Ponoka County Council Rezones Farmland, Grapples with High Cost of Road Paving
Ponoka County Council unanimously approved a bylaw Tuesday to rezone 15.53 acres of agricultural land for a new country residential hobby farm development.
The decision came after a brief public hearing regarding the parcel of land located at Pt. SE 1-42-24-W4, owned by J & J McLaren. The bylaw reclassifies the land from Agricultural District to Country Residential Hobby Farm District, passing all three readings in a single session.
Why It Matters
The rezoning clears the way for new residential development on what was previously farmland. Landowner Jim McLaren was present for the hearing and the unanimous vote.
Road Repairs and Budget Pains
A significant portion of the meeting focused on the state of county roads. Public Works Superintendent B. Rose reported that while projects on Township Road 450 are complete and work on Township Road 424 is nearly finished, challenges remain.
Rose noted that calcium treatments on high-traffic gravel routes are breaking down sooner than expected. Council also received a request to pave or chip seal a portion of Township Road 422 east of Highway 815, a project estimated to cost $120,000 per mile.
The Debate
The paving request sparked a debate about balancing the needs of farmers, who require roads that can handle fully loaded trucks, with the limitations of less expensive options like chip seal, which have weight restrictions. Councillors acknowledged the need to expand the road budget and pave more busy routes but expressed a commitment to doing so without raising taxes.
Administration and council will continue to look for funding solutions.
Councillors Report Friction with Neighbors
Reports from councillors highlighted ongoing friction with municipal neighbors.
Councillor Bryce Liddle described a recent Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework (ICF) meeting with the Town of Ponoka as "challenging." Councillor Mark Matejka reported "difficulties" in agreements with the City of Red Deer, stating the city has overcharged for water and has been slow to provide reimbursement.
Other local issues raised by councillors included:
* Cattle escaping at night.
* Dust complaints and concerns about hawkweed spreading in ditches.
* A traffic visibility hazard caused by 12-foot-high corn planted to the edge of a road.
* A drop in revenue at the Ponoka Agricultural Event Centre due to reduced show attendance.
Other Business
Council also handled several routine financial and administrative items:
* Accounts Paid: Council approved the payment of $3,287,044.54 for the August 31 cheque register.
* Library Budget: The 2026 Parkland Regional Library budget was approved. It includes a 1.84% increase in the county's requisition, bringing the total contribution to $99,880.
* Rink Flooding: An agreement was confirmed for the Ponoka County East fire department to provide water for the Mecca Glen outdoor ice rink.
What's Next
Reeve Paul McLauchlin, who was absent from the meeting, is expected to bring forward a resolution on water use and hydraulic fracturing at the upcoming Rural Municipalities of Alberta convention.
The next regular council meetings are scheduled for October 14 and October 28.