2015 Lamont County Reeve's Report

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Lamont County, Alberta

For the year ending December 31, 2015


TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduc on

Year At A Glance

3. Message from the Reeve 4. Message from the CAO 5. Lamont County Profile & Governance 6. Organiza onal Chart

11. Administra on & Human Resources 12. Agricultural Services 13. Family & Community Support Services 14. Community Adult Learning Council 15. Emergency Services Features 16. Enforcement Services 7. Administra on Building Renova ons 17. Planning and Development 8. Community Engagement 18. Economic Development 9. Babas and Borshch Ukrainian 19. Public Works Fes val 10. 2015 Opera onal Facts and Stats

Lamont County Administra on Building 5303 50 avenue Lamont AB, T0B 2R0 Phone: 780‐895‐2233 Fax: 780‐895‐7404 Email: info@lamontcounty.ca

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Message from the Reeve 2015 was a good year for Lamont County, despite the economic downturn seen in Alberta, as all departments worked hard to ensure that all residents’ needs were served to the best of their abili es and within budget. Economic development saw an average year, as an increase in inquiries by industry in the beginning of the year was balanced by a decrease in demand due to economic condi ons in the second half of the year. However, it was a posi ve development to see the purchase of the Canexus rail site by Cenovus, and plans for more rail development by Midland Rail point towards a posi ve future for Lamont County’s Heartland Industrial area. Public works had a good year, with the comple on of the reconstruc on and paving of RR202. In addi on an asphalt overlay was completed on RR195 and a Chip Seal was completed on the St. Michael Access Road. With the hiring of a new Construc on Foreman a lot of in‐house construc on completed by Lamont County forces with a respectable cost savings over contrac ng. Work completed repairing and maintaining roads, culverts, bridges and approaches was all done in a mely manner, and all staff should be commended for their efforts. The mild winter meant there wasn’t as much of a need for graders to be out clearing snow, which le more me for general road and sign maintenance and addi onal maintenance work on equipment and around the shops. The year was both a challenging and exci ng one for Lamont County Emergency services, as they took over management and opera on of the Andrew Fire Department from the village, and separated from the Chipman Fire Department, establishing a new rural Chipman area County department. The year was also spent working with the Towns of Bruderheim, Lamont and Mundare to develop a new fire agreement that would see Lamont County financially responsible for all the departments and their staff. This agreement is a great step forward for both the County and the municipali es, which will ensure all fire fighters are equally trained and the departments fully funded for their needs, while s ll maintaining their individual history and tradi ons. Council is pleased that organiza ons such as Family & Community Social Services (FCSS) and Community Adult Learning Council (CALC) con nue to work with the community offering valuable programs and educa onal opportuni es to County residents. Thank you to everyone, both staff and volunteers, involved in bringing together such valuable resources to our residents. We’d also like to thank our new CAO, Robyn Singleton, for diving right in to County business and seamlessly picking up projects where his exper se was most needed. Lamont County will surely benefit from his extensive previous knowledge and experience. On behalf of Council, I would like to extend a sincere thank you, to all county staff for their dedica on and commitment over the past year. We know it hasn’t always been easy while working through building renova ons, and we are grateful for your s ck‐to‐i veness during the construc on. In closing, we would like to thank our former MLA, Jackie Fenske for her un ring commitment to this region and Council looks forward to working with our new MLA, Jessica Li lewood. Wayne Woldanski, Reeve Lamont County

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Message from the CAO

I am pleased to be associated with the presenta on of the Reeve’s Report for the year 2015. I wish to express my thanks and apprecia on for the efforts of council, management and staff in maintaining a high level of service to the people of the county, especially under the condi ons which they have been opera ng throughout nearly a year of building renova ons. I would also like to thank County Council for giving me the opportunity to work with such a dedicated team as I have found in Lamont County staff. It can be difficult in any posi on to jump in and take over from someone else, par cularly in municipal government, where programs and ini a ves can have long histories and layered backgrounds. The transi on for the most part went smoothly, with few bumps along the way. I believe I have successfully integrated myself into County opera ons. From what I have observed so far, county staff do a good job of maintaining services within the budgets set by Council and in some cases have gone out of their way to meet the challenge of cu ng costs wherever necessary. All of the various programs set in place under the previous management are on track and carefully administered by staff. In par cular I am very pleased with the progress we have made toward new fire agreements with all of our urban neighbors, and expect to have formal adop on of all the agreements in early 2016. This upcoming year may prove to be a bit challenging, as changes to linear assessments mean a decreased budget to work with. However we will be going ahead with projects as planned, cu ng costs where possible and necessary. Some of the major projects planned for 2016 include road and bridge construc on, new, expanded and updated bylaws, and changes to the St. Michael water treatment system. It is my pleasure to be a part of the Lamont County team, and I’m looking forward to a good year to come. Robyn Singleton J.D., Q.C. Lamont County Manager

