Delegation – Thorhild and District Agricultural Society:
Proposal made by Rebecca Green requesting the Ag Society enter into a long-term lease agreement with Thorhild County to formally designate and manage the vacant parcel of land located immediately north and adjacent to the Agriplex Arena as overflow parking to allow for safe, organized, and insured use of the land that members of the public are already utilizing.
Council directs Administration to bring back a draft lease agreement for the Thorhild and District Agricultural Society’s proposed use of Lot 072 5210 2 2 NW-5-60-21 W4 to a future Council meeting.
Delegation – Redwater RCMP:
Presentation of the 3rd quarter – Oct-Dec 2025 Redwater detachment statistics Agenda Pages 16-20
Council accepts the presentation from Redwater RCMP for information.
Unfinished Business – 2026 Swimming Pool Rates Policy:
Council amends the Community and Recreational Services Schedule of Fees Policy 606 as presented.
Unfinished Business – Hamlet of Thorhild Business Entrance Sign:
To seek Council input on a Policy for the sign. After hearing about procedures and costs of removing and/or changing panels,
Council directs Administration to proceed with removing a section of the Thorhild Business Entrance Sign and provide the information on this at a future Council Meeting. Not unanimous, Councillor Halun was not in favor.
Unfinished Business – Traffic Calming, Hamlet of Radway:
Be prepared for traffic pattern change in Radway to change the behavior of drivers near the Little Dipper Daycare and Radway Library, read the rationale for this here Agenda pages 50-52
Options available:
- Traffic speed study to understand driver behavior and extent of issue
- Install “Children at Play Signs”.
- Install a crosswalk with associated signage to create awareness of a pedestrian crossing.
- Designate the location as a “Playground Zone” with signs and a speed reduction to 30 km/hr.
- Implement traffic control by changing the intersection of 50th Street and 50th Avenue to a four-way stop.
- Speed bumps and humps or speed table.
Council directs Administration to proceed with option five to implement traffic control by changing the intersection of 50th Street and 50th Avenue in the Hamlet of Radway from a two-way stop to a four-way stop with funds to come from accumulated surplus with a maximum budget of $2,500.
New Business – Amendments to Policy 323 – Unbudgeted Expenditures:
Unbudgeted Expenditures Policy 323 provides the CAO with the authority to incur expenditures in the event of an emergency. Approved amendments to the policy:
- In the event of an emergency, the CAO is authorized to approve unbudgeted expenditures up to a maximum of $1,000,000 and shall report such expenditures to Council at the earliest available opportunity.
- Where an emergency is ongoing or prolonged, Council may, by resolution, authorize an increase to the $1,000,000 limit to such amount as it deems necessary.
Council approves amended Policy 323 – Unbudgeted Expenditures as presented.
New Business – Property Tax Assessment Information:
Annual assessment reports have been received from both the Province and the municipal assessor, Travis Horne of MASG (Municipal Assessment Services Group) and letter from Municipal affairs identifying a reporting error. This report will be used to set property tax for the 2026 tax year. Agenda Pages 56-59 and 122
Council accepts a) the property tax assessment information report and b) letter from Municipal Affairs, RE: Designated Industrial Property (Linear) Annual Assessment Issue may have a Potential Impact Affecting the 2026 Tax Year Municipal Budget, received March 10, 2026 for information.
New Business – Borderlands Mutual Aid Agreement:
Borderlands Mutual Aid was developed by Alberta Emergency Management Agency Field Officers for the North East Region. The agreement encompasses the entire North East Region including forty-eight municipalities and four Metis Settlements.
Council directs Reeve Trevor Dafoe and CAO Ryan Maier to sign the extension to the Borderlands Mutual Aid Agreement.
New Business – Thorhild County Integrity Management Program:
To update the Integrity Management Program as recommended by the FedGas.
Council adopts the Integrity Management Program, as revised from time to time, as a guideline in operating and maintaining our gas distribution system.
New Business – Thorhild County Quality Management Plan:
Quality Management Plan (QMP) for the Thorhild County Gas Utility must be reviewed and updated annually to confirm that the design, construction, and operation of a rural gas distribution system is occurring per the requirements of the province’s Gas Distribution Act.
Council accepts the attached Thorhild County Gas Utility Quality Management Plan and authorizes the Reeve to sign on behalf of Thorhild County.
New Business – Thorhild County Safety and Loss Management System:
Safety and Loss Management System (SLMS) is an integrated framework of policies, programs, processes, and procedures providing a systematic approach to planning, implementing, measuring, and improving organizational performance for a gas distributor’s facilities.
Council approves the Thorhild County Safety and Loss Management System.
Councillor Reports – Councillor Scott Nedeljak:
Councillor Scott Nedeljak reported on his attendance at the Spring RMA Convention.
Councillor Reports – Reeve Trevor Dafoe:
Reeve Dafoe reported on his attendance at the Regional Water and Wastewater meeting.
Correspondence for Action – Thorhild Community Association:
Council approves funding in the amount of $500 for the Thorhild Community Association Stampede event on July 1, 2026, and for the funds to come from the Community Allowance.
Correspondence for Action – Town of Redwater:
Council authorizes Councillor Scott Nedeljak, Councillor Neil Halun, and Deputy Reeve Angela Zilinski, to attend the Town of Redwater Mayor’s Breakfast on April 10, 2026. Not unanimous, there was an (or were) opposing vote(s). Deputy Reeve Zilinski and Councillor Paly have attended in the past. Councillor Dafoe would value networking with councils from surrounding municipalities, to collaborate with.
Correspondence for Information – Fortis Alberta:
Next Generation Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) Network Installation Information Package Agenda pages 123-133
Letter states: “This first phase is required prior to full development to ensure the new communication technology operates optimally, allowing us to continue to provide automated meter reading services for our customers. Following the AMI network equipment installation, FortisAlberta will begin the mass installation of AMI electricity meters for all homes and businesses across our service territory. This process will start in 2026 and continue through the end of 2029.”
Council accepts for information the letter from Fortis Alberta, RE: Electric Meter Upgrade in Thorhild, received February 13, 2026.
Correspondence for Information – Northeast Alberta Alliance for Growth and Opportunity
Council directs Administration to provide a link to the Fair Electricity Distribution Alliance website on Thorhild County’s website and social media pages.
CAO Report
The CAO report (Agenda pages 138-159) has a wealth of information regarding the goings on in the county including:
- Work on 2026 Mill Rates bylaw scenarios have begun – on page 138
- Redwater Food Bank – Service in Thorhild area – on page 143
- Fines for select traffic offenses increased effective March 13,2026 – on page 146
- Planning and Development statistics – on pages 147-148
- Dust Suppression advertising coming – on page 149
- Public Works Operations – on pages 149-151
- Facility Maintenance – on pages 153-155
- Agricultural Services – on pages 155-156
- Fleet Maintenance – on pages 156-157
Closed Session Items
Fire Services Review: Council accepts the Fire Services Review report as information.
Personnel:
- Council add the completed CAO performance evaluation to the personnel file.
- Council approves the staff COLA increase for the CAO, retroactive to January 1, 2026.