have like I'm assuming you have a price from from the contract from
the tower purchaser it
sorry you have a value on those towers is administration relatively comfortable
that that is a fair market value for these towers at this
Uh in in my opinion, I think that whatever we have on the books is not a
relevant um price for those towers. Like I don't think that we're going to sell
them for that amount. Following the assessments that we did in 2025, both of
those towers, which we know and we've told the the potential purchaser,
they're both twisted. like they both
it so I I don't think the book value um uh is is relevant anymore.
» So so that cost would have to be written out of the project.
» Yeah, I guess I understood that part, but I I you you don't see there being
any added value to be gotten out of these towers listing them and listing
them for sale like >> my opinion is no.
» Okay. No, that's that that's what I wanted to understand.
» Yes. I think it costs us more to have them.
» It like it costs about $2,000 to um even change a light bulb on them.
» Like we're not we're not making money off of these. Yeah.
» Councelor Wilson, >> is there any fear here? Like this these
towers can still be used for emergency service, right? And then No. Okay. So
there's no value at all. just in case the provincial system does not crashes
or something. >> No, because
» this isn't a low tech thing we can still use
» through through the re through uh the reef. No. Um because we have no um like
communications equipment in any of those towers anymore. Like everything has been
stripped off of them. There's no We don't have antennas on them. We don't
have any of the communications equipment on them. We've completely stripped them
down. So they are not usable as a as a backup.
» Any other questions or concerns? >> Did you want to put a TV antenna up
there or something? Council.
» Councelor Hopkins. I uh move that council move to dispose
of the SARC Tower legal southeast of 113122 west of 4th Meridian and Lynen
Tower legal [clears throat] northeast 113125
west of 4th Meridian through the disposal disposal process as written in
policy 16-13 selling both privately
through uh notice of intent. >> Any questions on the motion or concerns?
All in favor? Carried.
Thank you.
Let's take a little break before the hearing
at 9:55.
Okay, we're back at 10:08. Um, I I'll call for a motion for that the
public hearing for bylaw 1934 be opened at 10:08.
Motion forthcoming forth.
» Councelor Cunningham. I'll move that the public hearing uh
open at 10:08.
» All in favor? Car.
Okay. Uh I'd like to just remind that the public that if they wish to speak to
the bylaw, they should register the name on the speakers list. I don't see a
speaker list. if they have any opportunity there will also be
opportunity to uh speak when I've gone through the list or when I have gone
through the speaker's list that I will ask one final time if there's anyone
else to speak uh right at this moment we'll introduce council we'll start at
my far right >> Merl Anderson division one
» good morning Lori Michelle Cunningham division five
» Lonnie Mcook division seven good morning Richard Hopkins division
Uh L Olsson, division 4. >> Good morning, Darcy Penner, division 2.
» Okay, no one's on line. So, uh today's public hearing process will be followed
by the procedure bylaw 1919. Uh copy uh of the uh procedures is attached to the
package and additional copies can be found at the recording secretar's desk.
The uh public hearing package can also be downloaded from the Neo County
website. The website addresses and a QR code for quick access are
displayed on the presentation screen. I'll now ask for our planning and
development department to come forward and make their presentation.
Good morning council. Today this is an application for bylaw 1980 1934 to
redesation uh portion of land from agricultural to agriculture business.
Uh this is a 31.39 acre parcel of land within a portion of southwest of 1828-24
plan 7710982 block one. The purpose of this
redesation is to allow the applicants to apply for a commercial use indoor riding
arena. As per the MGA, notifications were um
sent to all adjacent land owners within a mile and referral agencies. It was
advertised in the capital June 17th, June 24th, July 8th, and July 15th. And
it was also posted on our kneehill county website.
The proposed site is a subdivided parcel within the southwest of 18284 west of
the 4th. Access is from Range Road 2500. Rocky View County is directly to the
west and Wheatland County is south of Highway 9. And so the parcel of land is
indicated by the blue star.
It is approximately uh six miles east of the village of Isicer um right down
there on the southeast corner um right across from Highway 9.
It is also within the Rocky View uh county intermunicipal development plan.
Um notification was also sent to them as per our um IDP. And again you can see
the blue star indicates our location and the red border there is our IDP area.
The redesation encompasses the whole uh parcel of land which is 31.39 acres.
Um the 30.35 that's just a evidence of an old hand and I can't quite outline
exactly the 31.
So the applicants are proposing a 6,000 foot heated indoor riding arena. The
hopefully their uh 30 paddocks for boarding up to 60 horses. It will be a
family-run business with at most two employees maybe on the weekend. Except
expected traffic is approximately 10 vehicles per day with up to 15 on
weekends and possibly during event there may be up to 25
and there's just a small out um site plan. Um I'm just I don't have a pointer
available to me but um the red the riding arena is the red box
approximately. It might be a little bit further south. Um it this is just a
rough drawing. This was the site plan that they provided when they were um for
their house, which is the uh box right above the green area, which is going to
be their septic field. And then the box above that is their proposed new
dwelling, which has already been approved.
Um as as per our municipal development plan, uh it does meet
um in the past many planning tools focused on the actual protection of
farmland. However, most recent strategies promote productivity of the
agricultural sector by providing maximum flexibility for farm operations and
ensuring agricultural uses are able to integrate into an increasingly diverse
economy. This also means the goal is to encourage all agriculture operations to
employ best management practices.
