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Home My WebLink About2026-10-08 Council (Regular) MinutesCounty of Newell Meeting Minutes Council October 8, 2026 The regular Council Meeting of the County of Newell was held in the County Office and livestreamed to the public on Thursday, October 8, 2026 commencing at 10:22 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 (via Microsoft Teams) L. Kopp H.Johnson G. Skriver K. Christman N.Johnson B. Hofer STAFF: M. Fenske, ChiefAdministrative Officer T. Green, Director ofAgricultural Services M. Jackson, Planning and Development Supervisor M. Harbicht, Director of Municipal Services C. Siakaluk, Communications O�cer (Moderator) A. Nielsen, Executive Assistant OTHERS IN S. Stanway, Brooks Bulletin ATTENDANCE: 1. CALL TO ORDER Reeve A. Doerksen called the meeting to order at 10:22 a.m. 2. EXCUSED FROM MEETING All members were in attendance at this meeting. 3. ADOPTION OF MINUTES 3.1 Minutes - Council (September 24, 2026) C-314/26 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR LYNETTE KOPP that the September 24, 2026 Council Meeting minutes be adopted as presented. MOTION CARRIED 4. CALL FOR POST AGENDA ITEMS Reeve A. Doerksen called for post agenda items. _. _ __ Regular Council Odober 8, 2026 5. ADOPTION OF AGENDA C-315/26 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR KELLY CHRISTMAN that the agenda be adopted as amended. 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. 9. AGRICULTURAL SERVICES BUSINESS 9.1 ASB Update The Director of Agricultural Services presented an update on the recent activities of the Agricultural Services Department. Council was given the opportunity to ask questions. The Director of Agricultural Services responded to questions regarding the strychnine program audit. Discussion followed. LEFT THE MEETING T Green left the meeting at 10:36 a.m. 10. ADMINISTRATIVE BUSINESS 10.1 Requests for Functions of Council 10.1.1 Seeds of Change: Rural Immigration Conference (November 9-10, 2026) C-316/26 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR NEIL JOHNSON that any Councillor be permitted to attend the Seeds of Change Rural Immigration Conference in Brooks, AB on November 9-10, 2026 as a function of Council. MOTION CARRIED 10.1.2 Violence Threat Risk Assessment (VTRA) Level 1 Training (November 9-10, 2026) C-317/26 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR HOLLY JOHNSON that any Councillor be permitted to attend Violence Threat Risk Assessment (VTRA) Level 1 Training in Brooks, AB on November 9-10, 2026 as a function of Council. MOTION CARRIED 10.1.3 An Evening with Pierre Poilievre: Building a Stronger, More Competitive Canada for Business (October 1, 2026) Discussion followed regarding whether this event would be considered a function of Council. Page 2 of 6 Regular Council Odober 8, 2026 10.1.4 Community Planning Association of Alberta Conference (April 26-27, 2027) The Chief Administrative Officer provided background information on this item, indicating that it is on the list of approved Functions of Council in the Councillor Compensation & Expenses policy. Discussion followed and Council indicated that three (3) Councillors will attend. This item will be discussed further at a future Council meeting. 10.1.5 Alberta Airsheds Council (AAC) Airhub Launch Workshop (November 24, 2026) Councillor K. Christman provided background information on this item. This item will be brought back to a future Council meeting when more details are available. 11. MUNICIPAL SERVICES BUSINESS 11.1 Director of Municipal Services Report The Director of Municipal Services presented his report to Council, giving an overview of the highlights. Council was given the opportunity to ask questions. The Director of Municipal Services responded to questions regarding the Southern Municipal Enforcement Working Group, bike patrols, and additional questions. C-318/26 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR HOLLY JOHNSON that the Director of Municipal Services Report for September 2026 be APPROVED as presented MOTION CARRIED LEFT THE MEETING M. Harbicht left the meeting at 11:03 a.m. 12. POST AGENDA ITEMS 12.1 Cost of Living Reeve A. Doerksen provided background