County of Grande Prairie Council meeting highlights

Cemetery Improvement:

Bethel Church Cemetery – $5,000
Halcourt Cemetery – $5,000
Hythe Cemetery – $5,000
Immanuel Lutheran Church Cemetery – $4,315.50
Riverview Cemetery – $5,000
Spring Creek Cemetery – $2,604
St Andrew – $5,000
St John’s Lutheran Church Cemetery – $5,000
Webster Cemetery – $5,000

Council also approved $40,724.95 for the Crosslink County Sportsplex as an emergency replacement of a ventless fryer and standard fryer in the Overtime lounge is needed. $7,000 in emergency funds was provided to the Twilight Club of La Glace aswell.

During the meeting, Council provided a letter of support, as requested by the City of Grande Prairie and the Grande Prairie Local Immigration Partnership (GPLIP), to the federal Minister of Immigration, in regards to biometric screening services becoming available in the region.

Council also voted to take no action on the Alberta Municipalities’ regular membership presentation.

In regards to bylaw readings; Council gave a third reading to bylaw 2680-24-018, which would redesignate 2.85 hectares of land located on the southwest border of Sexsmith, from the Agricultural District (AG) to the Rural Medium Industrial (RM-2) District.

First reading was also given on Bylaw 3232 – Maskwa Medical Facility Lending Bylaw and Bylaw 3231 – Maskwa Medical Facility Borrowing Bylaw. Council directed administration to continue working with the Maskwa Medical Centre to develop a proposed loan agreement, with the bylaw to come back to Council for further consideration.

Finally, Council gave a third reading and approval to the Intermunicpal Development Plan Bylaw 3227 between the Town of Beaverlodge and the County of Grande Prairie.

Policy F10- A Council and Board Honoraria and Expense Reimbursement was approved by Council during the meeting, with one amendment. This policy will now also cover meetings with local interest groups by invitation from the County Manager.

The meeting also saw Council direct administration to change the Council mileage for travel to and from meetings from a taxable to a non-taxable expense, dating back to January 1 of this year, and to bring more policies for amendments to future meetings.

The meeting wrapped up with some County staffing announcements. The first was the appointment of Development Officer Sam Love, under the County’s Land Use Bylaw and a Subdivision Officer under the Subdivision Authority Bylaw.

The second was Council introducing and welcoming some new and returning staff members:

Cash Control Department – Lyndie Ruthven as Temporary Account Clerk, Jacob Cassidy as Temporary Tax Clerk, and new employees Sheila Wendt and Bridget Basnett as Temporary Customer Service Representatives, and Brandon Bulford as Temporary Accounting Clerk.
Family and Community Support Services – Sierra LaValley as the returning Summer Programs Coordinator and Austen Fraser as the new Summer Programs Assistant.
Transportation and Utilities – Luc LeBlanc as the new Asset Information Technician, and Clinton Hujdic and Will Cooper as Seasonal Heavy Equipment Operators.

The next regular Council meeting is scheduled for June 24, with the next Committee of the Whole meeting set for July 30.

by Tanner Smith

County of Grande Prairie Council meeting highlights

Operating Assistance:

Cemetery Improvement:

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