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Regional Roundup
April 29, 2026

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Municipal councils need sharper fiscal scrutiny, says former mayor

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The financial troubles in Gibbons highlight a broader need for Alberta municipal councils to develop financial oversight skills, former St. Albert mayor Nolan Crouse wrote in a St. Albert Gazette column. Council members are often told to "stay out of the weeds" or "focus on policy only," and to let administration bring forward expert recommendations, he said. "Hogwash!" he wrote, adding that councillors need enough financial acumen to know which details matter — including how to calculate key financial ratios and ask better questions about spending, reserves, and debt. "The definition of weeds and policy varies from person to person, but without depth of oversight, another Gibbons can easily happen again."

Gibbons council was set to vote on administration's recommended 5.2% base property tax increase on the evening of April 28, which would represent an additional $13.88 per month for the average residential taxpayer. Staff also recommended an additional increase of between 1% and 4%, which would go toward replenishing debt reserves. There will be a public town hall on May 14 to learn more about the budget.

Meanwhile, Gibbons is increasing communication efforts and continually reminding residents of what their tax dollars pay for. The town highlighted planned work on Longriders Road, which had become nearly impassable without proper maintenance in nearly 20 years. The road serves the town's RV park, home to more than 280 Gibbons residents, many of whom work in Alberta's Industrial Heartland. The recreation team has shut down the curling rink for the summer and is shifting its focus to parks and open spaces.

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Economic development

Municipalities

  • St. Albert council approved $74.1 million to construct water, sanitary, and storm infrastructure in the city's northeast, after receiving $28.1 million in federal funding for the project earlier this month.
  • St. Albert council has voted down a $5,000 pilot project that would have added up to 34 on-street parking stalls downtown along St. Anne Street, with some councillors citing too many variables.
  • Strathcona County council voted 2-7 against rezoning about 69 hectares east of Sherwood Park to allow for a rural event venue, after speakers at a public hearing raised concerns about noise, traffic, lighting, and fire risk.
  • Devon has received more funding from the Municipal Climate Change Action Centre to complete a high-efficiency hot water heater upgrade at the GFL Twin Arena.
  • Leduc's 2025 Environmental Progress Report highlights a 50% waste diversion rate, a 15% increase in Recycle Coach app users, a 70% rise in transit ridership, and a 50% increase in Clean Energy Improvement Program projects compared to 2024.
  • The Leduc Recreation Centre's indoor playground has been renamed the Code Ninjas Leduc Indoor Playground under a three-year naming sponsorship with local coding education franchise Code Ninjas Leduc.
  • St. Albert council approved the $753,600 Chanter Park adjacent to the planned K-9 school site in Chérot, aiming to have it built before the school opens as early as 2029.
  • St. Albert city council will vote on amendments to its snow removal bylaw that would require residents to clear sidewalks within 48 hours of a snowfall or apply traction material when ice removal is not possible.
  • Sturgeon County council approved its 2026-2029 strategic plan, establishing three 30-year community outcomes: planned growth, thriving communities, and environmental responsibility.
  • Morinville town council has approved its 2026-2030 strategic plan with four focus areas: community connection and well-being, downtown vibrancy, infrastructure stewardship, and community storytelling and partnerships.
  • Spruce Grove city council is seeking community feedback on its draft 2026-2029 strategic plan through a survey open until May 8. Council and administration used community input gathered during the 2025 municipal election to shape the plan's four themes — building community, communications excellence, economic opportunity, and strategic partnerships.
  • Sturgeon County is holding a public hearing on May 12 for proposed amendments to its waste management regulations that would modernize definitions, direct waste facilities away from residential areas, and add site-level requirements for setbacks, traffic, noise, and odours.
  • Stony Plain is holding a public hearing on May 11 for updates to its land use bylaw that include targeted administrative changes to sign definitions, road and yard requirements, and development permit conditions.
  • Fort Saskatchewan is modernizing its parkland bylaw, which has not been revised in more than 30 years. It's looking at changes to park access hours, environmental protections, and rules for micromobility devices; residents can review the draft and submit feedback until May 15.
  • Your turn, Taproot's weekly batch of calls for public engagement, includes County Chats at the Tomahawk Agra Centre, a survey for St. Albert business owners, and a public hearing on an area structure plan for Atim Creek Business Park.

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Happenings

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Visit the Taproot Edmonton Calendar for many more events in the Edmonton region.

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