Uh large parcel subdivisions will be considered for uses within the
agriculture business district. These subdivisions may have a minimum of uh 10
acres and a maximum up to 40. This is already a subdivided parcel. Um and the
whole parcel is 30 acres. So it definitely meets the municipal
development plan. As far as economic goals, uh it is the
goal is to create opportunities that will provide a variety of development
oper options to diversify and strengthen the county's economy. And then the
objective is to balance economic development opportunities that are
adjacent and compatible along transportation corridors which it being
adjacent highway 9 is a perfect fit. As per the land use bylaw, the
agriculture business district um a riding commercial is a discretionary use
in the egg business district. Um the municipal planning commission will be
the approving authority due to it being a discretionary use.
Um the egg business district isn't there's also uh riding arenas commercial
are also in the local rural commercial district. However, we felt the egg
business uh district was a best fit due to less uses and better suited in a
primarial primarily agricultural area.
And then further to the egg business district, um again in the land use
bylaw, it also states that they should be located along highways or
well-developed roads
as per uh our land use by bylaw section 65 indoor riding arena. A riding arena
private shall be used solely by the occupants of the residents whereas this
is being applied for uh to be used commercially and so they are not
considered farm buildings and must meet all Alberta building code requirements
for public occupancy. Uh riding arena commercial um is defined
in the land use bylaw means public facilities, building shelters or other
structures at which horses are exercised or trained. training in equestrian
skills or equestrian competitions or shows are held which this application
fits as well.
Um as in regard to the land um so again we're looking at the parcel that's on
the um south west corner there. Um so it is soil classification three and then
using the land suitability rating system it is 80% class 2 with slight
limitations due to inadequate heat and moisture and then only uh 20% would be
severe due to water holding uh capacity.
Uh planning considerations that both administration and then you as council
um should be considering is the type and scale and proposed use, suitability of
the site for the proposed use, compatibility of the surrounding
existing and future land uses, municipal service availability, emergency access,
adequacy of the parcel size, consistency with statutory and non-stutory plans and
the land use bylaw and the needs and benefits of the development and
community.
Uh, as far as receiving letters from adjacent land owners and referral
agencies, we didn't receive any in favor, but neither do we receive any in
opposition. Um, there was just the referral agencies that had comments.
Atco Gas had no concerns. Um, they were just wanting to make sure rightaways
were adhered to. Safe and healthy environments, um, otherwise known as
Alberta Health recommended a manure management plan and storm water
management plan. and Rocky View County. Um, which you also have copies in your
packages as well, comments related more to the time of development.
And here are some site photos. So, your photo to the left um is just some
corrals that they have started. Um, and you can see then also to the right, it's
just a little bit further uh picture further back. Show and that's kind of
looking north. um northeast.
This area here to the picture on the left is kind of the proposed area of the
proposed arena. Um the star relates kind of about where
that is.
And then this is the proposed parking area. Um so they have kind of a laneway
that kind of cuts there in half. So proposed parking um is to the south, the
arena would be to the north and again their star is indicating that
parking area
and this is the residence that has already already been approved. Um it
being currently zoned agriculture that is a permitted use. um even in the egg
business it would be a permitted use and anyway so when they purchase the
property they are um building a new home as well and the star is kind of showing
your location again as well of that residence.
This is just um I'm in the far yes far south uh west corner that's looking
north kind of at the parcel. It's very flat except for that little bit of that
um seasonal drainage area.
And then here I'm in the far uh northwest corner looking south again
fairly flat besides that little portion to the east.
Um if successful in redesation, details and specific conditions required for the
development will be dealt with through the development permit process because
this will be a discretionary use. Uh consideration for second and third
reading of bylaw 1934 will be on the August 25th, 2026 council meeting
agenda.
Thank you. Council, got any questions for the planner?
» I'm sure we will in a bit. Sure.
» Okay. And now I'll ask the applicant to come forward to make their presentation.
» I don't really have presentation.
Come on. Come on up. We got some questions.
» Oh boy.
» Hello. >> Hello there. Question for you.
» Okay. >> We've seen a lot of uh riding arenas
throughout this county. What makes yours so special that you think is going to
make it a go? things here. >> I think that we're doing it the right
way by coming to council and getting it approved for starters. Um Carla got an
education, so I think that that's a second thing where she can actually
coach legally. Um and it's us. [laughter]
I think I think we're a hit.
» Okay. Who Who lives Who lives in the house on the south side on the south
end? Um, so that's our neighbors, Naelli and Nathan.
» Can we pull that uh diagram up again, please? Right down there. Right.
» So, the white line uh to the north of them is is your property.
» Yes.
» Okay.
» So, run me through what what you're going to be doing again. You're going to
be it's a it's a riding arena. You're going to be given lessons.
» Yeah, that that's the plan hopefully. I mean, either way, we'd like a riding
arena just for us to ride in. But why limit it at that? So, we'd like it to be
commercial because that's the right thing to do. And then in Carla's future,
at least she has something she can work on as an adult, right? We're building it
for Carla. It's It's all Carla's.
Wow. >> Any other questions? Any
» I feel like you should be doing the talking. [laughter]
» I don't know what to say. Relax. >> It's like 4. You just talk.
