Special Areas Advisory Council welcomes new chair at spring meeting
Special Areas Advisory Council met for their regular spring meeting on March 27 and 28 in Hanna, the first meeting with Shaune Kovitch as Chair of the Special Areas Board. He shared how much he was looking forward to working with Advisory Council, and spoke about the role of Special Areas in delivering high-quality, diverse, and dependable services, as well as the need for respectful collaboration throughout the region.
The upcoming municipal (general) election was discussed, including the nomination deadline of noon on September 22, 2025. Information on local election requirements, including nomination forms, is posted on the Special Areas website and will be shared throughout the nomination period.
Doug Jones and Erika Tessier present on behalf of Big Country Medical Dental Clinic. SPECIAL AREAS PHOTO
Glenda Farnden STARS presents to Advisory Council. SPECIAL AREAS PHOTO
Motions from earlier Advisory Council meetings were reviewed, including the need to investigate opportunities for developing more water infrastructure in the region. Administration has been working with MPE, an engineering firm, to complete feasibility studies on the expansion of potable waterlines in the region. Public engagement is planned for May 2025, and will include a series of open houses where people can stop in and learn more about the potential projects being investigated. Findings from this feasibility work, including feedback collected through public engagement, will be reported back in the fall. Work on the extension of the potable waterline to Compeer was discussed; this project is being managed by the Shirley McClellan Regional Water Services Commission with construction expected to begin this fall.
Advisory Council welcomed representatives from medical centres in Consort, Hanna, and Oyen who shared updates on key initiatives and projects in their communities. During these discussions, the group heard about a variety of initiatives supporting local healthcare in the region. One project highlighted was the 14-bed dementia and assisted living unit being constructed in Oyen, a partnership between Special Areas, the Acadia Foundation, and the Government of Alberta. Construction is expected to be completed late in 2025. The nurse practitioner project in Consort, a two-year pilot program which began in 2024, is being positively received by the community. With funding from the government now in place for nurse practitioners, Special Areas funding is being used to support additional coverage needed at the clinic. Challenges with the recruitment and retention of healthcare professionals were a key focus of discussion for the entire region. Council recognized the need for continued investment in local healthcare projects to help ensure high-quality and accessible healthcare stays available in our communities, especially considering significant competition for key healthcare personnel.
Darren Jones, Director of Finance & Administration, presented the draft 2024 financial statements. Special Areas continues to draw down the accumulated operational surplus while taking advantage of cost-sharing opportunities for major infrastructure projects. The 2025 budget was reviewed, with a discussion on expected increases to revenue as a result of growth in linear assessment from renewable energy projects. The group discussed significant pressures communities in the region are facing which could drive future expenditures, including regional healthcare and housing initiatives.
Brent Fecho, Superintendent of Roads & Equipment, reviewed the road program planned for 2025. The plan had been taken out to local road committees earlier this year and includes 30 kilometres of surfacing work, 33 kilometres of road recrowning, and 24 kilometres of construction work on local roads and new resident access roads. Advisory Council recommended the 2025 road program move forward as presented. A draft policy related to the construction of new residence roads was shared with the group. This policy is intended to help clarify expectations around the construction of new residence roads.
Opportunities to expand partnership work with the province was discussed, specifically the need to address three-digit highways with gravel structures which need stabilization or reconstruction. Meetings with Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors are planned for early April to identify potential projects, as well as discussing local concerns related to intersection safety, including along Highway 570. With the MD of Acadia and Special Areas regional irrigation project nearing completion of Phase 2, a recent public information session was held in Acadia Valley to share findings. The final report from this phase of work is expected to be shared later this year.
The request by a local breeding association to operate one of the community pastures as a grazing cooperative was discussed. Administration has been developing an operational agreement to allow the breeding association to take on day-to-day management of the community pasture on a trial basis. Discussions with the breeding association have been productive, and local patrons appear to be in support for this approach. The importance of public lands continuing to be sustainably managed was highlighted, as well the value of using the existing Special Areas community pasture policy as a base for any operational agreement. Administration will continue to work with the breeding association and will report back this fall.
During the committee roundtable part of the meeting, Advisory Councillors shared updates on the various external boards and committees they sit on. 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 this May and June. Information about local ratepayer meetings, including reports from administration, will be shared on the Special Areas website later this spring.
To learn more about Advisory Council, visit www.specialareas.ab.ca.