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Carseland, Gleichen community facilities receive $204,000 from Wheatland County grant

Wheatland 2021

Wheatland County council approved a total of $204,000 to be allocated to community facilities in the hamlets of Carseland and Gleichen during the regular Tuesday, April 18 council meeting.
The Carseland and Gleichen Community Facilities Funding Grant replaced the previous Community Regional Infrastructure Services Program (CRISP) which provided funding for hamlet community groups; this is the third year the funding grant has been available, and a total of $216,817.41 has been awarded since it was implemented.
“This is the first year the grant was oversubscribed,” explained Community Services coordinator Dave Rimes during the meeting.
He noted the total combined requests totalled $288,724.25-nearly $85,000 above the approved budgeted amount-and it was recommended council approve an adjusted amount for each project to keep within the $204,000 budget.
Gleichen and District Community Association requested a total of $31,219.25 to help cover expenses for insurance, a security system, and utility costs, along with kitchen repairs and maintenance, and upgrading its sound system; a total of $11,424 was awarded to the association.
Carseland and District Community Association and Agricultural Society were approved a total of $102,000 of its requested $127,505 to help cover various costs, including redesigning its website, repairing the roof of the recreation centre and replacing a roof top unit at the community hall, and cover costs for snow removal, insurance and utilities.
Gleichen and District Agricultural Society were also awarded $90,576 of a requested $130,000 to help cover expenses for operating utilities and maintenance, a lighting project, and ice plant maintenance.


Three Hills RCMP investigate shooting

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On Monday, May 22 at 6:15 a.m., Three Hills RCMP received reports of a shooting along 22 Avenue in Delburne.
RCMP deployed police resources to the area to speak with witnesses surrounding what was seen of this incident. Upon police arrival, the suspect had fled in a vehicle.
Although early in the investigation, RCMP believe this was an isolated incident and there is no ongoing risk to the community.
Three Hills RCMP would like to speak with anyone who may have residential surveillance footage or still images of a grey or silver Dodge Ram in the area of 22 Avenue of Delburne between 5:30 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. on Monday, May 22.
Anyone who has any information about this crime, or who has information that could help further the investigation, is asked to contact the Three Hills RCMP Detachment at 403-443-5539. Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), by downloading the secure P3 Mobile App.

Kneehill County reduces mill rate to mitigate increased assessment values

Kneehill County Council

Kneehill County council will mitigate increases to ratepayer tax bills after passing a Property Tax bylaw with a reduced mill rate during the regular Tuesday, May 9 council meeting.
Property assessment values were up some 7.2 per cent in the county, and while ratepayers may still see some increases to their overall tax bill, the increase is much lower than if council had made no changes.
“Council’s past practices and prudent financial planning have positioned the county very well. The County has not experienced an Operating Budget deficit, has no reliance on borrowing, has maintained or enhanced service levels, maintained roads and other infrastructure and will still be able to maintain competitive tax burdens in the future,” explained property tax officer Caroline Siverson during the presentation.
It was recommended council approve a combined residential mill rate of 0.005536580, which includes the provincial Alberta School Foundation Fund requisition and Kneehill Housing Corporation requisition; this is down slightly from the combined 2022 residential mill rate of 0.013677334.
Ms. Siverson explained, although the mill rate is down, the typical hamlet home assessed at $150,000 will see an approximate increase of about $30 annually. Acreages assessed at $350,000 will see an estimated increase of about $69, while farmland will see an increase of about $66 per quarter section.
Council had previously approved an increase of $25 to its minimum property tax bill during budget deliberations, increasing this from $100 to $125.
Along with passing its tax rate, council also approved the 2023 Trochu Recreation Area Special Tax Bylaw.
This special tax rate is collected from ratepayers and forwarded to the Town of Trochu to support operations of the community’s pool facility, representing approximately 50 per cent of its operational costs.
The 2023 special tax rate will see a total collection of $61,000, funding 50 per cent of the costs estimated by the Town of Trochu for its the pool’s operational expenditures.


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