information on this item, indicating that there is an opportunity to bring up cost of living concerns with Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) and provide direction to higher levels of government. Discussion followed regarding preparing information for the RMA Fall 2026 Convention Bear Pit session. Councillor K. Christman indicated that she would bring it up with the RMA Board. C-319/26 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR GREG SKRIVER that, recognizing how taxation can impact the cost of living and productivity, Council supports Councillor Kelly Christman through her work with the Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) to highlight to the provincial and federal governments the importance of getting the cost of living under control. MOTION CARRIED Page 3 of 6 Regular Council October 8, 2026 15. IN CAMERA C-320/26 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR DAN BAUMGARTEN that we move in camera at 11:18 a.m. to discuss the following matters: • Intergovernmental Relations —Access to Information Act Section 26. MOTION CARRIED C-321/26 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR GREG SKRIVER that we move out of camera at 11:26 a.m. MOTION CARRIED RECESS Council RECESSED at 11:26 a.m. and RECONVENED at 11:32 a.m. C-322/26 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR LYNETTE KOPP that we move into Public Hearings at 11:32 a.m. MOTION CARRIED 7. PUBLIC HEARINGS 7.1 Bylaw 2139-26 26 LUA 004 (Plan 8010764 Block A in NE 36-14-14-W4 - I-GEN to R-RUR) Reeve A. Doerksen called the Public Hearing to order at 11:32 a.m. Reeve A. Doerksen did not review the procedures that would be followed for the hearing as there were no new persons in attendance. The Planning & Development Supervisor stated that the intent of the Public Hearing is to hear representations on Bylaw 2139-26. The intent of this bylaw is to amend Land Use Bylaw 2016-21 by rezoning Plan 8010764 Block A in NE 36-14-14-W4 from Industrial, General (1-GEN) District to Residential, Rural (R-RUR) District. The Planning & Development Supervisor provided background information on this item indicating that a copy of the document had been circulated to adjacent landowners and to a list of affected agencies. No responses have been received from adjacent landowners. None of the affected agencies have indicated any objections. There were no persons in attendance speaking either in favor of or in opposition to the proposed bylaw Council was given the opportunity to ask questions. C-323/26 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR HOLLY JOHNSON that we move out of Public Hearings at 11:34 a.m. MOTION CARRIED Page 4 of 6 Regular Council October 8, 2026 8. BYLAWS 8.1 Bylaw 2139-26 26 LUA 004 (Plan 8010764 Block A in NE 36-14-14-W4 - I-GEN to R-RUR) C-324/26 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR NEIL JOHNSON that Bylaw 2139-26, being a bylaw to amend Land Use Bylaw 2016-21 by redesignating Plan 8010764 Block A in NE 36-14-14-W4 from Industrial, General (I-GEN) District to Residential, Rural (R-RUR) District, be given SECOND reading. MOTION CARRIED C-325/26 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR DAN BAUMGARTEN that Bylaw 2139-26 be given THIRD and FINAL reading. MOTION CARRIED 13. INFORMATION ITEMS 13.1 Strategic Priorities Chart This item was accepted as information. 13.2 Mayors & Reeves Association - Update from MLA Grant Hunter This item was accepted as information. 13.3 RCMP Report (Bassano) This item was accepted as information. 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. 15. IN CAMERA - continued C-326/26 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR HOLLY JOHNSON that we move in camera at 11:35 a.m. to discuss the following matters: • Intergovernmental Relations -Access to Information Act Section 26. MOTION CARRIED C-327/26 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR KELLY CHRISTMAN that we move out of camera at 12:10 p.m. MOTION CARRIED Page 5 of 6 Regular Council October 8, 2026 76. ADJOURN Being that the agenda matters have been concluded, the meeting adjourned at 12:10 p.m. Signed this %� day of ��'� Page 6 of 6 , 2026 � eeve A 'a�� r� _ County Administrator