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Home My WebLink About2026-01-29 Council (Regular) MinutesCounty of Newell Meeting Minutes Council January 29, 2026 -10:00 AM The regular Council Meeting of the County of Newell was held in the County Office and livestreamed to the public on Thursday, January 29, 2026 commencing at 10:00 a.m. Notice was posted at the front entrance advising the public of the meeting. MEMBERS PRESENT: COUNCILLORS ABSENT: A. Doerksen, Reeve D. Baumgarten A. Skanderup L. Kopp G. Skriver K. Christman N.Johnson B. Hofer H.Johnson STAFF: M. Fenske, ChiefAdministrative Officer T. Green, Director ofAgricultural Services C. Hok, Manager ofAgricultural Services M. Harbicht, Director of Municipal Seroices C. Siakaluk, Communications Officer (Moderator) A. Nielsen, Executive Assistant OTHERS IN S. Stanway, Brooks Bulletin ATTENDANCE: S. Sgt. R. Harms, RCMP - Brooks Sgt. J. Schmidt, RCMP - Bassano Davidson Family (9) Graham Family (14) CALL TO ORDER 2. C-23/26 Reeve A. Doerksen called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. EXCUSED FROM MEETING MOVED BY COUNCILLOR BENJAMIN HOFER that Councillor H. Johnson be excused from the meeting. MOTION CARRIED 3. G24/26 ADOPTION OF MINUTES 3.7 Minutes - Council (January 15, 2026) MOVED BY COUNCILLOR NEIL JOHNSON that the January 15, 2026 Council Meeting rninutes be adopted as presented. MOTION CARRIED _ _ __ _ _ _ Regular Council January 29, 2026 4. 5. C-25/26 6. FQ CALL FOR POSTAGENDA ITEMS Reeve A. Doerksen called for post agenda items. ADOPTION OF AGENDA MOVED BY COUNCILLOR DAN BAUMGARTEN that the agenda be adopted as amended. MOTION CARRIED QUESTION PERIOD/NOTICE OF MOTION A question period and notice of motion was held. No County Ratepayers were in attendance. The moderator indicated that there were no questions from the public. AGRICULTURAL SERVICES BUSINESS 8.1 Agricultural Fieldman's Report (January 2026) The Director of Agricultural Services introduced C. Hok, Manager of Agricultural Services, to Council. C. Hok provided background information on herself. The Director of Agricultural Services presented the Agricultural Fieldman's Report to Council. Council was given the opportunity to ask questions. The Director of Agricultural Services responded to questions regarding rental space at the Crop Diversification Centre South. C-26/26 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR DAN BAUMGARTEN that the Agricultural Fieldman's Report for January 2026 be accepted as presented. MOTION CARRIED LEFT THE MEETING T. Green and C. Hok left the meeting at 10:12 a.m. 9. ADMINISTRATIVE BUSINESS 9.1 Expanding Council Representation on the Rural Brooks Area Recreation Board The Chief Administrative Officer provided background information on this item and responded to questions from CounciL C-27/26 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR GREG SKRIVER that the Rural Brooks Area Recreation Board will include the Councillors from Divisions 4, 5, and 7 who will serve together with three members-at-large, one each residing within the boundaries of Divisions 5, 7, and the portion of Division 4 located within the Rural Brooks Recreation Area. MOTION CARRIED Page 2 of 8 Regular Council January 29, 2026 9.2 Request for Support - Rolling Hills Agricultural Academy The Chief Administrative Officer provided background information on this item and responded to questions from Council. Discussion followed regarding changing the funding source to the Stabilization Fund. C-28/26 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR KELLY CHRISTMAN that Council approve funding in support of the Rolling Hills Agricultural Academy Barn Project as follows: a) $24,560 as a non-repayable grant from the Stabilization Fund; and b) $10,000 as an unsecured loan to the Fundraising Society of the Rolling Hills School, to be repaid over a term of five (5) years at a fixed interest rate equal to the Government of Alberta Local Authorities Lending Rate in effect for a five (5) year loan as at December 30, 2025; and further that: c) Administration be directed to prepare a borrowing bylaw to authorize the loan in accordance with the Municipal GovernmentAct; d) Administration be directed to finalize and execute a loan agreement, including repayment terms and default provisions, to the satisfaction of the ChiefAdministrative Officer. Discussion followed regarding the project and the Chief Administrative Officer responded to questions regarding the proposed loan. Councillor D. Baumgarten provided additional information regarding efforts to secure addiiional funding. Reeve A. Doerksen