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Lamont County Profile & Governance The Lamont County Region offers a quality of life that is second to none, and full of opportuni es. Our County is a vibrant and vital community that offers visitors and new residents an unforge able experience. As the centre of a vast agriculture and oil and gas producing region, and a part of Alberta’s Industrial Heartland, we are prospering and growing. Lamont County has a growing rural popula on of 3,872 in an area of 2,474 sq km (955 sq miles) and is home to three towns, two villages and the hamlets of Star, Hilliard, St. Michael and Wostock. Lamont County 2015 Council Division 1—Deputy Reeve Daniel Warawa Division 2—Reeve Wayne Woldanski Division 3—Councillor Roy Bryks Division 4—Councillor Roy Anaka Division 5—Councillor Robert Malica

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Lamont County Organiza onal Chart

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2015 Features AdministraƟon Building RenovaƟons

In March 2015 County Council passed a mo on to redo the tendering for Administra on Building renova ons. In May, five tenders were received and the bid went to United Construc on for $1,475,000, which was under the budget set for the project. A meline of 9‐12 months was given for the renova ons to be completed. Construc on started shortly a er the bid was accepted and started with the demoli on of the front stairs and removal of the concrete at the entryway, so the new ramps, stairs and entryway extension could be laid out and new concrete poured. On the inside, ceilings were torn apart, pipelines laid and a brand new HVAC system was installed throughout the whole building. There were some pre y hot summer days without the air condi oning, and once fall se led in some very chilly ones, with everyone huddled over their space heaters. However, offices now each have their own air condi oning system and new radiators, and it’s become a lot more comfortable. Nevertheless, County staff were quite lucky that the winter was a mild one, as the front entry was closed off by only sheets of plywood for a while, a er the windows were removed, and the front extended approximately ten feet. In addi on, new floors were added to a majority of the building, along with new paint, and the kitchen and washrooms received upgrades as well. As is expected with any renova on project in an older building, there were some hic‐ups along the way. In the summer it was discovered that the building needed a new roof, which wasn’t in the original building es mate. In December work done on the roof revealed that there was no insula on in it, and the problem required raising of the roof in some areas in order to fit in the insula on. Road bumps aside, the renova on has con nued steadily and there has been a lot of progress made. It is now obvious to see that when all is said and done, these renova ons will be a great benefit to both county staff and ratepayers when they come to do business at the building.

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2015 Features Community Engagement

Lamont County Open House The first Annual Lamont County Open House took place at the St. Michael Hall on June 10, 2015. County Councillors were present, along with staff members from each department and representa ves from key community organiza ons available at booths to give out key informa on to residents and answer ques ons. There were two different bouncy houses for kids, and hot dogs, drinks and cookies were served for a small fee with proceeds going to the Lamont County Food Bank. A crowd of approximately 100 people a ended the first Lamont County open house, and over $300 was raised for the Food Bank. Small Business Week Wine and Cheese Lamont County declared October 18—24, 2015, Small Business Week, and in honor of all Lamont County businesses a recep on was held on October 21. Wine, beer, snacks and deserts were served to a group of approximately 15 business owners, councillors and organiza on representa ves. A presenta on by Cathy Goulet of Killeck Leadership Group. Ltd. helped fire up the entrepreneurial soul to complete the evening. Industrial Heartland Informa on Night On Tuesday December 9, 2015, Lamont County hosted the 2nd annual Lamont County Industrial Heartland Informa on Night. Over 80 residents a ended the event, and the evening far exceeded the expected a endance and par cipa on of both Industry and Community organiza ons that a ended. Land owners who took part stated that the evening con nues to be a good format for ge ng informa on from the Industries and Community organiza ons doing business in Lamont County.

