At the regular Lacombe County Council Meeting held on August 22nd some of the topics discussed included Medicine Lodge Ski Club, Mirror Library, and the annual appointment of auditors.
Here are the highlights as provided by Lacombe County:
LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR MEDICINE LODGE SKI CLUB
Lacombe County will provide the Medicine Lodge Ski Club with a letter of support regarding its application for grant funding through the Alberta Active Communities Initiative to upgrade the ski lifts at Medicine Lodge Ski Hill.
ANNUAL APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS FOR 2024
Council approved the appointment of BDO Canada LLP as Lacombe County’s auditors for the 2024 fiscal year, at an estimated cost of $78,126.50.
PROPERTY TAX CANCELLATION REQUEST
A motion that Lacombe County cancels $42,000 of the 2024 property tax levied on tax account # 3927232040, and further, that Council cancel the entire 2025 tax levy for the same tax account, estimated at $101,000, did not receive Council approval.
RC(1) RECREATION CAPITAL FUNDING REQUEST – MIRROR LIBRARY
By resolution of Council, Lacombe County will contribute up to $3,250 to the Friends of Mirror Library Society’s water line replacement project. The contribution will be funded from the County’s Recreation Capital Assistance Reserve.
UTILITIES EMERGENCY SANITARY SEWER REPAIRS – HAMLET OF MIRROR
The County Manager was authorized to complete upgrades to the Mirror 46th Street sanitary sewer system at a cost of $47,197.48. The repairs will be funded from the Hamlet of Mirror Utility Reserve.
AUC CONSULTATION ON RULE 007
The Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) is reviewing Rule 007: Applications for Power Plants, Substations, Transmission Lines, Industrial System Designations, Hydro Developments, and Gas Utility Pipelines and initiated a series of consultations on specific topics. Interested parties have been invited to provide input through email to the AUC.
Council endorsed a draft response to the AUC Consultation on Rule 007. The response will be submitted to the AUC, via email, on behalf of Lacombe County.
OPPORTUNITY FOR MEETING WITH MINISTER OF MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS
The County Manager was directed to submit a request for Council to meet with the Honourable Ric McIver, Minister of Municipal Affairs during the 2024 RMA Fall Convention. Discussion topics for the meeting will include:
1. Energy Industry and Municipalities
a. Ministerial Order 43/2023;
b. Mature Asset Strategy;
c. Assessment Model Review;
d. Premier’s review of the AER; and
e. Subsidization of the energy industry from municipal revenues.
2. AUC decisions re: solar facilities
3. Impact on municipalities from the deteriorated condition of provincial roads.
RMA MEMBER ADVOCACY REQUEST: POSSIBLE RAIL WORK STOPPAGE
Due to a breakdown in negotiations between CPKC and CN and the union representing rail workers, a nationwide rail work stoppage has recently occurred. In response to a request from Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA), Lacombe County will send a letter to the Honourable Steven MacKinnon, Federal Minister of Labour, calling on him to implement binding arbitration to resolve the dispute and emphasizing the local risks and impacts that the rail work stoppage will have on the rural economy and communities.
GULL LAKE REGIONAL MASTER DRAINAGE FEASIBILITY STUDY
Bruce Rout provided Council with a presentation regarding the proposed subject study and a request to participate in an Alberta Community Partnership grant application with Ponoka County. The presentation was received for information and the County Manager was directed to provide a report and recommendation regarding the request for consideration at a future Council meeting.