» Well, pretty excited. I have my level six in coaching. So, I'm only three
levels away and I can't get that until I'm 18. So, I'm trying to apprentice
under a coach and then I'll become a fully licensed coach and hopefully
Hopefully the arena will help with that. Yeah.
» And I won't have to pay to board horses anymore, [laughter]
» too. Boarding six horses is quite a bit.
» Any other questions, >> counc? And I I heard you mention earlier
this you're doing the right thing by coming to the county and we really do
appreciate that that you the proper process and we talk a lot at the county
about how to keep youth in our in our county. So, um, what I'm hearing is this
could be a long-term plan for you. >> It definitely,
» and that's awesome. So, this is great. This is exactly what we want. We want
opportunities for young people to to be able to have a career and and have a
living here and and to stay here. So, >> thank you. I appreciate it.
» You're welcome,
» Councelor. It's probably an irrelevant question,
but >> I am familiar with the property. I
hadn't been aware that it had been subdivided that that acreage, your
neighbors to the south, that that had been subdivided out of that acreage.
» Yeah, I think they subdivided a couple years ago and then the people who
originally owned it moved into their campers with like four kids.
» Oh, >> little kids.
» Okay. And then once winter started coming last year, they were like, "Oh,
we need to get rid of it." Yeah. >> But we kind of were living like
traveling gypsies for like six months, waiting for something to come up. But
for us, it had to be in the Nehill County.
» And then when that came up, we were like, "Yep, it's ours."
» But the plan was always in the future for Carla to have some kind of riding
arena, whether it be commercial or just for her. It's her career. It's her life.
So saving money by just building it >> [laughter]
» And having it there, I think has always been the goal. This land just kind of
the universe just kind of plopped it in our laps. So, and it's very flat,
[laughter] so it kind of works for writing.
» Councelor Olsson. >> So, it sounds like you specifically were
targeting NHL County. May I ask just >> I would never leave Nihill County.
» Oh, okay. >> Yeah. I think we've been here now two
decades. I would never I would never pick another county. I love Deanna and
Barb and it's just it's so easy to have a
relationship with your county and I feel like some of the other counties aren't
as >> family like.
» Yeah. Oh, good one. >> Good. Good to hear. Thank you.
[laughter] Got to be careful with some of these
guys. Well, I feel like to it there's just a little more understanding in the
Nihill County. So, when we sold our farm in Swallwell, the idea was to never
leave and then you couldn't find anything for a while. Everything was
being scooped up. So, we lived in our campers, then we rented in three hills,
boarded all the horses, and then this place. And so, she said, "Neihill
County." I said, "How much?" And in three hours it was ours. So,
» you're stuck with us for life, unfortunately. [laughter]
» I was just going to say I think we need to get you folks on some promotional
items because you sound like you're very good at advertisement, [laughter]
but no, we appreciate that. And that's >> even through our nervousness.
» Yeah. No, that's excellent. That's good to hear. We want to hear that. So,
appreciate that. >> Okay. Any other questions? Council's
satisfied with what they've heard so far?
Okay. I'd like to remind everybody that once the public meeting closes, we'll no
longer take any information? Um,
everybody's okay. Okay.
I now declare the public hearing uh closed at 10:26 and ask for a motion to
go back into the regular council meeting.
» Thank you guys. >> Thank you, Council Olsson.
Yeah, I would make the motion that we resume um regular counsel
that the public hearing. Okay, let me read that. Let me read that again
[laughter] now that Caroline's made it a little
more um that I make a motion that the public hearing for bylaw 1820,
» no 1934, sorry, be closed at 10:27
and that council return to regular council meeting.
» Yeah, sure.
By law 1934 and be closed at 11:27
» 10:27 Oh my goodness, I looked at it too. [laughter]
10:27 a.m. The council returned to regular council meeting. See, you should
have done this lowerly. Okay. All in favor? Carried.
Let's go to 6.1.
» Good morning, council. Um, I'm bringing back today the policy 16-1, the reserve
policy. As you may remember, um, it was reviewed at the committee of the whole
on June 16th, and there were some minor revisions that council was hoping to
include. So, in the newest policy, we have include included those revisions.
The revisions include an addition of section 2.2 Two, requiring an
administration to provide supporting rationale and analysis when recommending
and establishing establishment, modification, consol
consolidation, renaming, and closure of reserves. An amendment to section 2.3 to
recognize emergency emergency response, disaster recovery,
and recogni. Okay. an addition, sorry, an
addition of section 2.5 recognizing restricted reserves and identifying the
county's current restricted reserves and an addition an addition of section
8.2 establishing reserve reporting expectations including reserve balances,
contributions, transfers, and investment income allocations, reserve
expenditures, and other reserve activity to support council oversight and
decisionmaking. So, I'm not sure if you want to go
through the whole policy again. I think we went through that during the
committee of the whole and I'm here to answer any questions you may have.
» Just a quick question uh on this long- winded policy.
Um is there anything in there that states that uh once a reserve hits a
certain level that we should look at giving some of that reserve back to our
rate? >> No, it's not in the back.
» There isn't. >> No.