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2015 Features Babas and Borshch Ukrainian FesƟval

The 3rd Annual Babas and Borshch Ukrainian Fes val, held in Andrew, on August 22 ‐23, was another great success for Lamont County. A endance was approximately 3000 people, an increase from the previous year. There were at least fi y volunteers, not coun ng the performers, musicians and presenters on hand throughout the fes val, helping to make it run smoothly. Our thanks go out to every single one on them! The Babas and Borshch Fes val is Lamont County’s primary tourism ini a ve and has seen many posi ve spin offs for the county as a result. Foremost is the posi ve awareness of the County and the Village of Andrew generated through intensive exposure in the media, including TV and radio spots, newspapers, lists, guides, blogs and stories. Beyond that however, community groups saw posi ve exposure and earned money by working with the fes val, and businesses catering to visitors such as gas sta ons, liquor stores and restaurants also saw a bump in business. In 2016 Babas and Borsch will be celebra ng 125 years of Ukrainian Immigra on to Canada and you can be sure there will be new and exci ng elements added to fes val favorites to make it even be er than ever. Stay tuned! Some of the key highlights and new a rac ons of 2015 included:  Zemiloa Trio performing at the hall and 3 other venues  Author Michael Mucz (Baba’s Kitchen Medicines) talk  Return of My Ukrainian Dance Academy and their tribute dance to the Euromaiden protest in Ukraine  “It’s not Sauerkraut, it’s Kapusta” make‐it‐and‐take‐it.  Slide presenta on (Babas & Babes) by Saskatoon portrait photographer  Perogy Dance flash mob at the Zabava  Alberta premiere screening of “A Place Called Shandro” documentary film

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2015 Features OperaƟonal Facts and Stats

Agricultural Services Beavers trapped……………………………………………..…………………………………………………...…………..130 Beaver dams removed………………………..………..…………………………………………………………………....20 Roadside miles sprayed …………………..………………………………………………………………….………….1000 Fields inspected for weeds…………………..……………………………………………………………………..…….943 Bo les of strychnine distributed……………..………………………………………………………………………….99 Pills of 1080 distributed for coyote preda on……...……………………………………………………………..13 Canola fields surveyed………………………………….……..……………………………………………………...…...100 New cases of clubroot…………………………...……………………………………………………………….…………..13 Community Adult Learning Council Play and Learn (P.A.L.) registrants………………….………………………………………………………………..……….65 CALC Kitchen mouths fed……………………………….………………………………………………………………………...59 Volunteer E.L.L. tutor hours donated……………………………………………………………………………..……..142 Course learners…………………………………………………………….………………………………………………...……..118 Communica ons Facebook likes……………………………..…………………………...………………..……….211 Twi er followers…………………………..…………..…………………………..…………….813 LamontCounty.ca users………………..………………………………….……………..25,570 LamontCountyNow.ca users……………..……………………………………………...2,724 Economic Development Number of business licenses……………...………………………………………….…..…26 Babas and Borshch a endees ………………...……….….…….………………...3000 Family & Community Social Services Parents & Tots a endees……………………………………………………………………………………………...100 Summer Camp a endees……………………………………………………………………………………………...200 Volunteer apprecia on a endees………………………………………………………………………………...200 Planning and Development Subdivisions……………………………………..………………………………………………………...……………………...15 Development permits…………………………..……………………………………………………………………………..80 New homes…………………………………………..…………………………………………………………………………....22 Safety code permits processed………………..………………………………………………………………………..370 Enforcement Services Number of cita ons reported……………………..………………………………………...……………………………....111 Total Fine Amounts reported………………………………………………………………………………….…..$34,142.50 Total money collected…………………………………………………………………………………………….……$13497.00 Total money s ll due…………………………………………………………………………..………………………$20,645.50 Total mandatory appearances…………………………………………………...……...………………………...…………...0 Public Works Number of graders……………………….……….………….………………………..……...8‐10 Kilometers of road maintained……..………….……….…..…………….…….…..…2089 Road crossing culverts installed………………………….…….…….……………….…….30 Subdivision approaches installed/widened………….…….….……………...……...50 Tonnes of gravel crushed…………………………………….…….….……………...120,000 Dust abatements (total)…………………………….……….……….…...…………………..86 Bridge files completed……………….………….…………………….…...…………………….4 Shop mechanical work orders………………………………………………...653 10


