By: Woodlands County
Woodlands County council discussed the following items at their recent meeting of Council:
Margaret Osborne, Anna Swan, and Jocelyn McKinnon of the Barrhead Community Victim Services Unit Association were in attendance to provide an update on their association. The association saw a high demand for their services in 2022 with their case files nearly doubling from the previous year. Council approved a $3,000 contribution in support of their services.
A public hearing for Bylaw 606/23 – 2023LUA03 – Land Use Amendment for PT NE 28-59-12-W5M Plan 972-4048 Lot 1 was scheduled for 9:35 am, October 11, 2023, and Bylaw 602/23 – 2023LUA02 – Land Use Amendment for PT S 31-59-12-W5M Plan 082-5617 Block 5 Lot 1 was scheduled for 10 am, October 11, 2023. Both public hearings will be held at the Whitecourt Municipal Office.
Council will bring a proposed Floodway Development Regulation Bill 27 resolution to the next regional Pembina Zone 3 meeting. The resolution calls for the provincial government to expedite the implementation of an Alberta Flood Regulation to support improved floodway development, land-use planning, emergency response, and address other flood-related issues and risks.
Woodlands County is forwarding an interim $1.5 million payment to the Town of Whitecourt towards 2023 cost-share services. Since 2020, the County has contributed $3.5 million to Whitecourt for cost-share services, while the Intermunicipal Collaboration Agreement is finalized.
Council adopted amended Policy 6204 – Emergency Relief Assistance for Catastrophic Events. Woodlands County will provide $1,000 to a resident that experiences an event that causes a total loss or uninhabitable conditions to their residence and/or total loss of a person’s personal belongings, i.e., house fire, landslide.
Council adopted amended Policy 5103 – Youth Enrichment Subsidy (YES). It provides Woodlands County children and youth with up to a maximum of $600 per year in funding to be able to participate in recreation, sports, arts, and culture programs. Funding will be issued throughout the year on a first come first serve basis.
The next scheduled meetings are Governance & Priorities meeting on Wednesday, September 20, 4 pm. The next regular Council meeting is Wednesday, September 27, 5:30 pm. Meetings are held in-person at the Municipal Office in Whitecourt and streamed on the Woodlands County YouTube channel. Agenda packages are available on the Woodlands County CivicWeb Portal.