I'm just proposing that we look at something like that because we're not in
the business here to collect taxes and make become multi-billionaires while our
taxpayers aren't reaping the benefit of some of this stuff
» now. Like >> maybe maybe it's something we can look
at down the road. I don't know. >> Well, when basically it's reserves are
funded by council. Council chooses to put funding into those reserves. Um, we
don't it doesn't it's not like an auto automatic collection of money where it
gets to a certain point. If council decides that they want to put money into
a reserve account, they put money into that reserve account. So, it won't get
to a point a a certain point where you'd give it
back unless council decided that f they were funding it. So, the council would
in the budgetary process council makes the decision to fund into a reserve. We
don't make that process. It's not automatic. I understand that, but I'm
just saying we don't need to have $92 billion in an account and the rateayers,
you know, we should have almost like a target.
» That's just a thought. >> Yeah, we're talk. It's still talking
here, but that that that's just a thought. I mean, it doesn't say anything
in here, so I just wanted to make sure. >> Yep.
» Councelor or CEO Teresa. >> Thank you. Through the brief of council.
So, the reserves are here to fund our future capital needs. So, our assets,
our our buildings, our processes, our roads, our gravel. Um, council decides
every year how much they want to put in based on what we recommend for asset
obligations over the next 30 years. Those things can change, but the
reserves are very important to our future sustainability. It's not like
we'd get to a place where we're like, bing, we have enough. Let's give it
back. We would never have enough. We will never be ahead of the game.
» That being said, I disagree with you wholeheartedly. I mean it
[clears throat] boils down to spending and uh these are taxpayers dollars and
that was just that's just a comment that I made about having a pile of reserves.
» Um we will get there one day.
Is there any >> office?
» Uh I just want to say thank you for adding some of the comments that I had
in there from the last presentation. And to me uh the old policy served
primarily as an an accounting admin procedure and the new policy establishes
a more strategic governance framework and aligns with our financial
management. Um
to me the new policy also um the reserve funding just doesn't
just because we have it doesn't mean we have to spend it. And I think the old
policy left that window open a little bit. Uh
this new policy clarifies that just because we have it we don't have to
spend it. I'm also
cautious that I We did it what two months ago we spent 1/8 of our reserve
in one meeting. Uh I do agree a little bit that we have to be careful as to how
much we have in reserves. But I do agree that
we can never have enough because we never know what's going to come down in
the future where we might have to spend a lot of money in heck of a hurry. So,
um, I like the new policy as presented and, uh, that ends my comments.
» Council Olsson, >> yeah, I would agree. We never know what
the future holds, but we do know that, uh, a lot of our the money that we're
able to put in reserves comes from linear and, uh, that isn't always going
to be there. Um, so I think we need to plan for that. plan for um I mean when
when we're uh you know abandoning more wells and we're drilling you know um we
have to be cogn of that and uh yeah I I wouldn't be in favor of
of uh giving you know uh rebates but uh I am in favor
of trying to keep tax down. Thanks
Counc. >> Yeah. I mean, I think it's good
conversation to have. For me, the best thing we can do for our rateayers is
keep our taxes as low as we can, potentially reduce them. I think that
would make a lot of people happy. Um, we've seen a lot of municipalities um
even not very far from us um face some infrastructure failure. So, I know I
always feel confident that we've done our due diligence and we're saving well
and being very mindful of that money. And as we've seen, we don't know what
the province is going to do. We've faced more downloading. I've experienced that
in the last five years. So yeah, I'm I'm very happy that we've been very
responsible and have that that nest egg because yeah, we don't know we don't
know what's going to happen. So yeah, thanks again. It was it's it's a good
policy or good. Thank you.
» Any other questions?
Councelor Hopkins. >> Uh, I move that council approve policy
16-1 reserves as presented. >> Any questions or concerns on that?
» All in favor? >> Carried.
» Thank you, council. >> Thank you.
» Let's go to 71.
We're good. >> 71 for the uh adoption of the 2026 2029
county strategic plan. >> Good morning, council. Thanks for
bringing this back to council to review the public here or the public
information we gathered while we advertised. Uh, as you recall, on June
9th, council passed a motion directing administration to publicly advertise the
draft strategic plan, invite feedback, and return for consideration. Today, we
did get quite a few hits on our advertisement, and we advertised in
quite a few places, as you've seen in the report, but we got about 16,000
advertisement views, which is quite amazing, and 190 people visited our
strategic plan, which is quite great for a small rural municipality. Um the
discussion was not significant in terms of requiring an addition or a changes to
our strategic plan but it was good feedback and it was aligned with where
council is going supporting practical and fiscal responsibility.
Um adding transparency and communication with residents through our quarterly
reports which is things that we're already going to be doing. And then of
course support for maintaining traditional service delivery alongside
digital services which we know is critically important to our residents
and recognizing one one rate pair did talk about the recognizing the long-term
economic sustainability and continued growth of our municipal assessment base.
We did get some good feedback but at the same time nothing that would require a
major rewrite of the strategic plan. So, if council's in agreement, I would
recommend that council adopt the 2026 to 2029 strategic plan as presented.
» Uh, when we got this information back, are these guys putting their names on? I
think they're not required to put their names on. Yeah.
» Okay. Because I mean, I see some stuff there. That's
really I don't even understand why it would be in here, but
Okay. Any other questions or concerns?
Councelor Coney now. >> Well, since I was the one that asked for
this to go to the public, I just want to thank administration and council for
allowing that to happen. And yeah, I think there was um quite a bit of
feedback like you mentioned. Um 190 folks visited the strat plan, which is
that's amazing to me because I actually didn't even expect that we'd get that
much. So, um I love the feedback. Not going to say I always agree with it, but
I'll always welcome people's opinions and I'll look at it and consider it. Um,
you know, as Zarie said, there's definitely some interesting comments. I
think a lot of it goes back to fiscal responsibility, which I think as a
council we could all say that's, you know, one of the top responsibilities
that we feel we have. Um, I I don't want to put Miss Cochran on the spot because
I don't know if we have, but there was comments made about um the cost of this.
