[0:36] Regular council meeting of September 8, 2026 to order. We have an agenda in front of us, Mr. Coleman. Are there any additions or deletions? No changes from administration, Madam Chair. Thank you very much. Looking for someone to move it. Thank you, Councillor. A blaser will move the agenda is presented all in favor. The unanimous moving on to our minutes from our August 25, 2026 regular council meeting. Councillor Lewis will move those as presented. Are there any comments, questions, errors, or omissions?

[1:06] in those. I am seeing no hands, so I will call the question all in favor.

[1:14] For number four on our agenda is always an opportunity for public to address

[1:19] county council on an item that is not on the agenda. I am looking, we have no

[1:24] one who is not administration in county chambers right now, so we have no one with

[1:30] that presentations will move on to 5a1, which is protective services, two proclamations,

[1:39] first one being rail safety week. Mr. Bennett, the floor is yours.

[1:44] Thank you, Madam Chair. Today I'm bringing forward two proclamations.

[1:49] The first being 2026 rail safety week. Rail safety week is to be held across Canada from

[1:57] from September 21st to the 27th, 2026.

[2:01] 252 rail crossings and trespassing incidents occurred

[2:05] in Canada in 2025, resulting in 69 avoidable fatalities

[2:10] and 60 avoidable serious injury incidents.

[2:15] Educating and informing the public about rail safety

[2:17] will reduce the number of avoidable fatalities and injuries

[2:20] caused by incidents involving trains and citizens.

[2:24] a reminder to the public that railway right of ways are private property the

[2:30] engagement or sorry the enhancement of public and the engagement of public

[2:34] awareness around these dangers associated with highway rail crossings

[2:38] ensures pedestrians and motorists are looking and listening while near railways

[2:43] and obeying established traffic laws. Life Saver is a public private

[2:50] partnership whose aim is to work with the public rail industry and

[2:54] and governments, police services, and media to raise rail safety awareness.

[3:03] So I have the proclamation here for you if you have no other questions.

[3:08] Thank you very much.

[3:09] Any comments or questions on the recommendation to proclaim rail safety week?

[3:15] If not, I need someone to make the motion.

[3:18] Councillor Scoby,

[3:29] thank you very much.

[3:30] debate on the motion. Seeing none, all in favor? That is unanimous. And with that, I will read

[3:36] the proclamation. So whereas rail safety week is to be held across Canada from September 21st to

[3:43] 27th, 2026, whereas 252 railway crossing and trespassing incidents occurred in Canada in 2025,

[3:52] resulting in 69 avoidable fatalities and 60 avoidable serious injuries. And whereas educating

[3:59] and informing the public about rail safety,

[4:02] reminding the public that railway right-of-ways

[4:05] are private property, enhancing public awareness

[4:08] of the dangers associated with railway highway rail

[4:13] grade crossings, ensuring pedestrians and motorists

[4:16] are looking and listening while near railways,

[4:18] and obeying established traffic laws will reduce.

[4:22] The number of avoidable fatalities and injuries

[4:24] caused by incidents involving trains and citizens

[4:27] And whereas Operation Life Saver is a public, private partnership whose aim is to work

[4:34] with the public, railway industry, governments, indigenous communities, police services,

[4:39] media, and others to raise rail safety awareness.

[4:42] And whereas CN and Operation Life Saver have requested that Council adopt this resolution

[4:49] and support of its ongoing efforts to raise awareness, save lives, and prevent injuries

[4:54] and communities including our municipality.

[4:55] the municipality. So now therefore on behalf of council, I'm

[4:58] Mayor Tania Blanco of Ladouc County do hereby proclaim September 21st, 27, 2026 as

[5:05] rail safety week in Ladouc County. Thank you.

[5:11] Thank you. The next proclamation being brought forward today is fire prevention week safe with

[5:21] But the moniker this year of safe charging is a super power.

[5:26] Very similar to last year's, but they're really trying to drive the lithium ion,

[5:33] battery, charging, and hazards associated with that.

[5:38] So, Ludu County Fire Services has submitted a request for

[5:42] Ludu County to proclaim the week of October 4th to 10th as Fire Prevention Week.

