Council Meeting Highlights - December 11, 2024

Appointment of Returning Officer and Deputy Returning Officer
In accordance with the Local Authorities Election Act, Council appointed the Returning Officer and Deputy Returning Officer for the 2025 Municipal Elections. Municipal Secretary Belinda Russell was appointed as Returning Officer, and Sabrina Collett was appointed as Deputy Returning Officer. The Municipal Election will take place on October 20, 2025. The nomination period runs from January 1, 2025, to September 22, 2025.

Council Approves Interim Budget
As the budget preparation process takes place in the early months of the new year, it is necessary to adopt an interim budget until the new budget is finalized and adopted by Council. Council approved the 2024 budget and its line items as an interim budget. The 2025 operating and capital budgets will be presented for Council’s consideration in the early spring of 2025. Council will meet on January 5 and 9, 2025, to continue budget deliberations.

Sponsorship Requests
Council reviewed sponsorship requests for Bob the Therapy Pony, the North Peace Performing Arts Festival, and the Grimshaw Curling Club Bonspiel. Council will review the requests further during upcoming budget deliberations.

Peace Region Municipal Councils Meeting
Council made a motion for councillors to attend an upcoming regional meeting with neighbouring municipalities to discuss air and bus transportation options in the region.

ATCO Energy Systems
Representatives from ATCO Energy Systems provided Council with information about the Lights Out program and the ATCO community grant program aimed at energy efficiency. They encourage residents to use the ATCO app for real-time updates on outages and to report streetlight issues. More details can be found at atcoenergysystems.com.