Current News Releases

Updated, user-friendly Agricultural Guide emphasizes the importance of agriculture sustainability within Lacombe County.

Lacombe County Council recently approved an updated Agricultural Guide to help Lacombe County producers, residents and other stakeholders easily find agriculture-specific information.

“Agriculture is part of life in Lacombe County,” said Paula Law, Lacombe County Reeve. “We want to make sure it stays in the forefront, today and in the future, and the Agricultural Guide is a living document that will help ensure that.”

The guide is organized to easily assist agricultural producers and the County’s rural community by collecting policies, bylaws, legislation and County programming directly related to Lacombe County’s agriculture industry.

The Environmental Appeals Board has scheduled a hearing for the Town of Blackfalds/Water Act (Approval Nos. 00387959-00-00 & 00391359-00-00/0ur File Nos.: EAB 20-011-014 & 20-016) appeals for June 14 and 17, 2021. The hearing will take place via video conference.

The Board, as part of its normal practice when a hearing is scheduled, is providing you with a copy of its Notice of Hearing for your information (see PDF below). The Board's Notice of Hearing contains a deadline of May 6, 2021 for applications from others to make representations before the Board. After May 6, 2021 the Board will, in its discretion, determine if other persons may make representations and the manner in which they can be made.

Lacombe County lifted its fire restriction on April 23, 2021. Applications for fire permits and fireworks permits will be now be accepted.

While conditions have improved, the risk of a fire’s spreading quickly in dry conditions is not gone. All open burning requires a permit and MUST be monitored and kept under control by the permit holder at all times. Any emergency response as a result of an out-of-control permitted burn is at the expense of the permit holder.

For more information on fire permits, please visit:  https://www.lacombecounty.com/index.php/fire-permits1.

Testing for Alberta Environment & Parks (AEP) regulated water systems will be conducted in Mirror, Lakeview Estates and Aspelund Industrial Business Parks.

This summer, Lacombe County will launch a lead testing program to ensure residents have safe drinking water in their homes and businesses. This program is in response to updated guidelines put forth by the federal government, which lowers the maximum acceptable concentration of lead from 0.010 mg/L to 0.005 mg/L with the point of compliance being the resident’s tap.

Effective April 6, 2021, a Fire Restriction is in effect for all of Lacombe County due to expected warm temperatures and increased wind speeds. At this time, Lacombe County has cancelled current fire permits and has suspended any fire permit requests. We ask that ALL fires are extinguished until conditions improve.

What is permitted during a Fire Restriction?

Lacombe County will have rain barrels available for purchase for $24 + GST (50/50 cost share with the County). They will be available for purchase on Thursdays from 8am-10am, starting on April 1st.

DETAILS

• Only available for purchase on THURSDAYS between 8-10am.
• You must be a County resident and provide proof (e.g. tax notice or utility bill).
• Limit of one/household.
• There are 96 rain barrels for sale on a first-come-first-serve basis.
• Purchase yours up at the Lacombe County administration building to purchase.

Lacombe County is speaking up to support the Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) in highlighting the concerns and implications of unpaid oil and gas property taxes.

Recently, the RMA provided member municipalities with the results of a survey they conducted on unpaid oil and gas property taxes borne by rural municipalities in Alberta. The survey results indicate that rural municipalities face an overall unpaid oil and gas property tax burden of $245.7 million, with still-operating oil and gas companies responsible for 57% of these unpaid taxes.

“Lacombe County recognizes the challenges facing the oil and gas industry and has a long history of partnering with companies operating in the area to grow the rural economy,” said Paula Law, Reeve of Lacombe County. “Many of our ratepayers are experiencing financial difficulties from the economic downturn and effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. We do not support shifting the unpaid oil and gas taxes to Lacombe County property owners because some oil and gas companies are choosing not to fulfill their property tax commitments.”

Lacombe County in partnership with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry will be selling 2% Liquid Strychnine for the control of Richardson Ground Squirrels. This will be the FINAL YEAR that Lacombe County will be selling strychnine.

Producers can purchase the product on Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Lacombe County Administration Office. There is a minimum purchase of 6 bottles/customer, and each bottle costs $11.75/bottle or $282.00/case

Purchase Procedure

Lacombe County reminds ratepayers that fire permit season starts on March 1, 2021. Burning without a fire permit can result in a hefty fine. 

Ratepayers can submit their fire permits 24/7 online through the Lacombe County website (www.lacombecounty.com) or through the my Lacombe County app (iPhone users only). They can also request permits in person at the Lacombe County Office or by calling 403-782-8959 during business hours.

Alberta Transportation is developing an interim plan for Highway 11, between Red Deer and Eckville to improve both traffic capacity and traffic safety. We want to hear what your concerns are.

Please visit the on-line engagement link to find out more information and add to the discussion:
https://vertisee.mcelhanney.com/Highway11FPS/

pdf Highway 11 Twinning info (4.23 MB)

Lacombe Council recently approved an updated Joint Economic Area Agreement (JEAA). Initially adopted in 2007, the discussion around updating the document was initiated as part of the Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework signed between the municipalities last year. The revisions made to the JEAA encompass the long-standing history of collaboration between the City and County and provides updates necessary to reflect our current situation in.

The bulk of the original 2007 JEAA has not changed significantly. The main changes to note are:

• The tax sharing revenue pool will be reduced by the County's cost of providing services such as snow removal, road maintenance, mowing, fire services, and other work related to ongoing municipal servicing requirements.
• The area covered by the agreement will expand slightly to reflect additional lands in the County that can be serviced with City water and wastewater. In return, the County will share a portion of the municipal taxes generated from these lands as they are developed.

Census 2021 | Statistics Canada is hiring in your community!

• Schools, housing, and health and emergency services are all planned using census data.
• We are hiring approximately 32,000 census employees to count every person in Canada.
• In the current context of COVID-19, we are committed to ensuring the safety of our employees at all times.
• Help your community to plan for the future—apply now!

IMPORTANT TO KNOW:

• Pay rates vary by position from $17.83 to $21.77 per hour, plus authorized expenses.
• Start and end dates vary by position and location but are between March and July 2021.
• You must be available to work flexible hours, mainly during evenings and weekends.

New flood maps are available for watersheds across Alberta, including our own watershed. You do not need to be an engineer or flood expert to view or provide feedback. The provincial government will carefully consider all feedback received and will revise the draft reports and flood maps to address technical errors, as appropriate.

The provincial government has released draft flood maps meant to improve public safety, support emergency management, and help build safer and more resilient communities over the long term. Engagement opportunities are open for Albertans to provide feedback on new flood maps. Feedback will help ensure this work is technically sound.

Share your thoughts on the draft flood maps by going to www.alberta.ca/flood-study-engagements.aspx by January 15, 2021.

While the office remains open (Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.), Lacombe County is following AHS guidelines and has a number of County staff working from home. As such, the public is advised to call ahead to ensure the staff member you are wishing to meet with is in the office. Please note that all staff members are available via email and cell phone.

We ask that you consider using the following alternative service options:

• Phone (403-782-6601)
• Email ()
• Online service request portal
• Facebook (@LacombeCounty)

In previous years, Lacombe County has coordinated the Take it Off program on local lakes.

As per the Alberta Guide to Sportfishing Regulations, it is now mandatory to identify your ice fishing hut with your WiN number OR name, phone number, and address. Ice huts MUST be removed before March 31.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Alberta Environment and Parks at 310-0000