Go Back To NewsHere are the highlights from the June 28, 2022, Sturgeon County Council Meeting:
Swearing-in of Deputy Mayor
Councillor Kristin Toms was sworn in as Deputy Mayor for the period July 1, 2022, to February 28, 2023. Further, Councillor Derouin was sworn in as a voting member of the Governance and Council Services Committee.
2022 Tax Recovery Reserve Bid
Council approved the conditions of sale and the reserve bid in the 2022 Public Sale of Land Report for the Public Tax Recovery Property Auction to be held in November of this year. This applies only to properties that have been in tax arrears for three years and when the tax account owner has not entered into a payment agreement for outstanding taxes. As of June 28, there are thirteen properties listed for tax sale.
Construction Contract Awards
Council approved two contract awards for construction projects. The first was to Nova Mechanical Systems Ltd. for upgrades to the Summerbrook Pumphouse located in Sturgeon Valley at a contract price of $763,024. The second contract was awarded to PME Inc. for the Coal Mine Road and Range Road 252 reconstruction and surfacing project for $4,726,244.50.
Closure to portion of Range Road 261A
Council approved the closure of a portion of Range Road 261A near Meadowview Drive to finalize the Range Road 261A realignment due to the active erosion of the outer bank of the Sturgeon River. In 2021, Sturgeon County completed a realignment of Range Road 261A further to the west and reinforced the outer riverbank. This work required an agreement with the owner of River Lot 2, St. Albert Settlement, to acquire land for the new road in exchange for the closure of the old road allowance.
County to review Sturgeon Valley Off-site Levy and Policy
Council approved postponing a request for an exemption to pay an offsite levy pending the result of a full review of the Off-site Levy Bylaw and Policy, and further suspended collection of levies for lands no longer within the Sturgeon Valley Core and Sturgeon Valley South Area Structure Plan boundaries. The review and update of the Sturgeon Valley Off-site Levy Bylaw will identify the infrastructure projects and costs to service the lands consistent with the implementation of the Sturgeon Valley Core and Sturgeon Valley South ASPs and will allow for appropriate notification to impacted property owners.
Villeneuve Landing Network
Council dealt with two matters related to the Villeneuve Landing Network (VLN). The first was the approval for funding in the amount of $131,090 for a VLN Business Development and Jobs Creation Centre located at the Villeneuve Airport. The centre includes a boardroom and two office spaces for Sturgeon County, with the balance of space available for subleasing opportunities in support of business incubation. The total cost is $689,681, partially covered by a $285,000 grant from the Municipal Stimulus Program.
Council also approved entering into the Villeneuve Landing Network Founders Agreement with the Edmonton Regional Airports Authority as well as entering into further Villeneuve Landing Network Partners Memorandum of Understanding with regional partners. The VLN is designed to serve as a vehicle to support shared investment (in required infrastructure/investment attraction incentives) and shared benefit (municipal taxation sharing) that could lead to a more timely and successful development model in the area.
Next Council Meeting
The next Sturgeon County Council meeting will be held at 9:00 a.m. on July 12, 2022. This will be the last regularly scheduled Council Meeting until August 23.