Sherwood Park Minute: Election Survey, Infrastructure Grant, and Cow Campaign Launched

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

This Week In Sherwood Park:

• On Tuesday, at 9:00 am, there will be a Council Meeting with a budget focus. The meeting will be held in-camera (behind closed doors) so that Council can receive an introduction and orientation to the recommended budget as well as a human resources presentation.
  
  
• Also on Tuesday, 15 minutes after the conclusion of the aforementioned meeting, there will be a Special Council Meeting. This meeting will also be held behind closed doors as Council discusses an update on an Alberta Utilities Commission decision. No further information is available at this time.
  
  
• Strathcona County is conducting an Election 2025 Survey ahead of the municipal election. The survey aims to assess residents' likelihood to vote, identify barriers to voting, and gauge interest in participating as election workers. Additionally, the County is seeking public feedback on how the timing of the election may influence voter turnout and whether moving the election date to a Saturday would be more beneficial. You can take the survey online.

Last Week In Sherwood Park:

• The County launched a campaign called "Catch the Cow"  to celebrate businesses that participated in the Commercial Food Rescue and Organic Waste pilot. A life-sized cow statue, adorned with colourful food imagery, will be displayed at various locations near these businesses throughout the month. Residents are invited to take photos with the statue and share them on Instagram using the hashtag #CatchTheCowSHPK for a chance to win gift cards from participating businesses. More information is available online.
  
  
• Mayor Rod Frank welcomed Alberta's new $20-million infrastructure grant, highlighting its importance for Strathcona County as it navigates a 3.5% population growth. The initiative targets mid-sized cities, and is designed to improve critical infrastructure like roads and sewer systems. Frank expressed appreciation for the Province's ongoing collaboration with municipalities to tackle these issues.
  
  
• Mayor Frank also wrote an opinion piece discussing the pervasive influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in modern life and its implications for the future. He suggested that there are opportunities for integrating AI municipally, helping people with their creativity, judgment, and empathy. Mayor Frank also emphasized the potential for economic growth in Strathcona County through job creation in fields like data science and engineering, driven by AI's reliance on data centers.