called the question. VOTE ON MOTION C-28/26 — MOTION CARRIED 9.3 Joint Meeting - Grasslands Schools (February 12, 2026) The Chief Administrative Officer provided background information on this item. Discussion followed regarding agenda items as follows: • Agricultural education opportunities - Crop Diversification Centre South • Mobile planetarium • Update on the trades program 9.4 Requests for Functions of Council 9.4.1 Alberta CARE Spring Seminar (March 18-20, 2026) The Executive Assistant provided background information on this item and responded to questions from Council. Councillor L. Kopp provided additional information on the conference and asked that the County provide a donation for the silent auction. Page 3 of 8 _ RegWar Council January 29, 2026 C-29/26 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR LYNETTE KOPP that any Councillor be permitted to attend the Alberta CARE Spring Seminar in Brooks, AB on March 18-20, 2026 as a function of CounciL MOTION CARRIED 9.4.2 Alberta Rural Education Symposium (March 1-3, 2026) The Chief Administrative Officer provided background information on this item. Discussion followed C-30/26 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR KELLY CHRISTMAN that one (1) Councillor be permitted to attend the Alberta Rural Education Symposium in Enoch, AB on March 1-3, 2026 as a function of Council. MOTION CARRIED Administration was directed to secure accommodation for this event The delegate will be selected at a later date. ARRIVED AT MEETING M. Harbicht arrived at 10:30 a.m. 10. The Director of Municipal Sen�ices provided background information on this item and responded to questions from Council. Discussion followed regarding snow removal on Grass/ands Schoo/s properties. The Director of Municipal Services indicated that Grasslands Schools has not requested assistance with snow removal at rural properties. C-31/26 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR LYNETTE KOPP that Policy POL-006-26 Snow & Ice Control be adopted as presented. MOTION CARRIED LEFT THE MEETING M. Harbicht left the meeting at 10:35 a.m. 11. COMMITTEE REPORTS 11.1 MUNICIPAL SERVICES BUSINESS 10.1 Policy Review POL-006-26 Snow & Ice Control 11.2 County of Newell Library Board CouncillorA. Skanderup submitted a written report. Shortgrass Library Board CouncillorA. Skanderup submitted a written report. Page 4 of 8 Regular Council January 29, 2026 11.3 Recreation Board - Tilley & Area CouncillorA. Skanderup submitted a written report. 11.4 City of Brooks Recreation 8 Parks Board Councillor G. Skriver reported that the County of Newell is now fully represented on the Board. The City's Parks department has been removing hate messaging graffiti around Brooks. The master plan action items have been updated. 17.5 Newell Housing Foundation Councillor A. Skanderup provided a vacancy update, indicating that there are available spaces in Newbrook Lodge. She provided information regarding flooding caused by a broken water pipe. K. Steinley was elected Chair and Councillor A. Skanderup Vice Chair of the Newell Housing Foundation. Councillor A. Skanderup responded to questions regarding the recent outbreak status assigned to some of the lodges, noting that the outbreak status has been lifted. 11.6 Newell Recycling Association Councillor L. Kopp reported that the Newell Recycling Association's Annual General Meeting will be held March 25, 2026 at 7.�00 p.m. Document shredding events are planned for March, April, and May. Councillor L. Kopp provided an update on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), indicating that funds are coming in from Circular Materials. 11.7 Palliser Economic Partnership Reeve A. Doerksen provided an update on the Palliser Economic Partnership fundraising dinner to be held in Brooks, AB on February 9, 2026. Speakers at the event will include Premier/MLA D. Smith, the Community Foundation of Southeast Alberta, and representatives from veterinary medicine schools. Efforts are undenvay to bring veterinary program students to the event. Reeve A. Doerksen asked Council to fonvard the invitation to their local agricultural societies. Discussion followed regarding improving the communications between Council and the Palliser Economic Partnership. Staff was asked to gather more information regarding a call to action from the Provincial Agricultural Services Depariment to speak to local Members of Parliament regarding the omission of veterinarians from a recent federal grant announcement listing career professionals. 