[5:47] week. The National Fire Protection Association has announced the charge into fire safety is

[5:54] a superpower as the theme for fire prevention week, which takes place in October. This

[6:01] theme works to educate everybody about using and the safe charging of these batteries. The

[6:07] campaign stresses how important it is to buy, charge, and recycle safely with the MI on

[6:13] batteries. With the help and dedication of our commited firefighters, school staff,

[6:18] Laduk County Fire Services will be scheduled and organized presentations during Fire

[6:23] Prevention Week with messaging themed around charging to fire safety. Safe charging is a

[6:30] super power in the Thorsby Elementary Schools, the Kalmer Elementary Schools, New Humble Elementary

[6:36] School, Covenant Christian and New SREP to Elementary Schools.

[6:40] can to garden to grade six will be visited by our firefighters reaching an

[6:44] estimate of 1,200 children to teach them about fire safety.

[6:49] Ludwig County this is the policy proclamation policy provides the

[6:53] opportunity to recognize initiatives. Is there any questions about fire

[6:57] prevention week this year? I don't have a question about fire prevention week but

[7:03] if you could just share with all of us what is the safe disposal of a lithium

[7:09] on battery. So if you notice any deformation, you're bulging batteries. If your batteries

[7:20] are getting hot, if there's orders coming off of those batteries, please remove them from

[7:26] your house immediately. Okay. Get them outside away from anything else that could catch fire.

[7:33] Call 911 if that happens, we will respond if you have that type of a situation.

[7:40] If you're just disposing of a battery that's still in good condition, but it needs to be

[7:44] disposed of, there are various eco-stations in around the region that will accept those

[7:52] don't place them in your garbage can to send them to the landfill, please.

[7:57] Thank you very much, just a reminder for everyone about how to manage those and thank you

[8:04] for the little bit on if your battery looks like it might be overheating or is deformed

[8:09] and not working properly.

[8:11] So with that I would like someone to make the motion for the Proclamation for Fire Safety

[8:16] Week, Councillor Thomas.

[8:17] Thank you.

[8:18] I'd like to move the council proclaims the week, October 4th to the 10th, 2026, as Fire

[8:24] Prevention Week.

[8:25] with that. Any comments, questions or debate? Seeing none, all in favor?

[8:30] Let's unanimous and here is the proclamation. Whereas Fire Prevention Week is

[8:35] to be held across Canada October 4th to 10th, 2026, whereas the 2026 Fire

[8:41] Prevention Week theme charge into fire safety. Safe charging is a super power

[8:46] service to remind us of the importance of using and charging and the charging of

[8:50] these batteries. And whereas fire remains a serious public safety concern both

[8:55] locally and nationally. And the presence of lithium ion batteries in many household devices

[9:00] introduces unique fire risks. And whereas most of the electronics used in homes daily including

[9:07] smartphones, tablets, laptops, power tools, e-bikes, e-scooters, and toys, powered by lithium ion

[9:15] batteries, which if misused, damaged or improperly charged, can overheat, start a fire or explode.

[9:23] whereas Ladoo County residents should follow three key calls to action, by only listed products, charge batteries safely, and recycle them responsibly to prevent battery-related fires, whereas lithium ion batteries store a large amount of energy in a small space and improper use such as overcharging using off-brand chargers without safety certification or exposing batteries to damage can result in a fire explosion.

[9:52] and whereas the proper disposal and recycling of lithium ion batteries help prevent environmental

[9:58] hazards and reduce fire risks in home and in the community, whereas Laduk Fire Services

[10:05] first responders are dedicated to reducing the occurrence of home fires and fire injuries

[10:10] through prevention and protection, education, on behalf of Council, I'm Mayor Tenida Blanco

[10:16] of Laduk County, do hereby proclaim the week of October 4th to 10th, 2026, to be Fire

[10:22] Prevention Week in Laduk County. Thank you very much and thank you again for the

[10:27] reminders of how to manage our lithium ion batteries. Thank you. Thank you. With that we are

[10:36] going to move down to five which is planning and development, long-range planning, five

[10:42] be one inter-municipal collaboration frameworks with Camero's County and

[10:46] Mattaskin County and we have Ms. Bismarr. Welcome.

[11:01] Ms. Bismarr, if you could pop

[11:02] your yep. Should I start over or? Please, okay, got caught. Good afternoon, Council. We

[11:10] are here today to recommend that Council formally acknowledge that inter-municipal

[11:14] collaboration frameworks with Camero's County and the County of

[11:18] of Wattascoin are no longer required

[11:20] and the existing ICFs be revoked.

[11:24] Laduc County collaborated with the County of Wattascoin

[11:27] and Cameroos County to repeal the inter- municipal

[11:30] development plans they created in 2018.

