County passes master schedule of fees amendments

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Wheatland County council approved an amendment to the county master schedule of fees during the Dec. 5 regular meeting of council. 

Council passed the first two readings of the amendment, granted unanimous consent to hold third reading, then finally passed third reading of the amendment. 

County administration brought forward proposed fee changes in a report to council at the Nov. 21 regular meeting, titled “Securities for New Dwellings within Hamlets and Residential Communities.” Council approved to include the fee changes through resolution CM-2023-11-36 at the time.

During the same meeting, council also approved an update to the Master Schedule of Fees through bylaw 2023-26. 

Wheatland County council maintains authority to charge fees for various municipal goods and services in accordance with the Municipal Government Act.

A master schedule of fees is a list or a table which indicates fixes fees for goods and services. This represents documentation of the actual set of fees to be charged by the county for rendered services, ranging from water to development permits and everything in between.

Being approved, rate changes documented in the master schedule of fees will help cover current expenses that the county is paying, and the adjustments will be realized in the future budget, as well as reserve balances. 

During the previous meeting of council, changes discussed surrounding the master schedule of fees were primarily focussed around the utility rate changes.

Joel Chiasson, manager of financial services with the county, explained that was to make sure council was focussed on getting those changes done in a timely manner and expediting communications of those to the appropriate parties.

The planning and development section of the master schedule of fees was the focus of council’s attention for the Dec. 5 meeting.

Amendments under the planning and development section of the master schedule of fees document regard Bareland condominium applications within that subdivision, and development permit applications for new dwellings in the Lakes of Muirfield.

Administration clarified to council during the Dec. 5 meeting, a separate development schedule may be prepared which would be more succinct for deposits to give to people who are applying for development permits such that the information would be presented to applicants in a way that would be easier for them to understand how it applies to their particular developments.

As of the passing of the document, it came into force effective immediately. Additionally, the previous iteration of the document had then been rescinded by council.

More information regarding the master schedule of fees is available publicly via the county website and publicised meeting agenda for Dec. 5.