11.8 2026 Agricultural Services Board Conference Councillor D. Baumgarten and Councillor K. Christman submitted written reports. Discussion followed. Page 5 of 8 . _ . Regular Council January 29, 2026 ARRIVED AT MEETING S. Sgt. R. Harms and Sgt. J. Schmidt arrived at 10:55 a.m. RECESS Council RECESSED at 10:55 a.m. and RECONVENED at 11:02 a.m. 7. DELEGATIONS 7.1 RCMP Quarterly Reports - Brooks S. Sgt. R. Harms presented the Brooks RCMP Quarterly Report to Council, including an overview of statistics and significant events. He reminded drivers to exercise caution and pay attention to signage to prevent motor vehicle accidents. Council was given the opportunity to ask questions. S. Sgt. R. Harms responded to questions regarding the hate messaging that is being found throughout the region, indicating that the RCMP is actively investigating and resources and specialized support units have been assigned. 7.2 RCMP Quarterly Reports - Bassano Sgt. J. Schmidt presented the Bassano RCMP Quarterly Report to Council, including an overview of statistics and significant events. Council was given the opportunity to ask questions. S. Sgt. R. Harms provided information regarding revisiting and reestablishing RCMP local detachment priorities, which will include public consultations including a survey that will be released next week. He gave an overview of how priorities are determined. Proposed priorities for both the Brooks and Bassano detachments are property crime reduction, drug enforcement, traffic safety, and community engagement and visibility. Council was given the opportunity to ask questions. S. Sgt. R. Harms and Sgt. J. Schmidt provided further information regarding hate messaging, reminding the public to report any items to the RCMP and not handle them. Sgt. J. Schmidt provided information on an upcoming coffee with a cop event in Bassano. Other items discussed included scams involving Al generated audio and video. LEFT THE MEETING S. Sgt. R. Harms and Sgt. J. Schmidt left the meeting 11:39 a.m. RECESS Council RECESSED at 11:39 a.m. and RECONVENED at 11:48 a.m. Page 6 of 8 Regular Council January 29, 2026 ARRIVED AT MEETING T. Green and the 100 Year Farm Awards recipients arrived at 11:48 a.m. 7.3 100 Year Farm Awards Presentation Reeve A. Doerksen provided opening remarks and welcomed the 100 Year Farm Awards recipients to the Council meeting. The Director of Agricultural Services provided background information on this item. 100 Year Farm Awards were presented to the following: • Davidson Family • Graham Family A representative from each of the families in attendance provided background information on their family and a history of their farm. LEFT THE MEETING T. Green and the 100 Year Farm Awards recipients left the meeting at 12:15 p.m. LUNCH Council RECESSED for lunch at 12:15 p.m. and RECONVENED at 1:10 p.m. 12. POST AGENDA ITEMS 12.1 Letter of Support — Urgent Action Required on Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Task Force Recommendations — Protecting Alberta's Irrigation Infrastructure The Chief Administrative Officer and Reeve A. Doerksen provided background information on this item. The head of the Alberta Invasive Species Task Force and the Chair of the Alberta Irrigation Districts Association confirmed that letters of support from municipalities would be helpful in implementing the AIS Task Force recommendations. C-32/26 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR NEIL JOHNSON that the County of Newell provides a letter, signed by the Reeve, urging the Province to take immediate action on the AIS Task Force's recommendations and to proceed with the dip tank pilot project as a proactive measure to prevent the introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species. MOTION CARRIED 13. INFORMATION ITEMS 13.1 Strategic Priorities Chart This item was accepted as information. Page 7 of 8 . . Regular Council January 29, 2026 14. QUESTION PERIOD A question period was held. No County Ratepayers were in attendance. The moderator indicated that there were no questions from the public. 75. IN CAMERA C-33/26 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR LYNETTE KOPP that we move in camera at 1:15 p.m. to discuss the following matters: • Healthcare Professional Housing - Intergovernmental Relations —Access to Information Act Section 26. MOTION CARRIED C-34/26 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR DAN BAUMGARTEN that we move out of camera at 2:08 p.m. MOTION CARRIED 16. ADJOURN Being that the agenda matters have been concluded, the meeting adjourned at 2:08 p.m. Signed this �L' day of��`'�\ , 2026 i �e e �,��-�..,�J�-�_ County Administrator Page 8 of 8