And for me personally sitting here last term um and it's no slight on last
council but the decision was made last time to actually hire someone to
facilitate the strategic plan um there was a stay in red dear and and um cost
to that. So for me personally looking what we did last term to this term I
don't know what the exact cost difference would be but to me it would
be substantial. Um so I don't know if we have the exact to me this was a very
minimal cost. We did it in house. Um so um I I appreciate the feedback for
people but I just want to let them know that it was a very lowcost um
endeavor that we did. Um there's talk about um you know people somebody
mentioned about if we want economic development um we need to reassess
agriculture land. Well that doesn't fall under our purview. That's a provincial
um regulation. And you know, they a lot of people talked about the community
values and traditions and I and I think we all speak to that. Um I think this
was the one that talked about Oh yeah, the roads. Um 583, which I get a lot of
comments too. When are you going to fix 583? We don't take care of 583. And so
that's just communication too. And I I think um we did put that out on social
media last week too about which roads are our responsibilities and which are
provincial. So So again, it's just some education piece. Doesn't mean we can't
advocate. We always do advocate with Minister Duchian I think or we try to we
ask for meetings. So we can definitely look look at that and look at partnering
with the town of Three Hills to advocate for that. But yeah no I think it was
great. So yeah >> well the problem that I have with it is
because this isn't half this stuff that's coming back isn't from resident
or uh rape pairs that McNeel County. They're from the towns. They're from
everywhere. And I mean I don't put any credit in this one whatsoever. I There's
a couple there that uh had a you know without without taking everything for
the grain of salt. But I mean to sit there and and say that we got to lower
taxes or or or pay the farmers got to pay another more than $300 an acre that
tells me exactly where these guys are coming from and who they are. But uh
that being said, it is what it is. So >> yeah, go ahead. So, I I did dive down
the social media platform on this one and and I think majority we we actually
know where these came from. If you go to social media, the comments are public.
So, I mean, I'm just guessing, Miss Cochran, but I think there was maybe
just be a couple anonymous, but the majority um were from Nihill County. I
mean, I know people well enough that the a couple of the comments that came from
583 I know are Three Hills residents, but I would say the majority of the
comments did for sure come from Neihill County residents. Any
other discussion, concerns, council county?
» So, very good. >> Okay, you're good.
» We're good. >> I won't fight you. Okay. So, I will move
that council adopt the 2026 2029 Mihill County strategic plan as presented.
» Any other questions or concerns on the on the motion?
» All in favor? carried
7.2. We've been looking for this one for a
long time.
» Carolyn, is this you? >> It is me.
» Okay. Uh so before you today is the most recent draft of the uh copy of the
procedural bylaw including the proposed amendments. Council had an opportunity
to review these amendments at numerous meetings. Attachment A is included and
provides a detailed breakdown of the proposed changes to by line 1919 along
with the rationale for each amendment. Since the last update um there has been
an update on meetings by electronic means. Council directed administration
to amend the bylaw to remove location-based requirements for
electronic participation. Under the revised approach, members may
participate electronically regardless of their location. However, participation
is limited to a maximum of two consecutive regular council meetings
unless otherwise authorized by resolution of council. So, council has
the option today to pass third reading to this bylaw or make amendments to the
policy before um making the third reading. That concludes my report and
I'm happy to answer any questions you might have.
» Okay. Thanks. Any questions or concerns? I think we beat this one up to death.
» Um motion
council ro.
» Yeah. Um, I can make the motion that council
provide third reading and final rating to uh bylaw 1930
procedural bylaw.
Any questions or concerns on the motion? Any any any questions or concerns on the
motion? Any concerns or questions?
All in favor.
Let's take a 5m minute break at 10:44. Thanks.
Are we on? >> Okay, we're back at 10:55. Let's go to
7.3.
» Arboritum. >> The 7.3. Yeah, the grant request from
the Troer Arboritum. So, good morning council. Um, administration received an
application from the TroUan District Arboritum Society under the community
and event sponsorship grant category. Under this funding stream, applicants
are not they're they're not required to present to council. So, that's why you
didn't see them today um see them present today. Um, in terms of available
funding, the county has 70,000 budgeted for community and event sponsorship
requests in 2026. To date, 45,350 has been awarded to other projects. This
leaves a remaining balance of 24,650 available for funding requests. I'll
just bring up that pie chart that I bring up every um meeting when there's a
grant request. So, there is um 65% allocated already. Um 12% um are
applications and review. That includes the prairie request that we heard
earlier and the troer arburidum. I haven't received any new requests since
then and um the remaining um available is 23%.
So the county has provided to this organization in previous years. In 2025,
council approved $500 in funding and in 2024 council approved $1,112.
My understanding is that the 2024 was the first year this event was organized
by the Troshu and District Arburedum Society. Prior to that, the event was
organized by a group of local women in Troshu in the Troshue area and no
funding requests were made to the county prior to 2020 24. Um the application is
attached and provides an overview of the project. Council's options today are as
follows. uh approve the funding request in the amount requested, approve a
funding in a different amount or deny the request and receive the report for
information. That concludes my report and leave the matter with council for
discussion and direction.