Year at a Glance AdministraƟon & Human Resources

Director: Debbie Hackman 2015 has been an interes ng year for Lamont County as it saw the change in posi on of County Manager with the expiry of Al Harvey’s contract and Council’s hiring of Robyn Singleton. Mr. Singleton brings a wealth of experience and leadership to Lamont County, having previously served as City Manager for Brandon Manitoba, County Manager for Thorhild County and County of Lethbridge, and Chief Commissioner of Strathcona County. His background includes a Juris Doctorate from the University of Manitoba, and a Q.C. (Queen’s Council) designa on from the Government of Manitoba. He has been a lawyer for more than 35 years and has taught Municipal Law at the University of Alberta. During 2015 Lamont County con nued its commitment to the Alberta Municipal Affairs Internship program by hiring Jordan Panasiuk. Jordan has been involved with many of the various county departments gaining knowledge and insight to the workings of a municipality. The Internship program provides opportuni es for both the intern and the host to learn from each other. Jordan is a Commerce graduate of MacEwan University and current student of the University of Alberta’s NACLAA program. Jordan has been involved in the research and development of County policy and bylaws and has been an ac ve par cipant in the Town of Bruderheim’s annexa on applica on. The Administra on building has been undergoing a major renova on that will see handicapped accessibility provided to the building, a new public mee ng room and updates to the wall and floor finishes throughout the building. In addi on several improvements to the hea ng/ven la on and electrical systems have been incorporated in the work. In addi on, regular du es for administra on have included recep on/clerical, handling sales, processing tax payments, issuing fire permits, fire repor ng, handling FOIP requests, records management, rural addressing, and assis ng the CAO and council as necessary for daily opera ons. Long Service Awards Staff Highlight Gerald Thorowsky—Public Works, Road Works/Road Maintenance Supervisor Gerald has been working for Lamont County for 30 years. In his posi on as Road Works and Road Maintenance Supervisor he has his fingers in seemingly every public works project, which run seasonally star ng with culverts in the spring to road patching, flooding, driveways and snow plowing in the winter. In his first eight years with the County he was a labourer and operator, driving trucks, shoveling asphalt and pu ng up signs. He also worked on road construc on for a while and in 1992/3 took over as Road Foreman. He fields up to 100 calls a day for road maintenance, and has recently learned to relax and take vaca ons. His newest hobbies include hun ng and fishing. When asked why he’s stayed at the County for so long, Gerald said he’s always had other opportuni es but stayed because he’s home every night. There have been some hard days when they’ve slept in the shop because of heavy snow but its been worth it. Gerald has spent his whole life in Lamont County, and there aren’t too many roads he doesn’t know. He hobby farms on the original Thorowsky homestead with his three sons.

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Contact Informa on Phone: 780‐895‐2585 Fax: 780‐895‐2892

Year at a Glance

Email: ASB@lamontcounty.ca Web: lamontcounty.ca/ departments/agricultural‐services

Agricultural Services

Agricultural Fieldman: Terry Eleniak 2015 was a busy year for ASB staff. The ASB Department’s Vegeta on Management program, which includes the Roadside Spraying Program, saw 1000 miles of road side spraying completed along with 207.8 miles of spot spraying completed for either weeds or brush regrowth. Through spot spraying of hot spots across the municipality, we were able to keep our right of ways free from noxious weeds and brush regrowth, especially in rural intersec ons. Field surveys were completed, which consisted of 943 fields being inspected for weeds, and 100 fields surveyed for Clubroot. As a result of the surveys three weed no ces were issued and there were four weed enforcements. Thirteen new cases of Clubroot were discovered. ASB also maintained water course levels throughout the year, following our beaver control policies. A total of 130 beavers were trapped during the spring and fall, and 20 beaver dams were removed. We also helped ratepayers by providing livestock producers’ with informa on in reference to preda on concerns and effec ve methods for protec on of stock. Thirteen pills of 1080 were distributed for coyote preda on and 99 bo les of strychnine were distributed. 2015 ASB Contest Winners ASB worked diligently with Alberta Tree Nursery, Farmstead Beau fica on providing informa on for our ratepayers who Division1 Rudy and Theresa Warwa wished to order shelterbelt trees. In 2015 there Division 2 Ian and Karen Carter were 26 par cipants in the Shelterbelt Program. Lastly, a lot of me was spent in educa on and Division 3 Michael and Sara Lindberg enforcement of ratepayers who are found farming Division 4 Nancy Nimchak in municipal right‐of‐ways. ASB staff also con nues to assist farmers with ques ons pertaining to soil Division 5 Wardon and Jacqueline Hoculak classifica on and agronomic issues. New Staff Highlight—Lindsay Benbow, Assistant Agricultural Fieldman Lindsay brings a diverse background to the Assistant Ag. Fieldman posi on including event coordina on, agriculture research, agronomy, agriculture sales, and customer service experience. Lindsay has her BSc. in Biological Sciences as well as a BSc. in Agriculture Business Management. She is a Cer fied Crop Advisor and an Agronomist in Training at the Alberta Ins tute of Agrologists. Lindsay’s hobbies include playing basketball and ul mate Frisbee, training her dogs (Mac and Juno) in compe ve obedience and agility, riding and driving horses. 12

ASB Poster Contest 1st Place Benhard Wall 2nd Place Maisie Andrucho 3rd Place Liam Zabel ASB Photo Contest Country Life 1st Place Crystal Inverity 2nd Place Jerry Melnyk 3rd Place Joan Dey Agriculture and Industry 1st Place Joan Dey 2nd Place Shellie Jo Melnyk 3rd Place Donna Melnyk


