BULLETINS

Bulletin No. 630

The following information is to provide a summary of Council meetings from October 4, 2022 to November 1, 2022 and upcoming activities. Further explanations or details can be obtained by contacting the County Administration Office at 403.882.3211.

RFD – Letter of Support for Town of Castor re: Crime Prevention – MOVED by Councillor Shipton that the County send a Letter of Support to the Town of Castor in their application for an Alberta Crime Prevention Grant.

RFD – Parkland Regional Libraries 2023 per Capita Requisition Proposal – MOVED by Councillor Elliot that the County be in favour of the PRL 2023 per capita increase from $8.55 per capita to $8.75 per capita resulting in an overall increase to the County’s future budget in the amount of $425.

Castor Museum Fundraiser - MOVED by Councillor Shipton to purchase a table for the County of Paintearth at the Castor Museum Fundraising event on October 15, 2022, for $300.

Letter from Starland County to Minister Horner re: Broadband – MOVED by Councillor Norton the County receive and file the letter from Starland County.

Reply from Minister Horner to Paintearth re: Broadband Funding – MOVED by Councillor Glazier the County receive and file the letter from Minister Horner.

RFD – Tax Sale – MOVED by Councillor Vockeroth to set the date for the tax sale to be February 7, 2023.

Brownfield and Halkirk Turkey Suppers – MOVED by Councillor Elliott that the County of Paintearth sponsor the cost of turkeys for the Brownfield and Halkirk Turkey Suppers.

Village of Halkirk Shared Services Agreements – MOVED by Councillor Wiart that the County of Paintearth begin negotiations with the Village of Halkirk for shared services agreements as per the Villages Municipal Viability Plan, as approved by the Minister.

Solicitor General CPO Lv. 2 Phase-out – MOVED by Councillor Norton that the County begin the process for transitioning the Community Peace Officer level II to Bylaw Enforcement Officer as a result of Alberta Justice and Solicitor General’s planned phase-out effective January 1, 2023.

County of Paintearth Traffic Management Plan – MOVED by Councillor Elliott that the County of Paintearth commence development of a Traffic Management Plan as required in order to facilitate traffic enforcement as per provincial regulations pertaining to traffic safety.

Organizational Meeting - Council held their Organizational Meeting on October 18, 2022. Congratulations to Stan Schulmeister re-elected as Reeve and Maurice Wiart re-elected as Deputy Reeve. Maurice Wiart was re-elected Chairman and Stan Schulmeister was re-elected, Vice Chairman of the Agricultural Service Board. A complete listing of all appointments is available on the County Website: www.countypaintearth.ca

RFD – Castor Sr. Cross Country Provincial Support Request – MOVED by Councillor Wiart that the support request for $50 to the applicant be granted.

WaterSMART Presentation re: Water Availability Study – MOVED by Councillor Norton to accept the information presented by WaterSMART and allow for publication on the County of Paintearth website for public access to the study. For further information on the County of Paintearth Water Availability Analysis Results presentation please visit the County Website: www.countypaintearth.ca

Emergency Management Regional ACP Grant Application – MOVED by Councillor Vockeroth that Administration apply for grant funding to conduct a multi-stage emergency preparedness exercise at a future date.

Letter from RMA re: UCP Resolution on Lobby Registry for Municipal Elected Officials – MOVED by Councillor Glazier that the correspondence be received and filed, and the matter be tabled until after RMA.

Letter from Department of Justice and Solicitor General in reply to the County Letter on the Victim Services Redesign of same - MOVED by Councillor Norton that the correspondence from Minister Shandro be received and filed.

Upcoming Council Meetings – November 22, December 06, & December 20, 2022, having the same subject to individual change, commencing at 9:00 a.m. in Council Chambers. Meetings are open to the public and delegations are always welcome. To request a time allotment, please call the office of the CAO. All requests must clearly identify the reason or purpose of the appointment and follow the guidelines as per Section 21 - Delegations of the County’s Procedure Bylaw 703-21.

Assessment Review Board (PAID) Members Wanted

The County of Paintearth seeks residents to participate as trained Members-at-Large on the Assessment Review Board (ARB). The ARB is established by municipal councils under Part 11 of the Municipal Government Act (the “MGA”) to hear complaints regarding the assessment or tax of a property. Members-at-Large are paid to undertake training that is required for the Board, having honorariums for each participatory hearing. Join the County of Paintearth ARB by contacting Kaitlyn Kenney, Executive Assistant at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

SUBDIVISION & DEVELOPMENT APPEAL BOARD (PAID) MEMBERS WANTED

The County of Paintearth seeks residents to participate as trained Members-at-Large on the Palliser Intermunicipal Subdivision and Development Appeal Board (SDAB). The SDAB Board is established by municipal councils under Part 17 of the Municipal Government Act (the “MGA”) to hear appeals from decisions made by local Subdivision and Development Authorities. Members-at-Large are paid to undertake training that is required for the Board, having honorariums for each participatory hearing. Join the County of Paintearth SDAB by contacting Kaitlyn Kenney, Executive Assistant at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