Councelor Wilson. >> Sorry, Kieran. Uh, did you say we have
given to them in the in the past two years as well?
» 2025 and 2024. >> So 2025 we provided them $500 and in
2024 we provided them $1,112. >> Yeah, that's what I thought.
» So just to to clarify or maybe I'm getting mixed up, if we provided them
$1,000 last year, they couldn't get it this year
or is that the other grant? Um that was through a different funding source.
Yeah.
» Did it say anywhere where the town of Troy gave any money?
» Um they did. They provided them $500 in um
» advertising money.
So yeah, if we gave uh funding in previous like I thought we were we
needed to skip once in a while or is that correct?
Is that not in our funding? >> That's over a thousand. So
» that's over,000. >> So last year we gave him $500.
» Okay. >> Yeah.
» But it's a new funding stream this year. So um compared to last year
council
looking at me. Um, yeah. No, this is a great event. I I I don't know if it said
historically how many years. I know my my late mother-in-law used to be very
involved in it and and there is a lot of kids that go as well and they take their
flowers that they've grown or their baking that they've done. And so I think
it kind of encompasses, you know, all age levels. So it's a great event and
like um Miss Vander said it previously it was a group of women, local women
that took care of it and now the society has taken it over. So, um, with that
being said, I will make the motion that council approve funding in the amount of
$500 to the Troshu Arburedum Society to assist in the cost associated with
hosting the Chro Flower, Baking, and Photography Show.
» Any comments on the motion?
» All in favor? Car.
7.4. Four, removal of historic motions from council action items.
So, um, this is me again, and you know how much I love organizing and keeping
things clean. So, I'm bringing to you today u a report regarding the removal
of historical motions from the council action item list. U many of these
motions were passed prior to the current council term and several have remained
inactive for some time. In some cases, the motions no longer reflect the
priorities or direction of the current council. Rather than continuing to carry
these for items forward forever, administration is recommending that they
be removed from the action items list under the municipal government act,
council may resend or amend previous decisions by resolution. Uh the motions
administration is recommending for removal are as follows. Motion 123
slash25. This motion was passed prior to the
current council term. The matter has remained inactive for some time and
administration does not believe there is an intention to pursue it further. Um
the second motion 30325. Similarly, this motion was passed pri um
before the current council term and has been parked for an extended period
without further action. Motion 41125.
Um, this motion relates to uh council road tour. Uh, responsibility for
coordinating road tours now falls under the road committee. If council still
wishes to proceed with road tours in the future, administration re recommends
that this item be managed through that committee rather than remain on the
action item list. Um, motion 41525. This motion directed the 2026 2029
policy review schedule to the committee of the whole administration is currently
reviewing county policies and working to bring all policy reviews up to date. As
a general practice, policies should be reviewed at least once every four years.
This means that in theory each policy will come before a sitting council
during its term. If council wishes to review a specific policy sooner,
administration would be pleased to bring it forward at any time. Um, council has
several options today. One is remove all the motions identified in this report.
Uh, two, remove only selected motions from the list or receive the report for
information which would result in no changes being made to the current action
items list. That concludes my report. I will leave now. I'll leave the matter in
council's hands. >> Thank you.
Any discussion?
» Pretty simple, straightforward motion.
» Councelor Anderson, >> I'd like to move that we remove all
of the
all. See motion. 12325 motion 30325
motion 41125 motion 415/25
everyone's okay with the motion all in favor
uh 7.5 m county scholarship applications
This will be you again, Caroline. You're you're speaking quite quite a lot this
meeting.
There we are. Okay. So, good morning again. Today, I'm pleased to present the
2026 Nihill County scholarships. As you may know, each year Nihill County awards
two scholarships of $2,000 each to residents enrolled in post-secondary
institutions. This year we received six eligible applications from only two high
schools in our region. Um, every year we come up with a new essay question on the
application. This year, the essay question posed to the applicants was,
"What initiatives do you think a rural municipality like Nihill County could
take to better support youth in building meaningful careers and staying connected
to their community council, before we proceed, I'd like to
briefly explain why administration is recommending that the scholarship
applications be considered in close session. Uh the scholarship applications
contain personal information submitted by youth applicants including
educational information, personal statements, achievements, and other
identifying information that was provided to the county for the purpose
of evaluating scholarship eligibility. Under Albert Alberta's new legislative
framework including POPA and ATIA public bodies have highlight heightened
obligation to protect personal information and limit its disclosure to
only what is necessary for lawful purpose. While scholarship applications
may have been reviewed in open session in previous years, administration has
reviewed our practices as part of the county's privacy management program and
determined that discussing individual applications in a public meeting creates
a risk of unnecessary disclosure of personal information belonging to youth
applicants. U moving the discussion to close session
helps ensure the applicant's personal information remains protected and that
council can evaluate the applications fairly and respectfully without publicly
disclosing personal details and were pro that were provided in confidence.
Following council's discussion and decision, the scholarship recipients
will be announced publicly. However, the personal information contained within
the application themselves will remain protected. For these reasons,
administration recommends that council move into close session to discuss the
scholarship applications.
session. >> We can go into close session to discuss
this and then go on to the We can do itever way you want. We can um skip this
and go to the next agenda item. >> Let's do that.
