Neighbourhood Notes May 2023

Neighborhood Notes May 2023

• RMA Convention

Page 3

• Water Notifications

Page 5

• Budget 2023

Page 9

• MDP Engagement

Page 10

Reeve’s Message

Spring has sprung, and we’re gearing up at the County for another busy summer season. On behalf of Council, thank you to our many crews and seasonal staff out in the elements making sure the job gets done.

Renewable energy continues to be a hot topic in our area, and throughout the province. To help our residents make informed decisions regarding these developments, administration has created Information Packages for landowners either considering a lease, or adjacent landowners that may be affected by one. These fact sheets are available on our website, kneehillcounty.com.

Kneehill County is also hosting a Renewable Energy information session in Trochu in June, featuring subject matter experts Darcy Allen, from Farmers’ Advocate Office, and Daryl Bennett from Action Surface Rights. I highly encourage anyone curious or concerned about these developments to come out and have your questions answered.

Let’s all hope for rain to ease the wildfire efforts and get our growing season off to a good start. With dry conditions throughout the province, make sure to practice fire safety and stay up to date on fire bans in the area, at abfirebans.ca.

-Reeve Jerry Wittstock

Kneehill County Residents & Ratepayers: You’re invited!

Join

and staff, ask questions, give feedback, and learn more about our projects and services.

ll have supper, door prize draws, fun activities for the kids, and more. June 21 in Swalwell, and June 29 in Wimborne.

Kneehill Regional FCSS: Upcoming Events

Men, Kids & Mayhem

Activities for men & kids age 5-9

June 6 in Linden, June 8 in Trochu

5:30 7:00 pm

Art Friday

Come for art, games and fun!

Friday, June 9 in Acme

Grades 1-3, 9 am 12 pm

Art Summer Camp

Fun and Creative Activities

July 10-14 - Acme

July 17-21 - Trochu

July 24-28 - Linden

July 31-Aug 4 - Three Hills

Aug 21-25 - Carbon

Grades 1-3, 9 am –12 pm

Fountain of Health

Maximize your health and happiness

June 7, 14, and 21 in Three Hills

1:30 pm 3:30 pm

Minds in Motion for Seniors

Keep your mind and body in shape

Thursdays, June 1 July 6

Three Hills

Grades 4-6, 1 pm 4 pm

Grades 4-5, 1 pm 4 pm (Must register in advance)

1:30 pm 3:30 pm Visit

Council Contacts

Division 3

Reeve Jerry Wittstock

Phone: 403-312-6196

Email: jerry.wittstock@kneehillcounty.com

Division 7

Deputy Reeve Ken King

Phone: 403-443-0285

Email: kenneth.king@kneehillcounty.com

Division 1

Councillor Faye McGhee

Phone: 403-436-1611

Email: faye.mcghee@kneehillcounty.com

Division 2

Councillor Debbie Penner

Phone: 403-818-3108

Email: debbie.penner@kneehillcounty.com

Division 4

Councillor Carrie Fobes

Phone: 403-588-4624

Email: carrie.fobes@kneehillcounty.com

Division 5

Councillor Laura Lee Machell-Cunningham

Phone: 403-443-0752

Email: lauralee.machell-cunningham @kneehillcounty.com

Division 6

Councillor Wade Christie

Phone: 403-588-1992

Email: wade.christie@kneehillcounty.com

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Rural Municipalities of Alberta

Members of Council attended the RMA Spring Convention in Edmonton. The RMA Convention is attended by rural municipal elected officials from across Alberta. At the Convention, Council has the opportunity to meet with and question Ministers, network and have discussion with Councillors from other municipalities, learn about relevant issues affecting municipalities, and raise concerns to help shape the direction of the Government of Alberta.

During the Minister’s Forum, Deputy Reeve King asked Ministers Schultz (Municipal Affairs), Savage (Environment and Protected Areas), and Horner (Agriculture and Irrigation) if the Province is taking steps to address concerns associated with the development of renewable energy. Specifically about the lack of a framework with clear rules, loss of agricultural land, respect for municipal concerns, and lack of clarity regarding reclamation and end of life disposals.

Council and staff also met with Hon. Devin Dreeshen, Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors, to lobby for the replacement of the provincial bridge on Highway 587 that crosses Three Hills Creek. The bridge is deteriorating and the County wants to ensure that industry and ratepayers are not adversely impacted by its condition.

Premier Danielle Smith delivers a speech to convention attendees.

L to R: CAO Mike Haugen, Deputy Reeve Ken King, Councillor Wade Christie, Hon. Minister Dreeshen, Councillor Fobes, Councillor Machell-Cunningham, Councillor Penner, Director of Finance Kinza Barney, and Director of Infrastructure Mike Ziehr.

