COUNTY CO N N E C T I O N S FALL 2024 3
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8 County Snow Clearing
12 New Parkland Patrol Unit
18 Fall Farming Tips
4
Electoral Boundary Review
10 Be a Good Neighbour
15 Plan Your County
19 Fall Cleanup Tips
5
Municipal Census Update
11 Convenient Access: MyProperty
16 Fall & Winter Activities
22 Sportsplex Fall Program
6
FireSmart Tips for Fall
12 Making School Zones Safer
17 Municipal Election 2025
23 Dino Museum Fall Program
REEVE’S MESSAGE As summer transitions into fall, I want to share some recent highlights, opportunities we have had to spotlight the County, and what we are doing to shape the future of our community. In partnership with the Alberta Enterprise Group, we had the honour of hosting RJ Sigurdson, Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation, in June. This event provided a fantastic opportunity for local businesses and the agricultural community to connect, learn, and influence their industries’ future. It was also a chance to showcase our vibrant County to a key decision-maker in the agricultural sector. The 2023 Annual Report also showcases our County and is now available for your review. It details how your municipal tax dollars were invested throughout the year in projects, programs, and services to support our vibrant and healthy communities. Learn more about our efforts to maintain high-quality services and advance important projects for residents, businesses, and community members. Find out how to get a copy or read it online on page 14.
WILDFIRE SEASON AND SAFETY This wildfire season has been particularly busy, especially with the Kleskun Creek and Valhalla fires beginning within minutes of each other in May. The County of Grande Prairie, Alberta Wildfire, and the MD of Greenview worked together to manage the incidents, with additional assistance from the City of Grande Prairie, MD of Smoky River, Town of Slave Lake, and Big Lakes County. The number of human-caused fires in the County this season is concerning. While fire season may seem to be winding down, it’s critical that we continue implementing FireSmart™ practices. Remember to practice safe burning when gathering around your firepit this fall and prune your trees to at least two meters from the ground.
Complete these and other FireSmart actions on your properties this fall, including booking a free FireSmart Home Assessment or downloading the FireSmart app. For more information and tips, see pages 6-7.
RECOGNIZING OUR VOLUNTEERS A heartfelt thank you to the volunteers and community groups who are the backbone of our communities. We were pleased to recognize their valuable contributions with support from our grant program. This year, the County of Grande Prairie awarded $252,790 in operating assistance and cemetery grants to 68 non-profit organizations and volunteer groups. Additionally, $420,190 in grants to cover utility and other operating expenses were allocated to organizations that operate sport, recreation, and cultural facilities in the County.
BUDGET 2025 A significant investment in roads, 70 per cent of the capital budget, was made in Budget 2024, and we expect additional investment to be made in Budget 2025. Given this and the current state of the economy, we are looking at another tough budget season. Council and administration will consider how to ensure you receive the services you expect and need while balancing the current inflationary conditions. This will include looking at efficiencies and other cost savings.
PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE In our spring newsletter, we shared opportunities for you to participate in Plan Your County to help shape the plans, strategies and other documents that will guide County growth. Your input helped us develop and update plans and policies, including the draft Hamlet Resiliency Strategy for our nine rural hamlets and the completed Intermunicipal Development Plan (IDP) with the Town of Beaverlodge. We continue to work on the IDP with the City of Grande Prairie and the Municipal Development Plan Update. Find details on page 15.