Wheatland County made some positive strides in 2021 with a new, green energy operation breaking ground, an agreement with neighbouring Town of Drumheller to replace an aging bridge, and passing a zero per cent tax increase for residents.
In March, Wheatland County council was presented with the draft regional growth plan for the Calgary Metropolitan Region Board (CMRB); the county is one of 10 municipalities included in the growth plan, though only about one-eighth of its total landmass is included, a small “panhandle” connected to the Town of Strathmore. The county is mandated to be part of the board and council voiced concerns about the cost to ratepayers for a lack of projected growth for the county; Rockyview County and M.D. Foothills County also voiced similar concerns. Despite opposition from the rural regions, an amended finalized version was submitted to Minister of Municipal Affairs Ric McIver in June.
During budget deliberations in April, Wheatland County council passed a zero per cent increase for residential and farmland taxes. They also allocated a total of $2.1 million for the construction of the new Carseland Fire Hall and another $3.9 million was allocated for wastewater upgrades and repairs, with the majority of the funding-some $2.8 million-allocated for the Rosebud lagoon. Both projects were completed in November 2021.
Following the permanent closure of the Cluny Fire Hall in June, the county reallocated three former Cluny units to the Rosebud, Standard, and Gleichen halls.
In July, the county agreed to help fund a portion of a bridge replacement project, which is being undertaken by the Town of Drumheller. The bridge allows access to rural Wheatland County via Wayne Hill and a traffic study conducted by the town found some 65 to 75 per cent of traffic across the bridge also accesses Wayne Hill. Based on this information, the Town of Drumheller approached Wheatland County to help fund a portion of the costs. Wheatland County council approved a total contribution of $120,487.50; the project is set to be tendered over the winter or early spring 2022, and the bridge is expected to be out of service throughout much of 2022.
Like numerous other municipalities across Alberta, Wheatland County declared a state of agriculture disaster in August due to high temperatures and prolonged dry conditions led to concerns for crop yield and growth. While much of the province saw soil moisture reserves in the low to moderately low levels, Wheatland County fell within a pocket which saw near-normal levels.
Wheatland County welcomed the 24 turbine Wheatland Wind project to the county during the summer; the turbines will be installed across 19 quarter sections of land, about some 471 acres, approximately 20 to 30 kilometres southeast of the Town of Drumheller. The project received approval from the Alberta Utilities Commission in September 2018, and ground broke on the project in October 2021. It is estimated the project will create some 200 jobs during the construction phase and between five and 15 permanent jobs once operational, which is anticipated by the end of 2022.
The county is also hoping to attract large investors to the area through a new tax incentive bylaw passed in September which would allow a 40 per cent exemption on municipal property tax for non-residential improvements to eligible investments over a three-year period. Through this change, the county hopes to increase its non-residential tax base and is one of the first municipalities in the province to implement a property tax incentive on municipal properties.
Following the October municipal elections, two new councillors-Shannon Laprise (Division 1), and Rick Laursen (Division 7)-joined the five returning councillors.
Amber Link (Division 2) was re-appointed the role of Reeve with Scott Klassen (Division 5) re-appointed as Deputy Reeve during the organizational meeting in November.