Contact Informa on Phone: 780‐895‐7751 Email: sara.r@lamontcounty.ca Web: lamontcounty.ca/ community/fcss

Year at a Glance Family & Community Support Services

Director: Sara Rindero As we reflect over the past year we have been sincerely overwhelmed by the amount of support our department has received. With the economic and social challenges that are faced today by rural Albertans, it is impera ve that communi es build solid and sustainable founda ons of support for their members to grow and flourish in the future. We are blessed to live in such a caring and giving community where families and individuals band together to foster a strong sense of belonging and community Spirit. Although we con nue to offer and grow programs and services throughout Lamont County, this is only possible with the partnership and support of our suppor ng provincial government, local municipali es, organiza ons, stakeholders and countless volunteers. We at FCSS would like to take the opportunity to thank you all once again for suppor ng the people of Lamont County and look forward to serving you in 2016. 2015 Highlights Over 100 Parents and children a ended the various Parents and Tots programs in 2015, in Bruderheim, Lamont and St. Michael. Parents near Mundare will be excited to know there will be a Parents and Tots coming to Mundare in Spring 2016! The Bruderheim Youth Center con nues to be a great place for youth to meet, and par cipate in ac vi es and events. The Youth Center also hosts the Annual Youth Retreat. This past summer over 200 local children par cipated in Summer Camps, with an overall sa sfac on of 97%. Favorite trips included Pioneer Camp, Long Lake, Excalibur Paint Ball, Laser quest, Telus world of Science and the Strathcona Wilderness Center. The 2015 Volunteer Apprecia on saw an incredible turnout with over 200 volunteers a ending. They were treated to a fully catered meal, awards ceremony and prizes, free of charge. Similarly, Seniors Apprecia on BBQs held in Bruderheim and Mundare included food and entertainment to thank Seniors for all that they do. The Early Steps to Success (Early Childhood Development Mapping Project ECMAP ‐ Sponsored the construc on of an indoor play center in St Michael Community Center. Construc on commences Spring 2016. Lamont County’s Regional Day Home Program con nues to provide Licensed and Accredited Child Care in Lamont County. We are seeking new providers!

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Contact Informa on Phone: 780‐895‐2874 Email: adultlearning@lamontcounty.ca Web: lamontcounty.ca/ community/calc

Year at a Glance Community Adult Learning Council

Director: Debbie Holland CALC enjoyed another successful year which we a ribute to our high caliber facilitators, the incredible degree of community support and the dedica on of our volunteer board. We are pleased to report: Family Literacy Program Our referral based P.A.L. program is always full. P.A.L. helps parents prepare their children for the learning environment. Throughout 2015 we had 65 registrants. CALC Kitchen We ran 9 CALC Kitchens in 2015. This program is designed to help people select healthy menus, prepare a budget and cook meals in bulk. Par cipants pay 50% of the cost of the groceries and CALC kicks in the rest. Learners take meals home and, as a result, 59 mouths were fed at half the cost. We hope to run 15 to 20 kitchens in 2016. Volunteer English Language Learning (E.L.L) Tutors It takes amazing courage to leave one’s home country to come and live in Canada. We match community volunteers with learners for English language learning. In 2015 volunteers donated 142 hours to residents in Lamont County’s rural and urban municipali es. R.E.N.E.W. R.E.N.E.W. is a confidence building program. Women of all ages par cipated in learning how to reframe nega ve thoughts and u lize various stress management strategies. Courses CALC con nues to offer its tradi onal courses such as Air Brakes, Fire Arm Safety, First Aid and Yoga for Seniors. Combined, these and other ad hoc courses served 118 learners. THANK YOU !!! The CALC Director, Debbie Holland, and her Administra ve Assistant/Co‐Facilitator, Ode e Romanchuk, deeply thank the following organiza ons and volunteers for their unwavering support: CALC Board: Susan Campbell, Mae Adamyk, Carol Lynn Babiuk, Debby Gargus, Linda Mills, Be y Sheptycki, Ron Wurtz. P.A.L. Team: Linda Mills, Kathie Halisky, Ode e Romanchuk, Renee Lapierre, Judy Smith, Kimberly Marshall, Samantha Melnick, Melissa Shiach CALC Kitchen: Jane Wurtz, Ode e Romanchuk R.E.N.E.W.: Margo Anderson, Alberta Health Services Volunteer Tutor Program: Mary Letawsky, Lillian Sabo, Terry Dmytrash, Be y Farris, Ken Dorland, Be y Zabel, Elke Carr Course Instructors: Ed Johnson, Larry Boe ger, Barry Goertz and Jana Vogelaar Financial Contributors: Alberta Advanced Educa on, Lamont County, Enbridge, FCSS Lamont County Region, Karl Hauch, Town of Bruderheim, Town of Lamont FCSS, Bruderheim Lioness Club. In‐Kind Contributors: All Town and Village municipal offices in Lamont County, Lamont Catering Club, Bruderheim Moravian Church, Lamont Alliance Church, Bruderheim Seniors Centre, Alberta Health Services. Tes monial: “My name is Rachida Sabo. I grew up in Morocco. Debbie Holland and Ode e Romanchuk are the first people to help me improve my English Language by providing a volunteer [E.L.L.] tutor. With an open smile on her face Debbie tells me she will support me un l I reach my goal. She offered me many programs like the CALC Kitchen. We all work together to learn about cooking and healthy food with new recipes. We appreciate the child care provided for us. Play and Learn is offered in Bruderheim teaching us how to parent our children in different situa ons. They also provide child care, snacks and lunch. My daughter loves P.A.L and plays with other children. They also give great gi s to moms or the children. Thank you to Lamont County, especially Debbie, Ode e, Jane and Lillian for all their efforts in helping me integrate into the community.” 14


