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.”

We know native pollinators are on the decline, what is the number one thing we can do to combat this? Create more habitat! 

Register for the Wild About Bees kick off event at: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/wild-about-bees-kick-off-tickets-141881965779.

Learn about Lacombe County’s new Wild about Bees program and be mailed a free native wildflower seed package and Handbook to get yourself started.

What will you learn:

• How this seed mix was collected naturally and processed
• About the many, many types of native bees and how to create a well put together pollinator garden
• And learn the benefits and characteristics of the hummingbird as well as Sandy’s other top favourite local birds.

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.