» Close session and yeah, then we'll just have to come out and
come out. We're done for sure.
uh 8.1.
» Hi. >> Yeah. So, earlier today we heard from
the Prairie Christian Academy. Um they are requesting $7,500 in grant funding
to assist their play with their playground upgrades. The application
is before you. um provides an overview of the project and outlines the funding
being requested. Um in terms of available funding, the county has
$70,000 budgeted for these types of requests. To date, we have allocated
45,350 to other projects in 2026, leaving a remaining balance of 24,650.
Um the county has provided funding to this organization in the PA past.
Council approved a project in the mount of 25,000 in 2018 to build a sports
court and baseball diamonds and playground which you saw pictures of in
his presentation today. Council's options today are as follows. Approve
the funding in the amount requested, approve funding in a different amount or
deny the request and receive the item for information. That concludes my
report. I will need now leave it with council for discussion.
CA. >> Sorry. Um, our planning manager sent me
a message on this one. So, because they're part of the school board and the
school division, they could apply for reserve funding, school reserve funding
through the funding that we set aside for school reserves. So, there is
another option for funding for this project besides our community grants,
just as an FYI. And and we could follow up with them
should that be the the way that council chooses to go. Councelor
Olson.
» Um, so when we gave them money in 2018 for the playground equipment, did that
come out of that reserve funding or was it out of a grant?
» It was out of um it was a grant >> because we do this for most we do this
for most schools. >> Actually, no, it wasn't a community
grant. It was a um because they didn't really meet the eligibility of the
community grant application and council um just made a a motion taking it out of
reserves. >> Okay. And and and we do this quite often
for all schools withinities. Is that correct? Um well some like we've
we've like when they've built a new school um we've provided um other
schools with with funding like the Acme School received 100,000 um for their
gymnasium project um Troshu >> but I guess specifically playground
» for playgrounds we haven't really that was the only playground that we um
besides our own playgrounds in the hill county that we've really contributed
funs to >> that's That's why I wanted this to bring
this back to council again because this is getting convoluted. Too much money. I
mean I you know what I said before I'm not in favor of schools and or hospitals
getting this stuff. There's dollars and cents. We're already paying taxes there.
CEO. >> Thank you. Through the reef to all of
council. So the MGA on section 6712 covers the municipal school reserves and
how they can get funding for that. So, we do have funds set aside for school
use for applications for things like playgrounds, for sporting equipment, for
additions. Um, I've dealt with this a lot in previous roles in previous
governments here. I haven't seen too many applications come through, but we
do have a healthy reserve to support schools through that set aside funding
acquired by the province. And that's where they would have got the
funding the first time. I believe >> that reserve is required by the
province. >> Yes. Yes, I can get you all.
» How much do we So, sorry this is off topic, but I mean, how much does the
province require us to put into this? >> I will get you all the information on
the school reserves because every development has to set aside a portion,
but I'm not as familiar with our policy here, but we have they have set aside a
portion that goes into that reserve >> that supports schools funding in the
future. But I will >> Where is Where is that reserve at? Do we
have that? Oh, sorry. >> It's a healthy balance. We'll let
» But I'll get you the information. I'll bring it back.
» We'll bring that back and we'll need discussion on that, too, because you
know what? Here we go. >> Province's telling us what we we already
paying taxes and they're telling us we got to pay more.
» Yeah. Okay. Carrying on.
Any other questions?
motion.
Council Olsson. Yeah, I would uh make the motion that
council uh approve the grant request for
uh or approve the funding in the amount of 7500 to the Prairie Christian Academy
for as to assist in costs associated with uh
sorry um I removed that uh motion just based on
uh I think we need to find out for a different that there might be that
different form of funding. Sorry. So I >> uh yeah instead I remove the motion and
I would like to table uh funding this possibly or getting
information on the education
funding of schools and sources. Yeah, because we may want to do this. Um,
yeah. So, table it to next meeting.
» Yeah, >> that's good. Okay, thank you.
» So, does that have to be a motion? Okay. >> Okay. Sorry.
Okay. I will continue. Um, I make the motion
the council defer this agenda item and request administration bring back
further information to the August 21st, 2026 meeting
» clarification. That should be the 25th.
» 21st is a Friday >> for Do I have to say it again?
» No. >> Okay. August 25th. Thank you.
Everybody's okay with the motion. All in favor? Oh, pardon me.
» Yeah. No, just and this isn't a comment or wouldn't be part of the motion, but
um I would really encourage them as well to um go to the town of Three Hills as
well and uh submit a funding request from them as well.
» Councelor Hopkins. >> Yeah. And one more to that. I know
there's lots of uh other funding avenues that they can approach as well. Like we
do have the grant writer that has been able to be quite successful in quite a
few grants. So, uh that's another option for them. Um that that might work too.
So, just be prepared.
» I do believe that this organization has gone to the grant writer and the grant
writer did suggest that we have grant funding available and to apply here as
well
everybody. Okay. All in favor.
Let's go to council and committee uh reports.
» Well, we only have division five always. [clears throat]
Oh, okay. >> Five, one, and four.
» Oh, all right then. Let's start. Let's start with division five.
» Let's just set the tone right off the top. Yeah. Yeah.