Operations Update

Graders North

• North zone graders are on their summer rotations and working on troublesome soft spots.

Graders South

• South zone graders are on their regular beats and fixing up dirt roads for the seeding season.

• Project starting on RR 23-0 south of TWP 30-4 to try and fix an ongoing problem with the bank sliding away from the road.

Gravel Crew

• Gravel crew graveling roads in Division 3,4,5,7.

Project Crew

• Helping water department with digs

• Torrington fuel theft prevention

• Hauling rocks from ditches for rip rap

• Culvert replacements

• Ditching projects

• Spec crude patching

• Crack sealing

Shop/Fleet

• Grader/Tractor/Truck maintenance, inspections (services) and grease/oil samples.

• CVIPs

• Annual inspections of mowers and small equipment for Parks/AG Department.

• Removal of snow wings on the graders.

General

• Seasonal road bans are still in effect.

• Dust control is available on the Kneehill County website. Applications for top spray will be accessible on the website in early July.

Notifications for Water Customers

Kneehill County is implementing a new, FREE digital notification system for our water customers, called NOTIFY ME.

Through NOTIFY ME, Kneehill County can immediately advise customers of any direct or potential impacts to their water service through text message or email. The notification will include links to Kneehill County’s

Gorr Road Overlay

Range Road 25-1 (also known as the “Gorr Road”) is located west of Three Hills. This highly travelled road has a current estimated traffic count of approximately 160-180 vehicles per day and is designated as an Arterial Road within Kneehill County’s road classification.

The installation of 80mm Asphalt Concrete Pavement (ACP) overlay on Range Road 25-1, between Highway 27

website for more information and/or instructions. Notifications may include water line breaks, boil water advisories, Bulk Fill closures, etc.

Customers must subscribe to NOTIFY ME to begin receiving notifications. Sign-up is quick and easy. Go to the Notify Me web page on Kneehill County’s website, or scan the QR code on the right to get started.

and Highway 583, was pre-approved in late 2022 for construction in 2023. The overlay will provide a mainly ban-free structure (seasonal, at 90%) accommodating more industry and agricultural traffic.

3.2 million has been budgeted for the design and construction of the ACP overlay, funded by the Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI) Capital Grant.

INVASIVE WEED MANAGEMENT

COUNTY ROADSIDE CARE

Roadside Spraying

In 2023 to prevent invasive weed establishment, two spray truck units will apply a broadleaf, residual herbicide to all ditches in the southern 1/3rd of the County, from Township Road 30-4 to the southern boundary.

Gravel Recovery Spraying

In order to prevent encroachment of grass and weed species on County gravel roads, Agriculture Services will be spraying select road edges with non-selective residual herbicide across Kneehill County as needed.

In compliance with policy, herbicide application will cease 30 metres before and resume 30 metres after all yard sites. A one-meter buffer will also be left between the application area and private land or “headlands”. Spot and brush spraying will occur in all areas as needed.

WEED INSPECTIONS

Rural and Urban Inspections

Throughout the growing season, Kneehill County Weed Inspectors will be scouting rural Kneehill County and all towns, villages, and hamlets within its boundaries to locate regulated invasive weeds and deliver information on their status and control mechanisms to landowners.

Check Kneehill County’s social

COMMUNITY GRANTS

Congratulations to Round One Community Grant funding recipients!

• Three Hills Minor Softball

$2,000.00 for softball equipment

• Three Hills & District Agricultural Society

$3,884.00 to purchase a snowdog track setter

• Swalwell Ladies Town and Country Club

$1,200.00 to mark unmarked cemetery plots at the Swalwell Cemetery

• Kneehill Bow Hunters & Archers Society

$1,500.00 for new targets

• Trochu Golf and Country Club

$5,925.00 to replace three irrigation controllers

• Trochu Pottery Club

$3,269.00 to purchase a new kiln

Applications for Round 2 of Community Grants are available in August. Profits, societies, and associations operating in Kneehill County for a minimum of two years are eligible to apply.

Tax Notices

Kneehill County’s combined Tax Notice and Property Assessments will be mailed to ratepayers June 15, 2023.

BUDGET 2023

At the March 28, 2023 Regular Council Meeting, Council approved the 2023 Operating and Capital budgets.

Council’s priorities throughout budget deliberations were to maintain existing service levels, while ensuring effective management of County assets and supporting the long-term financial sustainability of the organization, with the commitment to set tax rates that are both competitive and reasonable for ratepayers.

In alignment with those Council priorities, several key investments are included in the 2023 Budget including $1.05 million in bridge improvements and rehabilitations, $700,000 to fund gravel crushing, and $4.9 million in fleet replacements to support road maintenance, parks, and fire operations.

