Special Areas Advisory Council holds Spring 2024 Meeting
The Special Areas Advisory Council held its spring meeting on March 27 and 28. The group welcomed Gordon Long as the newly elected representative for Special Area No. 4, Subdivision 1. The group discussed appointments to various boards and commissions, as there had been some vacancies due to the recent by-election. Gordon Long was appointed to represent Special Area No. 4 on several boards and committees, including the Acadia Foundation, Big Country Waste Management Commission, and East Central Ambulance Association.
PHOTOS COURTESY SPECIAL AREAS, click for larger images
The Advisory Council reviewed planned 2024 projects and provided direction on issues affecting residents and businesses. Regional projects were discussed, including phase two of the regional irrigation feasibility being completed with the MD of Acadia, Canada Infrastructure Bank, and Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation. Earlier in 2024, the Advisory Council recommended the water licence application for the regional irrigation project be submitted to Alberta Environment. The water licence related to the Special Areas Water Supply Project was withdrawn to support this new application.
The need for sustainable healthcare that meets the needs of communities in the region was discussed, including key projects Special Areas is partnering on. Special Areas has committed $5M towards funding the construction of a 14-bed dementia and assisted living unit in Oyen in partnership with the Acadia Foundation and the Government of Alberta. This critically needed project will be the first of its kind in the Special Areas region and will allow individuals to age in place in the community. Another key initiative discussed was the nurse practitioner pilot project in the Consort region. In 2023, Special Areas committed to funding two years for a nurse practitioner in Consort, significantly enhancing medical services in the community. A nurse practitioner has been recruited and is expected to begin practicing this summer.
The Advisory Council welcomed Prairie Land and Prairie Rose School Divisions presenters. Dr. Reagan Weeks, Superintendent for Prairie Rose School Division, shared information on a new trades program. The Advisory Council shared feedback on continuing challenges in school transportation, including long distances and time spent on buses by rural students. Cam McKeage (Superintendent) and Holli Smith (Chairperson) from Prairie Land School Division shared updates on value-added programming in the division. The importance of building community partnerships to ensure programming reflects the priorities and strengths of the region was noted. The Advisory Council thanked the school divisions for the work they do to make sure students in the Special Areas have high-quality education opportunities in our rural, remote region.
The Advisory Council reviewed Special Areas 2023 financial statements and the 2024 approved budget. 2023 had continued challenges with supply chains and resulted in lower than budgeted expenditure levels. The Highway 855 paving project, cost-shared by Special Areas and the Province, was deferred into 2024 along with some larger capital purchases.
In 2024, Special Areas will continue to draw down the accumulated operational surplus and complete deferred capital projects and purchases. Recent increases to the industrial tax transfer program were highlighted, including planned funding levels for 2024. This program provides predictable funding from Special Areas to urban municipalities found within Special Areas, helping fund amenities and programs used by rural residents in urban service areas.
Shaune Kovitch, Director of Municipal Services, reviewed the 2024 road program as it had been taken out to local road committees earlier this year. The 2024 road program season includes 29 kilometres of surfacing work, 31 kilometres of road recrowning, and construction work on local roads, regional economic development projects, and new resident access roads.
The Advisory Council discussed issues brought forward by ratepayers in the region. Concerns with the impact of road use agreements for agricultural users were highlighted, and the group directed the administration to exempt agricultural producers. To help support effective road maintenance work, the Advisory Council recommended an online notification system be created for agricultural hauling, which has ten or more loads in a 24-hour period that uses the same route. Issues with coyote predation levels in parts of Special Areas was also discussed; direction was provided to create a coyote control policy for review later this year.
Ongoing drought conditions in the province and related water conservation efforts were discussed, including potential impacts on local water supplies. Reductions in planned allotments at community pastures were discussed, along with work to improve water security and infrastructure. The group welcomed representatives from MPE Engineering, who shared findings on opportunities to develop water systems in the region further. Rudy Freisen from the Red Deer River Municipal Users Group shared information on the group’s key priorities and projects. The province has funded work needed to investigate the feasibility of mid-stream water storage on the Red Deer River. The need for more storage in the Red Deer River basin was highlighted during recent work completed for the South Saskatchewan River basin, including drought modelling. The group thanked Mr. Freisen for his work advocating for the Red Deer River basin and for his leadership of the municipal users group.
Work updating the Land Use Order was discussed, including the public hearing held on March 12. As a result of feedback received throughout the process, the draft Land Use Order document is being reviewed to ensure appropriate lot sizes and setbacks are in place. Administration and planning staff from Palliser Regional Municipal Services will complete this review and provide a report back to the Board on recommended changes ahead of second reading.
The focus on controlling costs was a consistent priority for the group, as well as ensuring sustainable requisitions levels for municipalities in the region. Upcoming ratepayer meetings have been confirmed for June 2024. Information about local ratepayer meetings, including reports from the administration, will be shared on the Special Areas website later this spring.
The next Special Areas Advisory Council meeting will be held in summer 2024. To learn more about the Advisory Council, visit www.specialareas.ab.ca.