News Releases

Want to know what's happened in Lacombe County this month? Read the June edition of the County News to find out.

pdf County News June (3.61 MB)  2017

(Lacombe County, Alberta, June 13, 2017) – With Canada Day celebrations approaching, Lacombe County reminds all residents that a fireworks permit is required if you wish to sell, purchase or set off fireworks within the province of Alberta.

 “The use of fireworks is regulated under the Alberta Fire Code, and unfortunately, there are no exceptions to the rules spelled out in the code,” says Todd Gustafson Lacombe County Fire Chief. “If you plan on shooting off fireworks, regardless of the time of the year, a fireworks permit is required within Lacombe County.”

(Lacombe County, Alberta, June 6, 2017) – Municipal property tax notices were recently mailed out to Lacombe County ratepayers and should be appearing in mailboxes in the coming week. If you do not receive your 2017 tax notice by the end of June, please contact Lacombe County’s Assessment Department at 403-782-6601.

“We encourage ratepayers to be proactive and make sure their tax notice was received,” said Chief Assessor Larry Riep. “To avoid all penalties, tax payments must be received by last business day in August.” Property owners who miss the tax payment deadline will have a 6% penalty applied on September 1, 2017, on the outstanding taxes owing. An additional 10% penalty will be added on December 1 for all taxes remaining unpaid after November 30.

(Lacombe, Alberta, Thursday, May 25, 2017) – CP Rail has notified Lacombe County that they are planning a number of closures of roads at crossings throughout the County over the next couple weeks to facilitate upgrades and repairs to their rail line. 

Traffic will be detoured along local roads during the closure; watch for signs indicating the detour routes. 

Below is a list of roads and tentative dates and times for these closures:

May 30, 2017          Rge. Rd. 27-1 south of Hwy 12              6:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

May 31, 2017          Rge. Rd. 27-3 south of Hwy 12              6:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon

                            Twp. Rd. 40-2 west of Rge. Rd. 27-3      12:00 noon  -6:00 p.m.

June 1, 2017           Rge. Rd. 27-4 south of Hwy 12              6:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

June 2, 2017           Twp. Rd. 40-2 east of Rge. Rd. 27-4      6:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.         

June 3, 2017           Rge. Rd. 27-5 south of Hwy 12              6:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

June 4, 2017           Rge. Rd. 28-4 south of Hwy 12              6:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

(Mirror, Alberta – May 19, 2017) The Highway 12/21 Regional Water Services Commission held a groundbreaking ceremony at the Mirror Community Hall today to celebrate the Mirror to Bashaw portion of the Highway 12/21 Regional Water Line.

The Mirror to Bashaw waterline represents the fifth phase of the Commission’s system, which will be 84-kilometers in length once construction is complete. It will also ensure the communities along it have a safe and secure water supply available to sustain their existing populations and enable their continued economic viability and growth for decades to come.

The May 2017 County News is here! Read it online (click here), or pick up a copy today from the Lacombe County Office!

Lacombe County wants you to know about an upcoming Bylaw Change.

AMENDMENT TO THE BYLAW REGARDING WORK IN ROADS.

The draft bylaw prohibits a utility from constructing a facility within or on a road without first entering into a Master Road Access agreement via a form prescribed by Lacombe County.

The bylaw distinguishes between works in or on a travelled portion of a road and the placement of works within the ditch or back slope. Bylaw No. 1241/17 received first reading on May 11, 2017, and will be considered for second and third reading on June 8, 2017.

Please review these documents for further details:

pdf Bylaw 1241-17 Utilities in Road Right of Way (72 KB)

pdf Master Road Access Agreement TEMPLATE (59 KB)

For more information, please contact the County Commissioner at 403-782-8378.

The Highway 12/21 Regional Water Services Commission will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the Mirror - Bashaw water line on May 19, 2017, commencing at 2:00 p.m. in Mirror. Refreshments will follow.

Mirror - Bashaw Water Transmission Line Ground Breaking Ceremony
Friday, May 19, 2017
Mirror Community Hall – Mirror, Alberta
Time:  2:00 p.m.

