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Home My WebLink About2026-03-12 Council (Regular) MinutesCounty of Newell Meeting Minutes Council March 12, 2026 The regular Council Meeting of the County of Newell was held in the County Office and livestreamed to the public on Thursday, March 12, 2026 commencing at 10:16 a.m. Notice was posted at the front entrance advising the public of the meeting. MEMBERS A. Doerksen, Reeve PRESENT: COUNCILLORS: D. Baumgarten A. Skanderup L. Kopp H.Johnson G. Skriver K. Christman N.Johnson B. Hofer STAFF: M. Fenske, Chief Administrative Officer S. Hanson, Controller M. Harbicht, Director of Municipal Services G. Tiffin, Manager of Planning, Development and Engineering Services R. Irwin, Engineering Supervisor L. Johnson, Director of Corporate Services S. Biette, Corporate Services Supervisor K. Halsted, SeniorAssessor C. Siakaluk,_Communications Officer (Moderator)_ A. Nielsen, Executive Assistant OTHERS IN S. Stanway, Brooks Bulletin ATTENDANCE: M. Regner, Councillor - City of Brooks K. Steinley, Newell Regional Services Corporation S. Skanderup, Tilley & District Recreation Board P. Nielsen, Tilley & District Recreation Board B. Chrumka, Tilley & District Recreation Board D. Frey, Frey Consulting Ltd. CALL TO ORDER Reeve A. Doerksen called the meeting to order at 10:16 a.m. 2. EXCUSED FROM MEETING All members were in attendance at this meeting. Regular Council March 12, 2026 3. ADOPTION OF MINUTES 3.1 Minutes - Council (February 26, 2026) C-70/26 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR HOLLY JOHNSON that the February 26, 2026 Council Meeting minutes be adopted as presented. MOTION CARRIED 4. CALL FOR POST AGENDA ITEMS Reeve A. Doerksen called for post agenda items. 5. ADOPTION OF AGENDA C-71126 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR KELLY CHRISTMAN that the agenda be adopted as presented. MOTION CARRIED 6. 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. 7. BYLAWS 7.1 Bylaw 2116-26 Loan - Rolling Hills Agricultural Society Post Office Project The Controller provided background information on this item and responded to questions from Council. Councillor D. Baumgarten provided additional background information on funds raised so far by the Rolling Hills community who are very much in support of this initiative. C-72126 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR NEIL JOHNSON that Bylaw 2116-26, being a bylaw to authorize lending money to the Rolling Hills Agricultural Society for the purchase of the structure which houses the Rolling Hills Post Office facility, be given FIRST reading. MOTION CARRIED LEFT THE MEETING S. Hanson left the meeting at 10:20 a.m. 9. ADMINISTRATIVE BUSINESS 9.1 Request for Letter of Support - Rolling Hills Post Office The Executive Assistant provided background information on this item and responded to questions from Council. Page 2 of 7 Regular Council March 12, 2026 C-73/26 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR ADENA SKANDERUP that the County of Newell provides a letter, signed by the Reeve, in support of the hamlet efforts to preserve the post office level of service in Rolling Hills. MOTION CARRIED 9.2 Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) Spring 2026 Convention Update The Executive Assistant provided background information on this item and responded to questions from Council. This item was accepted as information. 9.3 RMA Spring 2026 Convention - Resolutions Council was presented with the resolutions package for the RMA Spring 2026 Convention. Discussion followed on the resolutions and whether to support them. ARRIVED AT MEETING K. Steinley arrived at 10:43 a.m. Further discussion on this item was postponed until later during this meeting. 10, MUNICIPAL SERVICES BUSINESS 10.1 Utilities - NRSC Report K. Steinley presented The Utilities - NRSC Report to Council, giving an overview of the highlights. ARRIVED AT MEETING R. Irwin arrived at 10:49 a.m. S. Biette arrived at 10:51 a.m. Council was given the opportunity to ask questions. K. Steinley responded to questions regarding leaks and line breaks in both County and NRSC infrastructure due to weather conditions. ARRIVED AT MEETING G. Tiffin arrived at 10:54 a.m. K Steinley responded to questions regarding recent transmission line repairs in Rolling Hills and provided an update on the replacement distribution pump for Scandia. LEFT THE MEETING K. Steinley left the meeting at 10:56 a.m. Page 3 of 7 Regular Council March 12, 2026 ARRIVED AT MEETING K. Halsted arrived at 10:56 a.m. 10.2 Director of Municipal Services Report The Director of Municipal Services presented his report to Council, giving an overview of the highlights. ARRIVED AT MEETING L. Johnson arrived at 10:58 a.m. The Director of Municipal Services continued. He provided information regarding the upcoming dust abatement program, indicating the cost of the product has increased. Council was given the opportunity to ask questions. The Director of Municipal Services responded to questions regarding the JBS Access Road, pathway maintenance service levels, and increased enforcement near construction. C-74/26 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR HOLLY JOHNSON that the Director of Municipal Services Report and the Utilities - NRSC Report for February 2026 be APPROVED as presented. MOTION CARRIED 10.3 Engineering Services - Paved Roads The Engineering Supervisor