Sherwood Park Minute: Construction Updates, Library Budget, and Social Framework Grants

Sherwood Park Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Sherwood Park politics

This Week In Sherwood Park:

• There are no Council Meetings this week, though next week there will be both Special and Regular Meetings of Council.
  
  
• Barry LaRocque will become Strathcona County's new RCMP Superintendent, bringing 32 years of experience to the role. He aims to focus on community policing, building trust, and enhancing public safety through collaboration with local partners. LaRocque is particularly concerned with addressing the ongoing issue of property crime, and wants to improve communication with the public.
  
  
• The Public Satisfaction Survey is open until February 14th. The survey gathers feedback on various aspects of community life, from roads and parks to emergency services and recreation. Last year, 95% of residents rated Strathcona County as a good or very good place to live. You can give your feedback online.

Last Week In Sherwood Park:

• Strathcona County has approved a $1.21 million investment in Social Framework Grant funding to support local non-profits. The grants will assist organizations like the Strathcona Food Bank and BGC Big Brothers Big Sisters in addressing social service needs and supporting vulnerable residents. The program also includes multi-year commitments to organizations like Volunteer Strathcona and the Saffron Centre. Despite a recent increase in funding, the County is considering further boosting the grant budget due to high demand.
  
  
• The Strathcona County Library's 2025 budget received a 3% increase, raising its allocation from the County to over $11.4 million. This increase is mainly due to rising staffing costs and higher digital content licensing fees, with some publishers increasing e-content prices by up to 50%. The budget also accounts for expanding cyber security, building reserves for future projects, and the development of a second library branch in Bremner. Additionally, plans for a new Bookmobile and an expansion to rural areas are being discussed.
  
  
• Council heard an update on major construction projects in Strathcona County, expected to bring significant economic activity to Alberta’s Industrial Heartland. Construction is ongoing for Shell's Polaris carbon capture project, which aims to capture over 90% of CO2 emissions from the refinery and chemical plant, with peak construction planned for late 2025. Meanwhile, the Atlas Carbon Sequestration Hub is underway, involving two wells being drilled to store CO2 underground. Additionally, Shell Scotford is preparing for two large turnaround projects, which will bring thousands of workers to the area. The company is coordinating with other industries to manage the influx of workers and prevent traffic congestion.