Dignitaries attending the event include:

• Blaine Calkins, MP, Red Deer-Lacombe
• Ron Orr, MLA, Lacombe-Ponoka
• Brenda Knight, Highway 12/21 Commission Chairperson
• Todd Simenson, Stantec Consulting Ltd.

(Lacombe, Alberta, May 15, 2017) – At its May 11^th meeting, Council approved the Lacombe County 2017 operating and capital budgets and tax rate bylaw. As indicated in the interim budget, municipal tax rates for 2017 will increase by 1% for residential, farmland and non-residential properties over 2016 rates.

“Council’s commitment to minimize tax increases reflects the current economic climate in Alberta and despite the 1% increase, Lacombe County ratepayers continue to enjoy one of the lowest tax rates in the province,” commented Commissioner Terry Hager.

The 2017 operating budget of $65,795,590 includes $11,519,020 for the Alberta School Foundation Fund requisition and $403,440 for the Lacombe Foundation requisition. The budget increase of $6.16 million from 2016 is largely due to a $5.8 million commitment to the West QEII Water/Wastewater Servicing project. In addition, the 2017 capital budget of $19,536,550 has increased by $1.5 million from last year.

Lacombe County will be hosting a two-day voluntary farm vehicle safety check at our new public works shops located on the east and west sides of the County.  The purpose of this check is to increase both the safety and the awareness of our agricultural industry as it relates to vehicle safety.

Date:  May 30 (West Remote County Shop) / May 31 (East Remote County Shop)

Time:  9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Locations:  May 30 – West Remote County Shop located on Rainy Creek Road near RR3-0.
                 May 31 – East Remote County Shop located on Hwy 12 and Hwy 821, Tees.

RSVP:  Deadline to book a spot is May 29. Drop ins are welcome, but priority will be given to those who booked an inspection spot.

The City of Lacombe is working with Expedition Management Consulting to evaluate the Kinsmen Aquatic Centre to optimize space, service levels, efficiency of operations, safety of citizens and mechanical infrastructure.  They invite Lacombe County pool users to participate in the public survey and/or a focus group to discuss ways to continue to improve Lacombe's Kinsmen Aquatic Centre.

Share your ideas and get involved by answering a few short questions through the online pool survey.  If you prefer a hard copy of the survey, it is available at the Kinsmen Aquatic Centre or Lacombe City Hall.  Survey closes May 26, 2017.

The focus groups are scheduled to take place (in half hour intervals) on May 19th (Friday) from 8:00am – 12:00pm at the Gary Moe Auto Group Sportsplex.  If you are interested in attending a focus group, please sign up for a time that is convenient for you. Please note that registration will be done on a “first come first served” basis.

CN Rail has notified Lacombe County that they are planning to close the Lakeside/Sargent Road (Township Road 40-0) ¼ Mile East of Range Road 27-0 between: 

8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday, May 16, 2017

Traffic will be detoured along local roads during the closure; watch for signs indicating the detour routes.

For more information contact:

Kevin Beavis
CN Rail
403-304-4114

The April County News is here! Read it online today by clicking here, or pick up your copy from the Lacombe County Office today!

Come & meet your Councillor:

• Division 7 Councillor Dana Kreil – April 20, 7-9 p.m. at the Lacombe County Remote Shop West (Rainy Creek Road, 1/2 a mile west of Range Road 2-5)
• Division 4 Councillor Paula Law - April 21 & 22 @ Lacombe Trade Show
• Division 5 Councillor Ken Wigmore - April 21 & 22 @ Lacombe Trade Show
• Division 3 Councillor Barb Shepherd - April 27 @ Lakeside Hall
• Division 6 Councillor Keith Stephenson – April 25, 7 – 9 p.m. at Rainy Creek Hall

Take advantage of an opportunity to offer feedback, ask questions and talk with your Councillor. 

Dust control rates for Lacombe County have been published for 2017. See the document for details. 

pdf 2017 Dust Treatment Notice (230 KB)

By ensuring that water and wastewater systems are modern, efficient and meet the capacity needs of our communities, the governments of Canada and Alberta are safeguarding the well-being of residents, protecting the province’s waterways and preserving its ecosystems.

