Town of Grimshaw Enhances Bylaw Services Through New Agreement with Integrated Municipal Support (IMS)
GRIMSHAW, AB – The Town of Grimshaw is pleased to announce a trial one-year agreement commencing this fall with Integrated Municipal Support (IMS) to provide enhanced bylaw enforcement and community support services for residents.
IMS is a division of Apex Security, established to help municipalities overcome recruitment and retention challenges while delivering consistent, professional bylaw enforcement and municipal support services. IMS was developed to provide the resources, experience, and operational support municipalities need to succeed.
The decision comes after Council carefully reviewed the changes of the community and the growing demand for proactive bylaw services throughout the town.
“The expectations of bylaw services and the needs of our small town have changed a lot in the last several years,” said Mayor Stacey Messner. “It is becoming apparent that our community is shifting as it relates to bylaw, and as a Council we are responding to those changes.”
Council has heard consistent feedback from residents regarding concerns related to problem properties, property maintenance, animal control, noise complaints, and mischievous activity. In addition, the Town has identified a growing need for parking control and traffic management around the Mile Zero Regional Multiplex and Shared School Facility during student pick-up and drop-off periods.
“We are continually hearing from residents about the increased need to address these issues,” said Mayor Messner. “We also recognize the importance of parking control during school pick-up and drop-off times to help ensure the safety of students, families, and staff.”
After evaluating available options, Council determined that IMS offers a model specifically designed to meet the needs of small rural communities like Grimshaw.
IMS provides trained and experienced personnel who are equipped with a dedicated vehicle, professional uniforms, and appropriate protective equipment. The service emphasizes an educational approach to inform residents about bylaw standards while maintaining a proactive approach to enforcement where appropriate. IMS will also work closely with the RCMP when additional support is required and will provide bylaw review and recommendations to help ensure municipal bylaws remain current and effective.
“Their team is trained, equipped, and ready to respond. What appealed to Council was their focus on education, professionalism, flexibility, and their ability to provide specialized support that would be difficult for a small municipality to deliver on its own,” said Mayor Messner.
Council emphasized that the decision to enter into the agreement was made after careful consideration and review.
“The decision to engage the services of IMS was taken very seriously by Council,” said Mayor Messner. “We wanted to ensure this model would work for our community and align with the needs of Town administration and our residents.”
To fund the service through the remainder of 2026, Council will utilize the remaining budget allocated for bylaw services along with up to $10,000 from operating reserves. Council has already begun budget planning discussions for 2027 and anticipates increasing the bylaw services budget to support the agreement moving forward.
Council believes the investment represents a cost-effective solution that provides residents with access to a trained bylaw officer, specialized equipment, a dedicated vehicle, and professional support services under one comprehensive package.
“The all-in-one service model offered by IMS provides a level of service that may not have been as cost-effective through an in-house position. Should our tax base increase, then moving to an in-house bylaw enforcement program again may better suit our needs, but at this time we are committed to seeing how the IMS service model benefits our community over the next year,” said Mayor Messner.
The Town of Grimshaw is eager to start working closely with IMS Bylaw Services during the upcoming term of the agreement.
“We look forward to working with the assigned bylaw officer and the leadership of IMS as we continue building a safe, welcoming, and well-maintained community for all residents,” said Mayor Messner.
For more information, residents are encouraged to contact the Town of Grimshaw Administration Office at 780-332-4626.