Coalhurst council adopts regional emergency management bylaw

Posted on April 24, 2025 by Sunny South News

Town of Coalhurst

The following are some highlights from the April 15 Town of Coalhurst regular council meeting. 

 Council approves central community organics compost bin pilot project

The Town of Coalhurst has been working towards improving solid waste management stewardship, including ways residents can divert household yard and food waste from the landfill. 

Council has approved a central community organics compost bin pilot project to be added to the Coalhurst recycling depot for the collection of food waste, food-spoiled paper, leaves, plants, and grass clippings on a trial basis until Oct. 31, 2025, funded by reserves. This will require a minor rearrangement of the site where the current community recycling bin is located, as well as the development of a comprehensive communications plan to ensure residents understand how to use the bin and what materials are acceptable for organic recycling.

Following the pilot program, administration will re-evaluate the service using the data from this summer and fall to help determine annual operating costs to potentially offer the service permanently. In addition, administration may conduct community engagement around the desire for a backyard compost bin rebate program.

It is anticipated that the central community organics compost bin will be ready by the end of May.

Council adopts Regional Emergency Management Bylaw 461-25

On Nov. 2, 2024, a regional emergency management partnership was announced between Coalhurst, Barons, Nobleford, Picture Butte, and Lethbridge County. With the summer season approaching, the approval of Bylaw No. 461-25 (Regional Emergency Management) is timely as it will enhance inter-municipal collaboration to ensure an effective and unified response to emergencies and disasters and allow for the creation of the Lethbridge County regional emergency advisory committee and the Lethbridge County regional emergency management agency. By formalizing regional emergency responses, it will integrate emergency planning, preparedness, response, and recovery efforts, creating greater certainty for residents that emergencies will be managed professionally, efficiently, and with life safety as the priority.

Council approves Town of Coalhurst 2024 financial statements and auditor’s report

Auditors KPMG LLP, an independent firm, provided a presentation to council, reviewing the Town of Coalhurst 2024 Financial Statements. Town administration is responsible for the preparation, accuracy, objectivity, and integrity of the financial statements, while council oversees management in its reporting responsibilities and approves the statements. In their report to council, KPMG stated the financial statements accurately represent the financial position of the Town as of Dec. 31, 2024.

Recycling utility rates removed from Coalhurst’s monthly utility bills

Coalhurst residents will save money on their monthly utility bills with the removal of the recycling utility rate beginning April 2025. Council approved the change, citing the implementation of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program through the Government of Alberta, which other municipalities have adopted. The provincial program will fund the town for expenses related to running the recycling program, therefore the recycling fee of $3.15 per month will no longer be collected from residents going forward.

 Administration report

The Lethbridge Public Library Bookmobile, in partnership with Family and Community Support Services (FCSS), will deliver a new early childhood literacy program in Coalhurst called The ABC Express, beginning Friday, April 25, 2025. This half-hour program will be offered every second Friday as part of the current FCSS Stay & Play program, which runs from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Coalhurst & District Community Centre located at 527 50 Ave.

The ABC Express program aims to encourage parents to interact with their children using the five early literacy practices of singing, playing, talking, reading and writing. This partnership program will continue until at least the end of June 2025 and is being offered at no additional cost to the Town and free of charge to participants.