(Lacombe, Alberta, March 16, 2017) – As part of the Intermunicipal Development Plan review, Lacombe County and the City of Lacombe have hired MPE Engineering to carry out a flood mapping study for a portion of Whelp Brook. The study will start this spring, with employees of MPE Engineering surveying and conducting visual inspections of a portion of the Whelp Brook.

This is an exciting time for Lacombe County, as we are currently reviewing the Municipal Development Plan (MDP) and Land Use Bylaw (LUB). The MDP is one of the County’s most important documents as it provides guidance on how the County will develop over the next decade. The LUB is the regulatory document which outlines specific requirements with regard to development while supporting the policies of the MDP.

Watch our video to learn more about the MDP-LUB by clicking on the image below:

(March 13, 2017 – Take it off!) The Sylvan Lake Management Committee (SLMC) is urging ice hut owners to do the right thing and remove the ice fishing huts from Sylvan Lake before the spring thaw arrives.

While ice huts do not need to be legally removed from local lakes – including Sylvan Lake, Gull Lake and Buffalo Lake – until March 31, it’s important to get them off before the ice surface deteriorates.

“On behalf of the committee, I urge owners to think of safety and the health of the environment when they consider their decision,” said Keith Stephenson, SLMC Chair. “We all want our lakes to remain healthy, so we can enjoy them – safely – all year round.”

(Lacombe, Alberta, March 8, 2017) Lacombe County invites anyone interested in their health and farm safety to attend a “Spring Tune Up” event. With more than a dozen different health care and safety professionals, there is something for everyone at this free event.

“Our goal is to give back to the community, especially to our agricultural producers and rural business owners who work so hard for us,” explained Jalene Makus, Assistant Ag Fieldman and event organizer. “It’s our way of saying ‘thanks’.”

This free event will run from 10am to 3pm at the Lacombe Memorial Centre on March 29. It is open to anyone in and around Lacombe County to attend, and will have a variety of booths and services available.

This is an exciting time for Lacombe County, as we are currently reviewing the Municipal Development Plan (MDP) and Land Use Bylaw (LUB). The MDP is one of the County’s most important documents as it provides guidance on how the County will develop over the next decade. The LUB is the regulatory document which outlines specific requirements with regard to development, while supporting the policies of the MDP.

The County invites you to come join us at an open house to provide your feedback on the draft plans! You, the public, have an important role in updating the MDP and LUB as your involvement is key in setting out a clear and shared vision for the future development of the County.

(Lacombe, Alberta, February 21, 2017) Unlike previous years, Lacombe County’s Fire Permit Season will start a month earlier on March 1, 2017, to coincide with changes made by the provincial government.

“In response to changing conditions in our environment, often resulting in drier spring conditions, the provincial government has moved up Fire Permit season by a month,” explained Todd Gustafson, Lacombe County Fire Chief.

Burning without a fire permit can result in a hefty fine. 

The University of Calgary’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (supervised by Dr. David Hall) is investigating perceptions of water quality in rural Alberta associated with livestock. We are currently looking for participants for this study and are exploring gathering participants through targeting local municipal councils within the province.

Participants in this study will be asked to answer a questionnaire (approximately 20 min.in length) and submit a private water sample for microbiological testing (i.e., total coliforms and E. coli). To be eligible for this study a participant must be at least 18 years old and have a private water source (e.g., a water well, cistern) which they use for domestic purposes (e.g., drinking, washing, and cooking in the household). The questionnaire will address demographic information, private water use, livestock attributes, and questions related to water quality and risk.

A participant may complete the questionnaire in two ways: 

In 2013, Lacombe County launched the Environmental Improvement Grant Program and Policy to provide financial assistance to community groups and schools to develop or deliver community-based environmental services and programs within the County.

The grant program involves an application form, regular reporting, and the ability to demonstrate environmental benefits through the proposed project. Workshops are scheduled for January 30 from 7pm to 9pm at the Lacombe County Office, to help applicants understand:

• how to fill in the application,
• how to complete the reporting requirements,
• how to fulfill the requirement of exemplifying environmental benefits through delivery of the program.