Contact Informa on

Year at a Glance

Phone: 780‐895‐2233 Email: randy.s@lamontcounty.ca Web: lamontcounty.ca/ departments/emergency‐ services

Emergency Services

Chief Randy Seimens During 2015 Chief Siemens worked diligently with the fire departments and Mayors and Councils of the Towns of Bruderheim, Lamont and Mundare and the Village of Andrew to prepare a Fire Service Agreement that would see all these communi es serviced under one organiza on. The new fire agreements will standardize SOGs, SOAs and training, and will offer communi es a more efficient and streamlined service. In the fall, Lamont County Emergency Services received its long awaited new firetruck for the Bruderheim Fire Department. Training on the new unit began in December. Throughout 2015 work has been progressed on the new training center, and there has been much interest expressed by some of our neighbouring municipali es and industries in being able to access the facility once it is opera onal. NorQuest College has also expressed an interest in the facility and matching training opportuni es with their “Fire & Safety Training” program. New Staff Highlight— Chyenne Shaw, Emergency Services Administra ve Assistant Chyenne has a diploma in Computer Business Management, and before coming to the County she worked from home in a family business. She brings a lot of knowledge of road use agreements to the posi on where she assists both the Chief of Emergency Services and the County Peace Officer with administra ve tasks. Chyenne has four children aged 16 , 14 , 12 and 6, who keep her very busy with Lacrosse and Ukrainian Dance. In her spare me she truly enjoys baking and sharing with friends.

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Contact Informa on

Year at a Glance

Phone: 780‐895‐2233 Email: steve.c@lamontcounty.ca Web: lamontcounty.ca/ departments/enforcement‐ services

Enforcement Services

Peace Officer Steve Crosby During 2015 Lamont County Emergency Services was involved with the review and development of a revised Road Use Bylaw and new Road Licence Agreement. This bylaw and licence will aid the County in protec ng the traveling public of the County and will provide guidance in regards to the safe use of our road system covering pedestrian safety, cycling and vehicular traffic use. There are also provisions for commercial trucking that will assist in improving road use and maintenance for heavy haul use such as gravel and mineral soil extrac on opera ons. A new Off Highway Vehicle Bylaw was presented to Council to help deal with the increasing number of ATVs being used on County roads. As well, an Animal Bylaw is being worked on to help with the numerous animal complaints received this year. Highlights of the year included visits to the local schools providing educa on on drug awareness, providing educa onal discussions with the local heavy construc on contractors in safe road use, and par cipa ng in joint task force opportuni es such as an ATV educa on weekend. Many hours and several thousand kilometers of County roads are patrolled throughout the year. In December, Lamont County Enforcement Services had an integral part in shu ng down a clay pit that had breached both a county permit as well as the Road Use Agreement. Officer Crosby also suspended hauling privileges on two different log hauls as well as a haul where a company was hauling rocks. Regular patrols on several haul routes have assisted in protec ng the county roads. Lamont County Enforcement Services has created a plan where the Peace Officer does patrols in areas where there are regular complaints such as speeding vehicle or illegal ATV use. These patrols have helped reduce the amount of these types of complaints. Lamont County Enforcement Services will con nue to use both Enforcement and Educa on to protect County Residents and the County’s roads.