“Kneehill County is operating with $5.8 million less funding than we had in 2019, largely as a result of provincial policy,” said Kneehill County Deputy Reeve, Ken King. “Council and administration have worked hard to find efficiencies and mitigate the impacts this year, without affecting our service levels for residents.”

Assessment increases were another factor to consider in designing the 2023 Budget. With an average assessment increase of 7.2% throughout the County, Council identified mill rates that would keep ratepayer impacts reasonable.

While the individual impacts on homeowners will be dependent on their assessed values, the typical hamlet

2023 Tax Arrears List

home (assessed at $150,000) will see an increase of $30 annually, acreages (assessed at $350,000) will see an annual increase of approximately $69 and farmland increases will be approximately $66 annually. Local commercial and non-residential entities will see a proportionate adjustment based on their change in assessment.

Two additional components in the 2023 Budget include an increase in water rates and minimum tax bills. To improve the water services cost recovery ratio, rates will increase by 10 cents per cube on all residential and bulk water sold by the County.

For bulk water users who utilize low volumes (approximately 85% of all accounts) a high-level estimate of annual impact is approximately $22.50. For moderate volume bulk water users (approximately 14% of accounts) the high-level estimate of annual impact is approximately $97.50. For users with a water connection the average annual impact is estimated to be $22.80.

The minimum property tax bill has also increased by $25, from $100 to $125.

“Budgets are all about balance. We need to ensure our rates and fees for services are appropriate and competitive while managing expenditures, ensuring core services aren’t impacted, and planning for the future,” said King. “Through months of deliberation, Council is confident we have achieved this in 2023.”

Learn more about Budget 2023, at kneehillcounty.com

Municipal Development Plan

What is an MDP?

The Municipal Development Plan (MDP) is a broad, long-range planning tool for the municipality. It guides future land use and development, growth patterns, transportation systems, and municipal services. It is a statutory plan that requires public consultation with the County's residents and neighbouring municipalities, including a Public Hearing prior to adoption.

Have your say!

While the MDP has been amended over the years, a full review has not been conducted since 2016. Administration recommended a full review of the Bylaw in 2023, asking members of the public to work alongside Council to review each section of the document and provide recommendations. These working groups have been assembled and will be reviewing their sections over the summer of 2023.

Council also approved additional MDP working suppers, which will take place in Trochu and Acme in the fall. These events will provide an excellent opportunity for ratepayers and residents to have their say on the future direction and growth of Kneehill County.

Look for more information on these engagement opportunities, coming soon!

Planning & Development Seminar

Members of Council, along with elected officials from other regional municipalities, attended a Planning and Development seminar hosted at the Kneehill County Office.

During the seminar, elected officials learned about planning legislation and processes. The session was organized by the Kneehill Regional Partnership.

KC Supports Wildfires through Emergency Management

Kneehill County deployed two emergency management personnel to the Buck Creek wildfire by Drayton Valley, to support their wildfire efforts. Our Director of Emergency Management, Debra Grosfield, was deployed from May 5-12, trading off with our Deputy Director of Emergency Management, Dan Marsellus, who was on scene from May 14 May 18. They are two of six County employees who have trained as part of the Central Regional All Hazards Incident Management Team (CRAHIMT), which was formed in 2017 to support other municipalities in emergency response. As part of CRAHIMT, Kneehill County has access to a core group of well-trained members for emergency

response in our area. Emergencies require not only front line first responders, but also behind-thescenes organizational teams. These teams make continuous operational plans, while feeding, housing, and ensuring the safety of the first responders. An Incident Management Team will also help municipalities with many “outside the tape” activities, including information releases, demobilization of equipment/ personnel, financial tracking, documentation, pet management, re-entry planning, recovery planning and more.

Kneehill County has also been asked by the Province to support the wildfires

Emergency Preparedness Week

Be Prepared. Know your risks.

Since 2017, the Kneehill Region has seen overland flooding, the risk of a dangerous goods incident (which required evacuations), a tornado, and multiple grass fires. If you think it can't happen...it can. It's time to #GetPrepared!

Here’s how:

• Know the risks. Find the hazards and risks most likely to affect you, and prepare for those emergencies.

with firefighting apparatus and personnel, as well as Fire Safety Codes Officers, however, with the County already under a full Fire Ban, and with high winds and dry conditions expected to continue, deploying our equipment elsewhere has been deemed too risky at this time. We are continuously monitoring the situation and will re-evaluate as soon as we can.

Kneehill County will continue to support the wildfires response while weighing the risks and impacts these decisions may have within our own area.

• Make a plan. Make an emergency plan for your household, farm, and livestock.

• Teach your children what to do in an emergency and how to call 9-1-1.

• Get a kit. Make or purchase a 72-hour kit for both your house and your car.

Visit https://www.getprepared.gc.ca