Here are the highlights from Sturgeon County Council’s regular meeting on April 29, 2025.
PROCLAMATIONS
Council proclaimed May 1 to 7, 2025 as Youth Week in Sturgeon County.
Council proclaimed May 4 to 10, 2025 as Emergency Preparedness Week in Sturgeon County.
Council proclaimed May 5 to 11, 2025 as Mental Health Week in Sturgeon County.
Council proclaimed May 11 to 17, 2025 as International Economic Development week in Sturgeon County.
Public Hearing – Bylaw 1676/25 – Amendment to Land Use Bylaw 1385/17
Council held a public hearing for Bylaw 1676/25 which proposes to amend the definition of Gas Processing Plant and redistrict Pt NE-29-57-25-4 from agricultural (AG) to rural industry support (I1). This change could allow the carbon sequestration facility proposed by Bison Low Carbon Ventures Inc. to be developed at their lease site. Council will consider the presentations made during the hearing and will make a decision at a future Council meeting.
Consolidated Contract Award Report – March 18 – April 16, 2025
Council received Consolidated Contract Award Report as information.
Appointment of Deputy Mayor – May 1 – October 28, 2025
Council appointed Councillor Deanna Stang as Deputy Mayor for the period of May 1, 2025, to October 28, 2025.
Endorsement of Councillor Comeau’s Nomination to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Board of Directors
Council endorsed Councillor Neal Comeau to stand for election on the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Board of Directors for the period starting in June 2025 and ending in June 2026. The FCM is the national voice of local government in Canada that represents over 2,000 municipalities advocating for municipal interests at the federal level.
Bylaw 1677/25 – Debenture Bylaw – Broadband Infrastructure – Phase 2
Council gave second and third readings of Bylaw 1677/25 to authorize the use of long-term borrowing of $6,810,744 (with $2,769,983 of interest charges) to fund phase 2 development of the County’s broadband internet infrastructure initiative. The goal of this development is to continue to provide high speed broadband internet access to homes across Sturgeon County.
Regional Collaborative Economic Development – Memorandum of Understanding and Financial Contribution
Council did not support the signing of the Collaborative Economic Development Memorandum of Understanding, which would have committed the County to Collaborative Economic Development (CED). The CED strategy involves collaboration between multiple municipalities to achieve shared economic goals, as contemplated in this funding commitment letter.
2025 Community Grant Applications
Council approved the Community Services Advisory Board recommendation to award 2025 Community Grants in the amount of $186,132 to 20 community groups.
Council approved the Sand and Gravel Advisory Committee and County Administration’s recommendation to award the 2025 Community Operating Grants and Capital Grants in the amount of $17,890 and $229,515 (respectively) to five community groups.
Council approved the Community Services Advisory Board recommendation to award 2025 FCSS Grants in the amount of $10,000 to four community groups.
Council referred the Community Enhancement Capital grants totalling $381,520 (West Sturgeon People Aging in Place) to the County’s Major Grant Process for further review and consideration.
2024 T3 Financial Report and Audited Financial Statements
Council received the Tri-Annual Financial Report for the period ended December 31, 2024 as information.
Council approved the transfer of the 2024 operating surplus in the amount of $8,000,000 to the Municipal Tax Stabilization Reserve and the $2,243,285 to Municipal Infrastructure Reserve.
Council approved the 2024 Audited Financial Statement as prepared by Administration and audited by the accounting firm of MNP.
Council received the Financial Reserve Report Summary as information. The audit did not identify any major issues. Council discussed the Audited Financial Statements with the Auditor in closed session.
2025 Capital Funding Summary and Reallocations
Council approved the 2024 Capital Housekeeping Amendments with the funding identified in the Net Funding and Financing document for the capital projects outlined in the Capital Housekeeping Amendments document.
Council supported the funding of the 1D Starkey Road & Pedestrian Bridge in the amount of $715,000 to be funded from the Municipal Infrastructure Reserve to be repaid with the 2024 capital surplus.
Sil Industrial Minerals: Pit Reclamation and Victoria Trail Bridge Replacement
Council authorized the Chief Administrative Officer to execute a Memorandum of Understanding with Sil Industrial Minerals for the reclamation of Pit #46 (SW-8-57-20-4) to become a future recreation asset in the form of a community park space.