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Contact Informa on

Year at a Glance

Phone: 780‐895‐2233 Email: info@lamontcounty.ca Web: lamontcounty.ca/ departments/planning‐ development

Planning and Development

Director: Stephen Hill Lamont County has entered a new era in rela on to the Planning and Development Department with the passing of Bill 36 (2009), known as the Alberta Land Stewardship Act (ALSA) and consequen al amendments to more than 25 legisla ve Acts to support regional land‐use planning in the province. This is important to Lamont County as we are members of the Capital Region Board, the Alberta Industrial Heartland Associa on and the Beaver Hills Ini a ve. Lamont County maintains the same decision making powers as previous. The difference is that once a regional plan is adopted, sec on 20(1) of Bill 36 requires municipali es in the region to review exis ng municipal development plans, area structure plans, land‐use bylaws, policies and procedures and make any amendments to align with the regional plans. Lamont County Council has passed a number of Resolu ons to ensure that the County’s Statutory Plans will be fully reviewed and amended, this work is an cipated to be ini ated in 2016. The public will be encouraged to par cipate through Open House sessions which will be adver sed in advance. The Planning and Development Department is the Subdivision Authority and the Development Authority within Lamont County. Bill 36 will ensure that municipal decisions rela ng to subdivision authority, development authority, subdivision and development appeal board and municipal government board decisions align with regional plans’ policy. Lamont County has established a Municipal Planning Commi ee and a Subdivision & Development Appeal Board. The Planning and Development Department provides diverse services to the public by: Responding to ratepayer and developers inquiries about development;  Undertaking long range planning through the prepara on and review of statutory plans;  Processing applica ons for development permits, subdivision requests and amendments to statutory plans;  Inves ga ng and providing enforcement services related to Land Use Bylaw infrac ons;  Providing other hard services such as compliance cer ficates and business licenses;  Collabora ng with the Province and other regional municipali es on planning issues.

Forms and informa on are available on our website at www.lamontcounty.ca (Departments/Planning and Development) or at the Lamont County Office at 5303 50th Avenue in the Town of Lamont. New Staff Highlight—Stephen Hill, Director of Planning & Community Services Before coming to Lamont County, Stephen worked at Opus Stewart Weir (an engineering consultancy) where he was involved in the management of the municipal engineering department. He also worked for several years in the Planning & Development Department at Sturgeon County. Stephen grew up in a small community and worked in many remote areas of Northern Canada, however he has been involved with many projects in larger communi es as well. These experiences will help to assist in the growth and development of Lamont County, including new commercial and industrial opportuni es in the Industrial Heartland, in the future. Stephen has been married for 29 years and has two adult children. He enjoys wood working and spending as much me outdoors as possible.

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Contact Informa on

Year at a Glance

Phone: 780‐895‐2233 Email: info@lamontcountynow.ca Web: lamontcountynow.ca

Economic Development

Manager: Jim Newman Lamont County had an up and down year in 2015 when it came to Economic Development. The Lamont County NOW website had a full year under its new brand, with over 10,000 page views. The website has been an overwhelming success. With regards to industry inquiries in 2015, more calls we answered than in previous years, but inquiries slowed down in the fourth quarter of the year due to global and provincial factors. Industry Update In June Cenovus Energy bought the Canexus NATO crude by rail terminal. It was stated in their first press release that the terminal in Lamont County has strategic value for Cenovus due to its exis ng pipeline connec ons to Cold Lake and Access crude oil pipeline system as well as its links to the CP and CN rail lines. Addi onally, there is undeveloped land that provides significant poten al for Cenovus as it evaluates a number of possible value‐added projects. The Graymont lime hydra ng and distribu on facility has a year of opera on under its belt. When the facility started opera ons their President and CEO Stephen Godin stated that the facility is strategically situated adjacent to major transporta on corridors, including rail. The loca on in Lamont County enables the new plant to serve customers throughout the Industrial Heartland and the Fort McMurray area. Milestone Events/Ini a ves In 2015 Lamont County’s Economic Development department repeated several of its 2015 ini a ves and all events increased in a endance and/or return on investment. This demonstrates its importance to the community at large, industry and County Council.  Landowner Oil & Gas Informa on Workshop: This 2nd annual co‐sponsored workshop exceeded the expecta ons of the coordinators of the day‐long event and the landowners who par cipated.  Lamont County Reeve’s Golf Tournament: August 26 was a day‐long event of industry networking with regional municipal councils and staff. The 2015 event included representa on from Town of Mundare and Village of Chipman, as well as the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village and Lamont Housing Founda on. Over 30 industries and organiza ons par cipated this year. The big winner was the Lamont County Housing Founda on as the tournament raised $13,000 for the founda on.  Oil Gas Explora on, Extrac on & Transporta on Commi ee (OGEETC): OGEETC is a joint ini a ve of the County, the Town of Lamont and Town of Bruderheim. Its purpose is to gather, develop and share informa on on the energy sector for the use of all three municipali es. In 2015 OGEETC held six mee ngs and heard presenta ons from industry, regulators and government agencies. A business plan was agreed upon by the members, working rela onships were solidified and research on best prac ces completed. OGEETC was ac ve at several Lamont County events, the Town of Bruderheim’s open house and Life in the Heartland’s community event, among others. In closing, the Lamont County Economic Development department con nues to promote the Lamont County Way. The Lamont County Way is a culture, a “Way of Doing Business,” not just with prospec ve development but with exis ng industry and county residents as well. The sole purpose of the Lamont County Way is to create an opportunity for Lamont County to become a sustainable community where there is a balance between Economic Growth, Social Well Being and Environmental Awareness. 18


