Clive council hears most property taxes paid on time

Written by Stu Salkeld

Clive village council heard that most property owners in the municipality paid their taxes on time. The report was made at the Sept. 11 regular meeting of council.

Village Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Carla Kenney provided councillors with an update on payment of property taxes, which she noted had gone very well.
“Tax payments were due Aug. 31, 2023,” stated Kenney’s report to council.

“Penalties totalling $4,458.27 were applied to 26 properties owing 2023 property taxes on Sept. 1, 2023, (which is) six per cent of the total property tax bill.

“This compares to $4,185.30 of penalties and 25 properties in 2022, $3,295.25 of penalties and 26 properties in 2021 and $6,480.12 of penalties and 37 properties in 2019.”

During discussion the CAO noted the number of late payers and penalties applied always seems to land around the five per cent neighbourhood. “The numbers are pretty consistent,” said Kenney.

She also informed councillors the village will send reminder letters in October with a note that another penalty is coming up.

Tourism time
Clive council hosted Merry Kuchle and Austin Weaver, representatives of Lacombe Regional Tourism, who presented the village with a funding increase notice. They stated the organization was notifying the village that for the 2025 budget year Lacombe Regional Tourism will be requesting $3,892, up $300 from their previous request.

The pair also discussed some of Lacombe Regional Tourism’s functions, programs and goals, noting the organization’s primary goal is to get people from out of the region to visit its members and spend money there.

It was noted the organization currently has “member at large” spots open on its board of directors.

The pair stated this organization was proud of many projects which went well in 2023, including its visitor guide, website, membership growth and attendance at consumer shows.

However, they noted a few things didn’t go as well as hoped, including attraction of large events and some growing pains.

Councillors accepted the presentation as information.

Water complaints
Kenney noted in her regular report to council the village received some complaints about water quality.

“Three informal water quality complaints (were received), water has a musty/moldy smell,” stated Kenney’s report.

“The village offered taking the samples which are submitted to Alberta Environment from these three homes to reassure the homeowners the water is safe to drink.”

Clive is growing
Kenney noted the village had been fairly busy lately with development permit applications. She noted a permit was issued for a 312-square-foot garage, a shelter logic carport and a massage therapy business.

Lift station issues
The CAO reported the village’s recently repaired lift station is functioning but still has issues with electronics which have not been resolved.

RCMP report
Clive’s RCMP provider, the Blackfalds RCMP detachment, submitted its regular report for council to peruse.

Mayor Lucy Henry observed that persons crimes, those offences where a person is harmed, appear to be increasing.

On Aug. 26 Blackfalds RCMP reported one male was arrested and charged with multiple traffic violations including flight from a peace officer, careless driving, stunting and others. RCMP allege this suspect was stopped after police, using a laser speed detector, clocked the male driving excessive speeds.

Stu Salkeld
Local Journalism Initiative reporter
ECA Review

About the author

Stu Salkeld

Stu Salkeld, who has upwards of 28 years of experience in the Alberta community newspaper industry, is now covering councils and other news in the Stettler region and has experience working in the area as well.

He has joined the ECA Review as a Local Journalism Initiative Journalist.

Stu earned his two-year diploma in print journalism from SAIT in Calgary from 1993 to ’95 and was raised in Oyen, Alta., one of the communities within the ECA Review’s coverage area.