[11:34] At that time inter- municipal collaboration frameworks

[11:37] were still required, so they were reviewed

[11:40] and updated in 2022.

[11:43] The most recent legislation allows counties

[11:45] with common boundaries to determine and agree

[11:48] that they do not require an ICF.

[11:51] Administration's determined that the ICF between Lidoo County and Cameroos County and

[11:55] the ICF between Lidoo County and the County of Wattaskoen are no longer required.

[12:01] Cameroos County passed their motion on July 14th and the County of Wattaskoen passed their motion on September 1st.

[12:09] We are here today to recommend that Council pass similar motions to agree that the

[12:14] the inter-municipal services are addressed through other means and to revoke the 2022 ICFs.

[12:21] Thank you very much. Any questions on the ICFs with Cameroos County or with Taskroom County?

[12:30] If not, someone could put the motion on the floor. Councilor Boehner, well, thank you.

[12:35] Oh, could you put your microphone on the...

[12:37] Thank you, sir.

[12:38] Microphone.

[12:40] Thank you, sir.

[12:42] I move the letter county pursuant to the Municipal Government Act Section 708.28.

[12:48] Ops out of an Interminisable Collaboration Framework ICF with cameras County as it is mutually agreed that the Interminisable Services are addressed through other means that the ICF dated 2022 be revoked.

[13:03] Thank you. Well, just we'll work on that one first. I'll ask you to read the second one in a minute. Go ahead, Councillors.

[13:11] Thank you. Just a question. Sometimes there's changes. Are these ever going to be brought back that you can see?

[13:16] Will these be kept on a shelf or at least kept in files so that if we have to recreate them, we have them.

[13:23] We would keep them in our records, but if they were brought back, they would be due for review and things could have changed.

[13:30] So we would be going through and basically redoing them, but as far as we know, the legislation

[13:37] isn't going to change back.

[13:39] Thank you.

[13:40] All right.

[13:41] Any other questions?

[13:43] I'm seeing none.

[13:44] All in favor?

[13:46] Thank you.

[13:47] And on to the task when county, please, Councillor Beenert.

[13:53] I move that the little county pursuant to the municipal government act section 708 subsection

[13:59] and 2-8 opts out of an inter-municipal collaboration framework, ICF, with the county VTASCO number

[14:06] 10 as it is mutually agreed that the inter-municipal services are addressed through other means

[14:12] and that the ICF dated 2022 be revoked.

[14:15] Thank you very much.

[14:17] Thank you for the information, Ms. Visbar, about the other municipalities agreeing to this

[14:21] and already passing motions on that.

[14:24] So we are just agreeing with our neighbors any further comments or questions.

[14:28] done all in favor. Thank you very much. Thank you. Moving forward to 5C which is Finance Assessment and Land Management.

[14:41] 5C1 we have established 2026 tax sale day and Mr. Arnt, you're taking that one? Yes I am.

[14:53] Good afternoon Madam Mayor and Council.

[15:03] Page 20, I'll start that.

[15:11] In accordance with the MGA, each year administration follows a process to offer any parcel of land, shown on its tax

[15:17] rears list for sale at a public auction. If the rears are not paid. And a rears list must be submitted annually to the registrar. On March 31, 2025, there were 34 tax

[15:30] notifications placed on properties.

[15:32] If the rears are not paid by March 31st of the following year,

[15:36] this means that taxes would have not been paid for

[15:40] the third year, going on the third.

[15:42] The county will offer the parcel for sale at a public auction

[15:46] if the rears are not paid by the date of the sale.

[15:51] Administration completes the following requirements

[15:53] as outlined by the MGA.

[15:55] Registered letters are sent out to all parties listed on the title.

[15:59] Advertising must occur in the Alberta Gazette

[16:01] and they're very specific in the days,

[16:03] number of days between.

[16:06] An advertisement will be placed in the October

[16:08] and November editions of the County Chronicle.

[16:11] And a copy of the advertisement will be sent

[16:13] to the owner of the parcel of land

[16:14] and any person who has an interest listed on the title.

[16:18] Administration will actively work with land owners

[16:20] throughout the year to clear up outstanding balances

[16:23] so that properties can be removed from the tax sale list

[16:25] before tax the tax sale date.

[16:27] It is definitely not administration's intent

[16:29] to take this to tax sales, so we do everything in our means to collect, and it also helps not pass that burden on to tax payers that are paid.

[16:41] Thank you.