COMMUNITY SERVICES
Todd Pawsey, Director

Development Permits Issued:

Emergency Management Reminder: Now that Winter is here, are you prepared for winter storms and power outages? Do you have adequate supplies on hand in the event of a 72-hour emergency or utility failure? Have generator tests been completed? Albertans are known for their resiliency to cold weather and snow, that doesn’t mean that we can’t be caught off guard! Please remember to keep basic groceries stocked, warm layers for vehicles and to keep vehicles topped up on the top half of the fuel tank. Good luck this winter and remember, the countdown to Spring 2023 is officially on!

Valley Ski Hill: Valley Ski Hill is anticipated to reopen mid-December as recent snowfall aids in their preparation for a fantastic winter season! Visit www.valleyskihill.ca or check out their Facebook page for more information to enjoy snow sports at the hill, located south of Alliance in the Battle River Valley on Hwy 36 between Killam and Castor.

PUBLIC WORKS
Bryce Cooke, Director

Secondary Highways Snow Maintenance Reminder: Please be advised that the County of Paintearth does not maintain any Secondary Highway within County boundaries. All maintenance, including stop signs entering Secondary Highways off any County Township or Range Road, is performed by Emcon. Please call 1-800-390-2242 for Emcon Secondary Highway assistance. 

Winter Lane Plowing Reminder: Please be advised that Hold Harmless Agreements are required by the County prior to the commencement of lane plowing services. Hold Harmless Agreement forms may be found on the County Website, under Public Works, or may be completed at the County Office. Also, a reminder to those plowing driveways, please do not pile snow along the ditch slope at the end of the land. This is a serious safety issue to the travelling public and may damage County snow removal equipment. If an accident occurs, it is the Landowner’s liability.

Bylaw Enforcement Office
Colm Fitz-Gerald, Community Peace Officer

Winter made it here…with a bang! With colder temperatures and recent snowfall, checking on family, friends and neighbours keeps everyone safe and informed.

Fire Permits: The County of Paintearth is under a Fire Advisory, fire permits may be issued. To obtain a permit, please call the County Office at 403.882.3211.

Traffic Control - Intersections Reminder: Please note that most collisions and, unfortunately, fatalities occur at intersections. They are a high priority for police in their traffic enforcement plans. Common practice is the person to the right will have the right-of-way. There are many uncontrolled intersections (having no traffic controls indicated by either lights or signage) throughout the County. When approaching intersections, defensive driving comes into play. Assume that other driver(s) in the intersection have no idea what they are doing and give them a wide berth. A wide-open intersection provides the best opportunity to see what is coming from all directions. Do not assume the other person can/has seen you. When approaching blind intersections, if necessary, slow to a stop, check the intersection and proceed when it is safe to do so. Remember, we are not, or should not, be in such a hurry as to forget that are other people on the road. Are there going be drivers that don’t follow the rule? Certainly. Keep our community safe by following traffic regulations. There are drivers who ignore traffic controls, bad habits cause worse consequences.

Broadband Internet Connectivity
Michael Simpson, CAO

Internet connectivity provides quality of life beyond entertainment services. It is hidden within the foundations of health care provision, enhanced agricultural operations, expanded learning, job creation, resiliency and broader economic marketability, and connection to those of importance near and far. The call is going out for municipalities to take ownership of the need for reliable, open access networks to support quality broadband. The County of Paintearth has a goal of providing sustainable high-speed, reliable, and affordable internet services for its community. As such, it is important to understand how internet provision is impacting our community today.

A survey was undertaken by the County earlier this year, having 37 responses to the same. Three key findings of the survey include: (1) Limited accessibility to high-speed internet, meaning the majority of residents do not have access to high-speed internet services (i.e. 100/50 Mbps or greater);  (2) The current cost of service does not equal the value provided being, a symptom due to the lack of infrastructure; and, (3) Broadband is an essential service, meaning the internet is fully integrated in daily activities of life, whether that be through work, social interactions or entertainment. Disruption to the same causes significant impact to businesses, institutions, and personal wellbeing. The County is exploring the current state of internet connectivity offered within its municipal borders. Stay tuned as the County of Paintearth continues to address this service gap.

Coronation Health Care Foundation – Michelle Guse Memorial Scholarship

Please be advised that the Coronation Health Care Foundation – Michelle Gues Memorial Scholarship is now open for intake. The scholarship is for students pursuing a career in health care. Deadline for application is December 31, 2022. Application forms may be obtained by contacting Barbie Berg at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.