» I'm on a time limit. Yeah. No, actually pretty quick and simple for me. Um yeah,
just July 1 attended the Busy Bee breakfast um that they do there. Uh it's
a fundraiser and um all the funds raised go to the food bank. So that was
awesome. Um and then I had a quick pickup and and off went to the Chro
Parade, so that was great. Um I know councelor Hoppins was there with the
Troy Fire Department and yeah, Troshi just knocks it out of the park every
year. So kudos to them. Great parade, well attended, awesome. So, uh, July
11th, uh, was a Three Hills parade, and I just want to say thanks to CEO Cochran
for attending. I had a great driver from Nihill County that I was able to meet
that day. So, thank you to him. And I had two really awesome young pals from
division five that I recruited to come help throw candy and they did an
excellent job and they're on retainer for next year. So, that was great. And
again, Three Hills House does a great job chamber with the kids carnival and
everything, music in the park and yeah, just a great day. So good to see people
gather and be together and yeah, have fun. So um and then July 13th, um I did
attend the Troer housing meeting. Um councelor Hopkins was away. Um maybe
we'll bring some minutes forward with that when they come to us, but basically
the same same messaging on time, on budget, and they're moving forward with
things. So I think they're planning another site tour I think in about
September. So if anybody's interested um it is it is worth a worth a tour there
because yeah for me personally I can't look at the plans and see what it's
going to look like. So to actually be on site it's pretty pretty amazing. And
yeah July 14th uh we had an FCSS meeting and uh we are making some progress on
our multi-municipal agreement. Um, I think we're getting close and uh they've
been hosting camps and they've all been full. So, they've been doing lots of fun
things this summer. So, yeah, that's it for me.
» Thank you,
» Council Anderson. >> Division One, uh, I attended the 100th
anniversary of the the Hescus of uh, Paul and uh, it was a fun event. Lots of
history, lots of pictures. uh some amazing stories about the town. I never
realized Hesus had as much history as it did. Uh I mean
they went through it all. They had they had hotels, they had everything. U and
uh but I did was asked to thank the council for the $7,000 that they
received and they put the money to good use. Believe you me, I saw the old
chairs in that hall and you didn't want to sit down in them. The chair new
chairs were much more comfortable. So it was well spent and anyhow they want to
express that gratitude for that.
» Yep. Council. >> Yeah. I just that's so awesome that you
attended that and what a great event and I'm just wondering if that's another
thing maybe miss Cochran that we could put on our social media because I
noticed not noted when we did the ghost pine one. Um, people just love that and
people love to see the events that are going on and the history of the county.
So, I think that would be a great one to include as well.
» Councelor Olson. >> Yeah, I just uh
uh attended the uh Silver Willow's 50th anniversary on July 11th. Uh, it was
most of the day. Uh they had bands, they had uh pancake breakfast, hot dog, steak
dinner at the end. Um which was uh to all help uh benefit the
Silver Willows uh Seniors Association. It was a great event. And uh shout out
also to the Brook Haven uh bar and restaurant there for helping uh put the
event in front of the bar there because uh of the construction that we had uh on
the laneway. It was kind of closed off there. So it was just brought out and it
was just they they just helped the seniors uh Silver Willows Association
there so much. So I just wanted to give them a shout out. Um, yeah, it was a
great day. Other than that, uh, attended the, uh,
ASB summer tour this last week in Strath, well, Weedland County. They put
on a an act a great, uh, summer tour. Uh, we toured lots of different farming,
agriculture, uh, areas. And uh I guess uh one that
stuck out to me was the solar sheep uh where they were grazing uh the sheep
under the solar project there just uh south and uh east of town there. So um I
was actually surprised at uh the amount of growth they could get under those
panels. So there was some interesting information there. So no, all in all uh
it was uh I thought they they made a great event and uh got some useful
information there. So, thanks. Thank you. Any other
We lead pretty boring lives the rest of us.
» Okay, let's go to number 10. Council followup action list. Has everybody had
a chance to look at it? I didn't see anything pressing on it. Unless you
wanted to have a quick look at >> counc. Yeah, not pressing, but I noticed
uh motion 9226 about the information on the newsletter that it was going to come
back in July. We're probably going to be looking for that in August now, I'm
guessing. Yeah. Okay.
Everybody okay with it? Every action list. Okay.
We better get into close session.
» Council Hopkins, >> I move into close session at 11:22.
» Okay.
Okay, we're out of uh close session at 12:54.
Uh motions from
» pardon me, Councelor Penner. I would move I would make the motion that
council move forward on the order to remedy contraventions
at a maximum cost of $60,000 and the costs added to the tax role number 322
6344 39 0.
Everyone's okay with the motion. Any concerns? All in favor? council
cleaning up. I will make the motion that council award the 2026 Nihil County
scholarship in the amount of $2,000 each to Shelby Pipky and Riet.
» Any concerns, questions? Councelor Hopkins,
» I just want to say in regards to the scholarship, um there were some pretty
good essays and letters of reference and just want to say thanks to those that uh
submitted and uh congratulations to the two winners. Thank you.
» We have to stay till >> No. Thank you, councelor Hops, because I
have to say this is one of the hardest things that I do every year. And it it
actually when I read these essays, it gives me great hope for for the future
and and for uh Nihill County. Some some it's just so hard to decide and like you
say, good job to everybody. >> All in favor?
» Carried.
Do we have any other comments or questions prior to adjournment or
anything? Councelor Cunningham.
Oh, good. Okay, let's adjourn.