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County of Grande Prairie (Image Credit: County of Grande Prairie)
By Tanner Smith
County of GP

County Council funding cellular upgrade, 75th anniversary, roads & trails

May 5, 2026 | 1:30 PM

County of Grande Prairie Council held its regular meeting yesterday (Monday, May 4).

Of the topics discussed Council approved a cellular connectivity upgrade at Evergreen Park, and has approved $63,978 in funding to the Grande Prairie Regional Agricultural and Exhibition Society, “in the event that external funding does not fully cover the remaining project costs.”

County Council approved funding for multiple road and trail projects; Up to $352,394 was allocated to a rural road construction project, ” to construct a rural road with four approaches for the undeveloped portion of land on Township Road 711A, west of Range Road 64.”

An estimated $254,183 tender request was approved for the Wapiti Bridge Trail Connector project, “including the construction of a gravel pad parking lot.”

Dr. Peter Holmes $3,000 grant application was also approved by Council; these funds are now to be used to help support his practice at the Family Medicine Associates Clinic in Grande Prairie

Council also authorized administration “to accept and allocate secured sponsorship funding to the total cost” of it’s upcoming 75th anniversary celebration, taking place at the end of August at Evergreen Park.

Full list of all Council highlights:

2026 Forest Resource Improvement Association of Alberta Agreement Signed — Council directed Administration to enter into an agreement with the Forest Resource Improvement Association of Alberta (FRIAA) under the Community Fireguard Program to complete the fireguards south of Township Road 704A, as identified in the County’s 2025 Wildfire Mitigation Strategy, with $20,250 in in-kind contributions, and funding for consultant services and Indigenous and community engagement costs of $79,750, subject to FRIAA project approval.

 

The County of Grande Prairie also entered into an agreement with FRIAA for the FireSmart™ Media and Community Education Grant for $21,650 and in-kind contribution of $10,480.

 

Next Steps: Teepee Creek Water Well Drilling — Council directed Administration to provide residents with legal notice of Teepee Creek’s centralized water system being decommissioned, effective December 31, 2026. To replace the hamlet’s water, independent water wells will be drilled for the nine eligible service locations, with costs paid for by the County. Administration will secure pricing with well drilling companies and will host an information session with the 11 affected landowners by June 10, 2026.

 

Council set a deadline of November 30, 2027, for construction and occupation of the new home development located at 9910 101 Avenue, Teepee Creek, and the completed redevelopment / development at 10002 100 Avenue, Teepee Creek, in order to be included in the Teepee Creek Water Drilling project.

 

Data Sources for Landfill and Transfer Station Setback Locations — Council directed Administration to adopt the landfill footprints from the Alberta Open Government Portal and the Historic Municipal Landfills dataset. In instances where no portal data exists, use County records, current footprints, or operating boundaries to apply setbacks based on the portion of the land used for landfill activities and active transfer stations.

 

Residential Waste Cart Collection Program — Council directed Administration to include Flyingshot Lake Estates in the County’s Residential Waste Collection Program.

 

Free Licensing Encouraged for Livestock Guardian Dogs — Council directed Administration to take no further action on Bylaw #3032 — Animal Control Bylaw. Microchipping or GPS tracking for livestock guardian dogs will not be required. Livestock producers are encouraged to use the County’s current free licensing system.

 

Clairmont Encroachments — Council took no action on the request for the County to enter into an encroachment agreement with the landowner on 96 Street in the Hamlet of Clairmont for structures that are encroaching upon the road allowance, and to notify the landowner that the encroachments will need to be removed.

 

Cement Pad for Summer and Winter Activities — Council directed Administration to explore a site in Whispering Ridge subdivision and Clairmont for a cement pad, for summer recreation and winter skating.

 

Rural Renewal Stream Program Update — Council directed Administration to resume the County of Grande Prairie’s participation in the Rural Renewal Stream under the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program on a more limited basis, allowing eligible employers to apply until July 31, 2026, and to submit eligible employee applications as per the guidelines by September 30, 2026.

 

Teepee Creek Firehall Borrowing Bylaw — Council gave third and final reading to Bylaw #3263 — Teepee Creek Firehall Borrowing Bylaw.

 

Rescinding of Village of Hythe Land Use Bylaw — Council gave third and final reading to Bylaw #3282 — Rescinding of Village of Hythe Land Use Bylaw and Amendments thereto Bylaw. The rescinding of the outstanding Village of Hythe bylaws is a part of Hythe’s integration process into the County.

 

Flag Protocol — Council postponed a decision on Policy and Procedure B18 – Flag Protocol to allow Administration to provide further information.

 

Collection of Unpaid Property Taxes — Council approved Policy C13 – Collection of Outstanding Receivables as presented and directed Administration to send unpaid property taxes, except those related to land, to the collection agency. Administration will bring a report back to a future Committee of the Whole meeting in a years’ time.

 

Safety Codes Permit Policy Updated — Council directed Administration to replace the title of Director of Planning and Development to County Manager/Chief Administrative Officer in Policy M1 — Safety Codes Permit.

 

Public Hearings:

  • Council gave third and final reading to Bylaw #2680-26-018 to redesignate 6.16 hectares of land located approximately five miles southeast of the Hamlet of Hythe, east of Range Road 102 and north of Township Road 731 from an Agricultural (AG) District to a Country Residential (CR-5) District.
  • Council gave third and final reading to Bylaw #2680-26-019 to redesignate 0.13 hectares of land located approximately four miles east of the City of Grande Prairie, west of Range Road 51 and north of Township Road 714A from an Agricultural (AG) District to a Country Residential (CR-5) District, and 2.11 hectares of land from a Country Residential (CR-5) District to an Agricultural (AG) District.

 

Sponsorship Requests — Council approved the following sponsorship requests:

  • $2,000  to the Beaverlodge and District Chamber of Commerce for street performers at the 2026 Beaverlodge Art Walk.
  • $1,500 to the Grande Prairie Youth Emergency Shelter Society (GPYESS) for the GP Youth Fest 2026.
  • $1,500 Bronze Level Recognition – Hole Sponsor to Northwestern Polytechnic (NWP) for the 37th Annual NWP Golf Classic event.

    County of Grande Prairie Next regular meeting is set for Monday, May 25.

by Tanner Smith