Council approved a 70/30 cost-sharing arrangement with Sil Industrial Minerals for the replacement of the Victoria Trail Bridge with a total project budget of $3,400,000; and that Sturgeon County’s 30% contribution of $1,020,000 be funded from the Municipal Infrastructure Reserve, contingent upon execution of a finalized cost-sharing agreement to be presented to Council for approval prior to Second Reading of Bylaw 1675/25..
Bylaw 1675/25 – Amendment to Land Use Bylaw 1385/17
Council gave first reading of Bylaw 1675/25 to redistrict SE-12-57-21-W4 from Agriculture District (AG) to Resource Extraction District (RE); this amendment would allow development of a natural resource extraction operation in this area, specifically silica sand extraction.
Starkey Road Functional Planning Study Update
Council approved funding of up to $170,000 from Municipal Tax Stabilization Reserve to update the existing Starkey Road Functional Planning Study.
Bylaw 1680/25 – Amendment to Bylaw 1548/21 – Sturgeon Industrial Park Offsite Levy Bylaw
Council gave first reading of Bylaw 1680/25, which updates the County’s Offsite Levy Rates to ensure they remain current and in compliance with the latest requirements of the Municipal Government Act.
CLOSED SESSION
Contractual Matter
Council discussed a contractual matter in closed session.
MAYOR AND COUNCIL
Construction Site Cleanliness
Council received a presentation on construction site cleanliness in Sturgeon County. Council directed Administration to continue to work with developers to ensure guidelines are clearly communicated.
Permit Application Timelines
Council directed Administration to bring forward, by September 9, 2025, a review of typical application processing timelines for all municipal development and building permit types.
Supporting Sturgeon County Through Economic Uncertainty
Council approved continued support of Sturgeon County businesses through municipal procurement, encouraging residents to ‘buy local’ wherever possible, and through promotion of an online resource (Support Sturgeon page) that provides information on creating community-based opportunities and local responses to international trade tariffs.
Council also authorized the Mayor and Chief Administrative Officer to advocate to other levels of governments, emphasizing the need for investment in trade-enabling infrastructure, open access to global energy markets, action to strengthen the visitor economy, and a coordinated strategy to remove interprovincial trade barriers.
Letter of Opinion to Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC)
Council approved a motion to send a letter of opinion to the AUC about the development of a 125-megawatt lot solar farm.
COUNCIL CORRESPONDENCE
Letter from the Honourable Ric McIver, Minister of Municipal Affairs
The Committee received a letter from the Honourable Ric McIver, Minister of Municipal Affairs sharing the governments choice to table Bill 50 and his hosting of a town hall for all stakeholders to share additional information and answer questions about the proposed amendments.
Next Council Meeting
The next Sturgeon County Council meeting will be held at 9 a.m. on May 13, 2025. Future agendas and past meeting minutes can be found online.
Fast facts about land use bylaw amendments and public hearings
View our webpage about land use planning and community engagement.
View our interactive regulations map.
At Sturgeon County, before Council gets public feedback on a proposed land use bylaw amendment, it gives the proposed bylaw first reading. This does not mean Council supports the bylaw; this allows the proposed bylaw to go to the next stage of the bylaw process, which is gathering public input.
Public hearings, along with other public notices, are promoted on the public notices page on the Sturgeon County website as well as in local newspapers, on social media, and on road signs in accordance with the new Sturgeon County Public Notification Bylaw.
Public hearings are open to any members of the public to view or provide input.
Viewing the public hearing: You can view the hearing in-person or via livestream at sturgeoncounty.ca/CouncilMeetings
Making a written submission: you can provide a written submission by email up to the close of the public hearing.
Speaking at the public hearing: you can provide a statement at the public hearing in person or via videoconference. You are encouraged to pre-register to speak in-person at the public hearing. If you wish to speak via videoconference, you must register at least 24 hours prior to the opening of the public hearing. Register by contacting Legislative Services at 780-939-8277.
When considering public input, Council considers how and to what degree the person is impacted by the proposed amendment.