[16:42] Administration's recommendation is that Council establishes the tax sale date for Wednesday, November 9th, 2026 at 10am at the county center.

[16:52] Thank you very much. Any questions? Councillor Lewis.

[16:54] Yes, thank you.

[16:55] Seeing that there was 34 notifications, is that an average of what we see every year?

[17:00] And I know they probably get significantly reduced at some point.

[17:04] It starts out high.

[17:05] I would say that's average.

[17:06] I believe we're down to three currently.

[17:10] Go ahead, Councillor Scoby.

[17:14] Do these tax areas include like oil facilities, oil companies and stuff that are in

[17:23] it rears on gas plant sites and leases and whatever that they haven't paid taxes on.

[17:30] They do not include those ones. Those are through a different, I don't believe we have

[17:35] the same means to recover those taxes.

[17:42] And I just to reiterate, this is anyone with more than two years, right?

[17:49] And I assume that we work hard and I heard you say that to contact the owner, sometimes

[17:56] Sometimes the owners aren't local, sometimes the business has changed hands.

[17:59] We hear that a lot when people want a break on their tax penalties.

[18:05] So I appreciate the work that goes into ensuring that people are aware of it.

[18:10] And hoping that we don't have anybody having to come forward for tax date in November.

[18:17] With that looking for someone to make the motion for tax date, go ahead, Councilor Lewis.

[18:21] I recommend that council establishes the tax sale date for Wednesday, November 9th, 2026 at 10 a.m. at county center.

[18:29] Thank you. Any further comments? Questions?

[18:33] Debate. None. All in favor?

[18:35] That's it. Thank you very much. Thank you.

[18:39] 5c2 is a report from a previous last

[18:45] last council meeting that's been brought forward, name change from corporate identity

[18:50] to individual purchase of a lot, sorry, Laduke County Lot, Ms. Fandrick, the floor is yours.

[18:57] Good afternoon, Madam Mayor Council. I have a recommendation for a name change from a

[19:03] corporate entry to individual for the purchase of the County Lot and Rockcrest Estates.

[19:09] Recommendation is that Council approves the request to change the name of the successful

[19:13] Successful bidder for the LeDuke County property located in Rockcrest, Estates, plans 07-2-4-7-9-7.

[19:21] Lock-1-Lot-11 from SAM, Sandu computers to Ram Singh and Sarah Jeet Singh-Sandu for the sale and construction agreement and registration of title.

[19:32] Ram Singh and Sarah Beet Singh-Sandu have requested that the purchase name on the sales and construction agreement and the Alberta Landtotal registration be changed from their

[19:43] corporate energy, some computers to their individual names for financing purposes.

[19:48] Thank you.

[19:49] Any questions for Ms. Fanderk?

[19:52] Go ahead, Councillor Rose.

[19:53] Thank you.

[19:54] Is there a fee to change this?

[19:55] And if so, is it the new landowner that pays that?

[19:59] No.

[20:00] We have not registered, titled to the new owners as we have to wait for the registration of the

[20:06] road allowance on the property.

[20:08] So that was just completed about three weeks ago.

[20:11] So we're just trying to finalize the purchase agreement for September 28th.

[20:17] Councillor Birdie?

[20:19] Do we know why they use the corporate entity versus personal when they made the submission

[20:24] in the first place and B doesn't matter?

[20:27] I talk to our lawyer and it doesn't matter.

[20:30] I'm not sure why they use the corporate name when they put in the bid for the lot.

[20:35] However, now that they want to get a mortgage on the property, they will have to use their

[20:39] personal names.

[20:39] Okay. You had my question, Councillor Verde, so that's been asked and answered. So then

[20:47] looking for someone, if there's no more questions to move the motion,

[20:53] Councillor Verde, go

[20:54] ahead.

[20:57] I recommend that Council approve the request

[20:59] to change the name of the successful bidder for the Lidoo County property located in Rockcress

[21:03] State's plan 0724797 block 1, law 11, from Sam Sandu computers to Ram Singh and Sargeet

[21:11] Singh Sandu for the sale and construction agreement and registration of title.

[21:16] Okay, thank you very much. Ms. Fanderke, thank you very much for checking this with our legal

[21:22] department to ensure that we are proceeding above board in a legal fashion. So thank you for

[21:28] that. Motion is on the floor. All in favor. That is unanimous. Thank you very much. And with

[21:35] With that at 151, I will adjourn our September 8 council meeting.

[21:42] Thank you very much for joining us today.

Council meeting

Transcript