Current News Releases

The ALUS Lacombe County program—which promotes sustainable agriculture through the delivery of an Alternative Land Use Services program—is looking for its next group of participants to join them for the 2019 program year.

“Since we launched ALUS, we have established some remarkable relationships and projects, and are putting out a call to producers and landowners in Lacombe County to come on board and help us grow this program even more,” explained Marilyn Sharp, chair for ALUS Lacombe County Partnership.

The ALUS program places a value on the delivery of ecosystem services and financially compensates landowners and agricultural producers a per acre rate for projects such as constructing off-site watering stations, planting trees, shelterbelts or natural vegetation, seeding grass or perennial crops around ecological sensitive areas, building hen houses, or establishing pollinator habitat – to name a few.

Lacombe County Council endorsed the 2018 State of the Environment Report at their last meeting. Rewritten for 2018, the State of the Environment Report (SOE) offers a glimpse into the current conditions of the environment. Using a combination of scientific data and socio-economic factors, the report also provides insight into the various pressures impacting Lacombe County.

“Our original intent was to develop a full-scale revision of the State of the Environment Report,” said Jennifer Berry, Lacombe County Environmental Coordinator. “However, there wasn’t enough new data and research released over the past five years to warrant a fully revised SOE, so we focused the 2018 report on the ways Lacombe County has progressed with environmental stewardship and management since 2013.”

Work has been completed on the first phase of the Sylvan Lake Intermunicipal Development Plan (IDP). This phase of the project focused on understanding the opportunities and issues that currently exist within the Sylvan Lake area, and involved public and stakeholder engagement as well as the review of background studies and reports for the eight municipalities that surround Sylvan Lake.

Engagement Findings

Engagement for the first phase of the project included a public open house, public survey (including an online option), online interactive mapping, as well as a meeting with identified key stakeholder groups. Some of the key focus areas that came out of engagement include:

Lacombe City Council is proceeding with the construction of the West Area Servicing project by awarding major construction contracts following a rigorous tendering process.

“Council is pleased to see this project move forward, and we look forward to the positive impact it will have on the local and regional economies,” said City of Lacombe Mayor Grant Creasey. “The City of Lacombe is working collaboratively with Lacombe County to ensure that growth and development along our borders is beneficial to both municipalities.”

“These construction contracts are an important first step for the West Area Servicing project, which will ensure continued growth in our region,” said Lacombe County Reeve Paula Law. “This project will have a positive, long-term impact on the local economy for both Lacombe County and the City of Lacombe, and is an example of how rural-urban municipalities can successfully work together.”

During the upcoming winter months, Lacombe County’s brushing crews (when available,) will be performing selective brushing, for maintenance purposes, in our Right-of-Ways. This includes the streets and back alleys within the Hamlet of Mirror.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Dale Kary, Lacombe County Maintenance Foreman at 403-304-0424, or the Lacombe County Public Works Shop at 403-782-3567.