FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 14, 2023

Council Highlights – December 12, 2023

 

Valleyview, Alberta

Greenview Council Adopts Interim 2024 Operating and Capital Budgets
Council deliberated the 2024 budgets over three days in November and approved the 2024 interim operating budget and 2024 capital budget at the December 12, 2023, Regular Council Meeting.  Operating expenses of $162.8 million reflect an $8.2 million increase from the 2023 Operating budget.  However, this does include the final payment of $15.0 million for the Hwy 40 Bridge Twinning Project.  Budget 2024 will be finalized pending the completion of property assessment values, provincial requisitions collected on behalf of the Government of Alberta, and seniors’ foundation requisitions.  The 2024 Capital budget allows for infrastructure costs for roads, bridges, utilities, equipment, and buildings and includes $34.2 million in new commitments.  The interim budget covers day-to-day operating expenses and allows projects to proceed until the final budget is approved in the spring. Council will also set tax rates in the spring of 2024.

Tender Awarded for Tax Assessment Services Awarded
On October 10, 2023, Administration launched a Request for Proposal for Tax Assessment Services, as the current contract with Accurate Assessment is set to come to a natural end at the of the 2023 Tax Assessment for the 2024 Tax Year. One proposal was received and met mandatory requirements. Council awarded the RFP to Accurate Assessment Group in the amount of $1,549,466.00 plus GST.

Greenview Council Provides Letter of Support for Watino Boat Launch
Council directed Administration to provide the Municipal District of Smoky River a letter of support for the Watino Boat Launch project for their Local Municipal Initiative application and a future Alberta Community Partnership Grant. There is currently a boat launch at Watino, but at low water levels, it is no longer connected to the river. Greenview Administration recommends supporting this initiative as this location can also act as a key access point for emergency services for emergencies on the Smoky River within Greenview’s northern border.

TARA Centre North Wing Sponsorship Approved by Council
Evergreen Park, operating under the Grande Prairie Regional Agricultural & Exhibition Society, is the largest full-featured exhibition facility north of Edmonton and sees approximately 500,000 visitors come through the park annually. The park holds strong to its agricultural roots, hosting annual Argi shows, chuckwagons, live horse racing and rodeos. Over the last five (5) years, Greenview has been in an agreement with Evergreen Park, claiming the naming right to the north wing of the TARA Centre within the Evergreen Park pavilion, which ended in October 2023. Greenview Council approved a three (3) year sponsorship agreement with naming rights in the amount of $8,500.00 per year.

2024 National Aboriginal Hockey Championship Sponsorship Approved
The National Aboriginal Hockey Championships 2024 Society is hosting the 21st Annual National Aboriginal Hockey Championships on May 5- 11, 2024, at the Design Works Centre in Grande Prairie, Alberta. The tournament will mark the first Alberta community ever to host the championship tournament. Hockey Alberta, along with the Indigenous Sport Council of Alberta, oversees the selection of players and coaches to represent each province at the tournament. Greenview Council approved a $5,000.00 sponsorship to support the planning and operations of the event, with the majority of funds put towards the cultural aspects of the event, such as a round dance, beading, and making drums.

Greenview Council provides sponsorship for the 2024 Peace Country Beef Congress
The 24th Annual Peace Country Beef Congress will take place at Evergreen Park on January 4-6, 2024, in Grande Prairie, Alberta. The annual networking event hosts cattle and farming-related products, producers, and ranchers with a chance to promote, network, and gain knowledge on marketing livestock and other related items. This year, they are putting a large focus on youth in agriculture, growing the junior cattle show and seminars, including demonstrations and activities to allow youth a chance to enter the agricultural world. Council approved a $5,000.00 sponsorship to help with costs related to the operations of the event.

Greenview To Enter into Offer To Purchase Agreement – Grovedale Industrial Park Land Acquisition
Economic growth in Greenview is important to Greenview Council. In 2018, Greenview undertook an application to purchase the NE 35-68-6 W6 (152.7 acres) and NW 36-68-6 W6 (156.6 acres). These lands are located along Twp Road 690 (2 miles south of the Grovedale Pond), directly west of Highway 40, north of the Secure Energy service facility and 14 km north of the Greenview Industrial Gateway (GIG). The acquisition of these lands was sought as an area where industrial uses supporting the GIG could be in proximity to our strategic industrial park without utilizing the more valuable, finite land of the GIG. Any land use and detailed design would be established by Greenview via common land use processes and approved by Council.

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Upcoming Events and Meetings

  • December 19, 2023 – Committee of the Whole Meeting, Valleyview Council Chambers
  • December 25-27, 2023 – Greenview Offices closed for Christmas
  • January 1, 2024 – Greenview Offices closed for New Year’s

Media inquiries may be directed to:
Stacey Sevilla | Manager, Communications & Marketing | Direct: 780-524-7625
stacey.sevilla@mdgreenview.ab.ca

Download a full copy of the December 12, 2023 Council Highlights here.