Neighbourhood Notes
December 2020
In this Issue
ā¢ Kneehill Votes P2 ā¢ Kneehill County COVID-19 Update ā¢ Agripreneur & Business Spotlight ā¢ ATTENTION: 2% Liquid Strychnine Users
A message from Reeve Wittstock 2020 has truly been a year like no other. We seem to have come full circle from the spring, when the COVID-19 pandemic ļ¬rst required us to close our doors. As Iām sure youāve heard, in light of the provinceās recent mandatory, province-wide restrictions, the ofļ¬ce and maintenance shop are closed to the public as of Monday, December 14, and will stay closed until Monday January 11, 2021. (Thatās an approximate date, depending on the situation.) Even though the doors are closed, Iām happy to report that staff are able to work remotely and County services and operations will continue with little to no interruption. Staff and administration have provided excellent service to our residents and ratepayers throughout the pandemic and we would like to commend all of our staff for going above and beyond to ensure our residents needs are met, with the utmost safety in mind. Weād like to thank our residents as well, for your patience. Some of our services
Reeve Jerry Wittstock Kneehill County
or procedures may have altered slightly this year and we truly appreciate your understanding. On behalf of Council, I would also like to extend our sincere gratitude to the residents, ratepayers, and neighbouring municipalities who took the time to advocate with us against changes to Oil and Gas Assessment that were proposed by the Province this summer. As you know, the changes could have had devastating impacts on the County, and again, we thank you for your support. Though none of the original scenarios proposed by the province were chosen, the Minister of Municipal Affairs did announce a three-year tax
holiday for new pipelines and wells, and eliminated the Well Drilling Equipment Tax. On top of these announcements, the County received additional information
regarding the lowering of property assessments on Oil and Gas wells for three years. These Provincial policy changes will reduce the Countyās revenues by $1,050,000 in 2021. Overall, Councilās past practices and ļ¬nancial planning have positioned the County well for 2020 challenges, and beyond. We have not experienced any operating budget deļ¬cits, have no reliance on borrowing, have maintained or enhanced our service levels, roads and other infrastructure, and
will continue to keep competitive tax rates in the future. Despite current difļ¬culties, Council and staff will continue seeking measures to lessen impacts to residents and are committed to employing prudent ļ¬nancial practices as we plan for the future. Thankfully, the end of 2020 is in sight. Council and I would like to wish a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone, as best as that can happen with current restrictions in place. This year will be different for all of us in many
ways, but the spirit of the season remains. Plan to connect virtually with friends and family. Look for opportunities to help those in need. Continue to show compassion and care for each other. Iāve heard it said that āWe isolate now, so when we gather again, no one is missing.ā Keep that in mind this holiday, as we look forward to celebrating together again next Christmas. After all, 2021 is just around the corner. Until then, stay safe, and stay well. -Reeve Jerry Wittstock
Merry Christmas
and a very Happy New Year!
Kneehill County Council and Staff
403-443-5541 Ā· 1600 2nd Street NE Ā· Three Hills Ā· AB www.kneehillcounty.com Regular business hours resume Monday, January 4, 2021 at 8:30 am. (Please note: The office will remain closed to the public until Monday, January 11, 2021.)