provided background information on this item. Council was given the opportunity to ask questions. The Chief Administrative Officer indicated that engineering costs are generally 10% of the overall project cost and are included in the budget for each construction project. C-75126 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR NEIL JOHNSON that Council authorize Administration to enter into a standing offer agreement with ISL Engineering Services Ltd. for professional engineering services for paved road projects for the term ending December 31, 2028, with the option to extend. MOTION CARRIED LEFT THE MEETING R. Irwin, G. Tiffin, and M. Harbicht left the meeting at 11:10 a.m. RECESS Council RECESSED at 11:10 a.m. and RECONVENED at 11:17 a.m. Page 4 of 7 Regular Council March 12, 2026 8. DELEGATIONS 8.1 Assessment Overview The Senior Assessor provided an assessment update, indicating that it has increased from $4.9 billion ($4.6 billion taxable) in 2024 to $5.1 billion ($4.8 billion taxable) in 2025. Part of the reason for the increase is linear and non -linear Designated Industrial Property assessment. The oil and gas sector makes up 62% of this year's tax base. The JBS expansion has also contributed to an increase in machinery and equipment assessment. Residential values have increased by $110 million. The Senior Assessor explained that an assessor is responsible for assessing farmland, farm residences, acreages, commercial industrial properties, non - farmland, and machinery and equipment. The province assesses linear designated industrial properties (wells, pipelines, electrical power, railways, and solar farms). ARRIVED AT MEETING S. Skanderup, R Nielsen, B. Chrumka, and D. Frey arrived at 11:21 a.m. The Senior Assessor provided information regarding exemptions for farm assessment under the Rural Assessment Policy (RAP), indicating that the rate is regulated and not market value. He gave an overview of the inspection cycle, indicating that each property in the County is inspected at least once per five years unless a Development Permit is issued. The Senior Assessor provided information regarding the impact of solar farms on residential values. During a recent Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) hearing on the Antelope Creek Road solar farm proposal, two appraisers provided information indicated that there is zero to -5% impact on residential values and no impact to vacant or agricultural land. There is, however, a fairly large visual impact on residential properties (viewscapes). Mitigation strategies such as buffer zones provided by the solar farm developer in this case were sufficient and newer solar farm projects have a wider buffer between the solar farm and adjacent residences. The Senior Assessor responded to questions from Council. Council requested that the Senior Assessor be invited to a future Committee of the Whole meeting to provide a more in-depth presentation on assessment. LEFT THE MEETING K. Halsted and S. Biette left the meeting at 11:35 a.m. 14. IN CAMERA C-76/26 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR LYNETTE KOPP that we move in camera at 11:35 a.m. to discuss the following matters: Page 5 of 7 Regular Council March 12, 2026 • Tilley Recreation Board - Advice from Officials -Access to Information Act Section 29. MOTION CARRIED C-77126 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR BENJAMIN HOFER that we move out of camera at 12:25 p.m. MOTION CARRIED LEFT THE MEETING S. Skanderup, P. Nielsen, B. Chrumka, D. Frey, and Councillor N. Johnson left the meeting at 12:25 p.m. LUNCH Council RECESSED for lunch at 12:25 p.m. and RECONVENED at 1:18 p.m. 9. ADMINISTRATIVE BUSINESS - continued 9.3 RMA Spring 2026 Convention - Resolutions - continued Discussion continued regarding the RMA Spring 2026 Convention Resolutions. 9.4 Requests for Functions of Council 9.4.1 Play On! Street Hockey Tournament (March 27, 2026) The Chief Administrator provided background information on this item and responded to questions from Council. C-78/26 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR KELLY CHRISTMAN that up to three (3) Councillors be permitted to attend the Play On! Street Hockey Tournament in Taber, AB on March 27, 2026 as a function of Council; further, that Administration purchase Brooks Bandits jerseys for the participating Councillors. MOTION CARRIED 11. POST AGENDA ITEMS There were no post agenda items to discuss at this meeting. 12. INFORMATION ITEMS 12.1 Strategic Priorities Chart This item was accepted as information. Page 6 of 7 Regular Council March 12, 2026 12.2 Bassano RCMP Monthly Report (February 2026) This item was accepted as information. 13. QUESTION PERIOD A question period was held. No County Ratepayers were in attendance. The moderator indicated that there were no questions from the public. 14. IN CAMERA - continued C-79126 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR GREG SKRIVER that we move in camera at 1:18 p.m. to discuss the following matters: • Tilley Recreation Board - Advice from Officials - Access to Information Act Section 29. MOTION CARRIED C-80/26 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR HOLLY JOHNSON that we move out of camera at 1:45 p.m. MOTION CARRIED 15. ADJOURN Being that the agenda matters have been concluded, the meeting adjourned at 1:46 p.m. Signed this GS ' day of 2026 eeve County Administrator Page 7 of 7