Here are the highlights from Sturgeon County Council’s regular meetings on December 12, 2023.
Budget 2024
Council approved the 2024 operating budget and 2024-25 capital budget, and set a 2.13 per cent municipal tax rate increase.
The $135.7 million budget includes a $48.9 million in capital expenditures to fund roads, bridges, and drainage work, and a $86.8 million in operating expenditures to fund day-to-day services, like fire services, snow removal, roads, parks and trails maintenance, utilities and community services.
As a result of the municipal tax increase, a County homeowner with a property valued at $500,000 will pay $41 more in municipal taxes in 2024. A business owner with a business valued at $1 million will pay $229 more in municipal taxes.
Fees and charges
Council approved the 2024 Fees and Charges Bylaw, which sets the rates for various services provided by Sturgeon County. This bylaw takes effect on January 1, 2024. This bylaw sets fees for permits, dog licences, equipment rentals, dust suppression, utility rates and more. View changes in comparison to 2023 rates and an explanation of the changes.
Public hearing
Council held a public hearing for Bylaw 1635/23 so the public could provide input before Council considers the proposed bylaw further. The applicant proposes to redistrict 1.77 hectares (4.39 acres) of land at 55013 Highway 825 near the Sturgeon Industrial Park from AG – Agriculture District to DC24 – Direct Control District 24. The applicant wishes to expand a trucking business. Council will consider the presentations and submissions and will make a decision at a future Council meeting.
Edmonton Global withdrawal
Council voted to withdraw from Edmonton Global. Sturgeon County contributed approximately $600,000 to Edmonton Global since 2017 to support the organization in attracting global investment to the region. Member municipalities must provide two years’ notice before withdrawing from Edmonton Global. This means Sturgeon County will continue its membership until 2025 and will retain all shareholder benefits until that time.
Learn more about the decision.
Sand and Gravel Advisory Committee
Council gave first reading of Bylaw 1643/23 to establish the Sand and Gravel Advisory Committee. This proposes to change the name of the existing Calahoo-Villeneuve Sand and Gravel Advisory Committee, outline updated committee responsibilities, and change membership to two councillors and five public members with industry members serving in an advisory/non-voting capacity. Council will consider the proposed bylaw and will make a decision at a future Council meeting.
Regional Agriculture Master Plan statement
Council authorized administration to submit a regional context statement to the Edmonton Metropolitan Region Board (EMRB), which is required by the EMRB. This statement identifies how the Regional Agriculture Master Plan (RAMP) impacts municipal plans and what municipalities will do to bring their Municipal Development Plans into compliance. In general, Sturgeon County complies with the EMRB’s RAMP, but plans to provide better clarity and alignment through its ongoing work with the County’s Agriculture Master Plan.
Gravel supply contracts awarded
Gravel supply is used for gravel road maintenance, primarily the gravel resurfacing program. Council awarded the following gravel supply contracts:
- 2024-25 Opal Stockpile contract awarded to Dale Croswell Construction Co. Ltd. at a cost of $739,200, with an option to extend for another year at a cost of $792,000.
- 2024 Lily Lake Stockpile contract awarded to Dale Croswell Construction Co. Ltd. at a cost of $924,000, with an option to extend for another year at a cost of $924,000.
- 2023 Legal Stockpile contract extension awarded to Dale Croswell Construction Co. Ltd. at a cost of $637,500.
RCMP clerk agreement with Morinville
Council approved entering into an agreement with the Town of Morinville to fund 1.5 of the four full-time clerical positions supporting the Morinville RCMP Detachment from 2024 to 2028. This comes at a monthly cost of $500 and an estimated annual cost starting at $136,683; this amount will be adjusted annually by roughly three per cent. and The Morinville RCMP Detachment serves approximately 80 per cent of the County. The County is unable to fund RCMP officers directly, or fund extra officers, so this enables the County to assist in keeping officers available in the community by minimizing their administrative duties.
Board and Committee Appointments
Council approved the appointment of public members to Sturgeon County boards and committees, with terms starting January 1, 2024. Names of committee members will be made public in the new year on the Sturgeon County website.
Fast facts about land use bylaw amendments and public hearings:
- At Sturgeon County, before Council seeks public feedback on a proposed land use bylaw amendment, Council gives first reading of the proposed bylaw. This does not mean Council supports the bylaw, but that Council is agreeing for the proposed bylaw to proceed to the next stage of the bylaw process, being receipt of public feedback.
- Public hearings are open to any members of the public, but in considering feedback, Council must consider how and the degree to which the person making a written submission or speaking at a public hearing is affected by the proposal.
- Anyone wishing to provide comments on a proposed bylaw can submit them in writing in advance, attend the Council Meeting in person, or participate virtually.
- For more details and to register for a public hearing, call Legislative Services at 780-939-8277.
- Public hearings, along with other public notices, are posted on the Public Notices page on our website.
Next Council Meeting
The next Sturgeon County Council meeting will be held at 9 a.m. on January 16, 2024.
Future agendas and past meeting minutes can be found online.