Hours of Opera on Monday—Friday 7:30 a.m.—4:00 p.m.

Year at a Glance

Phone: 780‐895‐2547 Toll free: 1‐866‐895‐2547 Fax: 780‐895‐2892

Public Works

Email: PublicWorks@lamontcounty.ca Web: lamontcounty.ca/ departments/public‐works

Director: Harold Hamilton Lamont County Public Works Department provides summer and winter road maintenance, gravelling, dust abatement, approach building, culvert replacement, sign installation, road construction, equipment maintenance, bridge repairs, road patching, maintenance of county paved roads and the maintenance of the Hamlet of St. Michael, Star, Hilliard and Whitford. Road Maintenance Lamont County completed 37 dust abatement jobs with oil based products (SC250) covering approximately 11 kilometers of road. It took 10,000 tonnes of gravel to complete the dust abatement in 2015. In addition a total of 49 calcium dust abatements were done. Approximately 32,000 liters of calcium was used to mix with sand for winter road maintenance. Gravel Program 120,000 tonnes of gravel was crushed for the 2015 gravel year. Approximately 260 miles of county roads were graveled. Road patching, dust controls, culvert replacement, road construction, driveway building, bridge maintenance and hamlet maintenance is also a part of our 120,000 tonne gravel program. Gravel sales to residential ratepayers (Policy 5102) amounted to 4,184.17 tonnes of gravel. Road Construction Range Road 185 from the limestone creek bridge to Township Road 564: Approximately 50,000m3 of earth was moved, and county forces prepared the letdown areas for bridge replacement in the future. The work started in August and was completed in late October. Intersection of Township 564 and Range Road 195: Work was completed to patch soft areas. Staff retained soils by coordinating clay extraction from the Lamont lagoon pile. Bridge Culvert Replacement: Both culverts replaced were extensive projects closing roads and diverting traffic. Both were completed in the timelines communicated with local land owners. These projects were completed by Lamont County construction at a significant cost savings. Water Lamont County maintains a 550,000 gallon air gap water reservoir for the Industrial Heartland with a capacity to supply 125m3 per hour with future growth to 250 m3 per hour. It also maintains a 44,000 gallon air gap reservoir pumping station with a small truck fill alongside the building. This station supplies water to the Village of Andrew. Lamont County has a water treatment‐distribution system at the hamlet of St. Michael that is licensed under Alberta Environment for treatment of 20 gallons per minute. Building Maintenance  New updated security and Camera system is being installed in shop and outside as directed by Administration.  New Air Compressor was purchased and will be installed in 2016  A reinforced concrete pad at Bay 3 has been budgeted for and repairs can proceed in the spring when the final budget has been passed.  653 work orders were generated in the shop mechanical department by the end of 2015 Safety Program Lamont County is commi ed to health and safety. Lamont County provides a posi ve working environment and an injury free workplace for all employees. As a county we have completed our external Audit through AMHSA in May 2015. We have received our COR (Cer ficate of Recogni on). New Staff Highlight—Christopher Blatz, Construc on Supervisor Chris comes to Lamont County from Husky/BP Sunrise where he was the Civil Site Construc on Lead; previously he was the Survey Technologist at Sturgeon County. He has extensive project experience dealing with large budgets, and a strong background in environmental approvals and surveying. Chris has several project management and land administra on cer ficates from SAIT as well as a Risk Management cer ficate from Purdue University. He is married and has a 9 year old son, and volunteers as a hockey coach in his spare me. 19


Lamont County 5303 50 Avenue, Lamont AB 780‐895‐2233

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