Sherwood Park Minute: Issue 90

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

📅 This Week In Sherwood Park: 📅

• Council has trimmed its proposed 2026 tax hike from 5.18% to 4.82% after a series of budget cuts and deferrals. Councillors removed a three-year homelessness support pilot, discontinued the Missing Links Sidewalk Program after 2027, and cut or delayed several new staffing requests. Council also dissolved the Business Innovation and Communications department, while adding only one new item - $15,000 for mowing in three rural subdivisions. Administration says these changes help close a growing gap between operating revenues and capital needs. Budget deliberations and the final decision on major capital priorities will resume tomorrow.
  
  
• Strathcona County has confirmed the Sherwood Drive water truck fill station will close once new facilities are completed due to costly upgrades and aging infrastructure. Built in 1958, the station handles up to 5,700 monthly transactions in peak season but would require $11.5 million to replace - a cost that would push bulk water rates from $2.70 to $4.50 per cubic metre. A partial fix was also deemed inadequate because it would eliminate on-site storage and reduce service reliability. Instead, Council previously approved expanding the Ardrossan fill station, adding new commercial and residential bays and upgrading Range Road 222. The total cost is estimated at $2 million on top of a planned $8.5-million supply main, raising bulk water rates to about $3.15/m³ over time. Residents in Ward 6 expressed concerns about affordability, noting delivery costs have already risen. Administration says Sherwood Drive will not close until Ardrossan’s expansion and the new Colchester fill station open, likely no earlier than 2029.
  
  
• The Strathcona County RCMP is warning residents about a surge in cryptocurrency scams that have cost locals more than $6 million over the past two years. The RCMP says fraudsters use highly polished tactics, fake returns, pressure strategies and even AI-generated videos - including fabricated celebrity and political endorsements - to lure victims, particularly seniors. Many people realize too late that they are deeply in debt. Scammers often contact residents by phone, email or text, promising large returns or demanding crypto payments for supposed fines. Because cryptocurrency transactions are fast, irreversible, and hard to trace, losses are difficult to recover. RCMP urge anyone who suspects they have been targeted to contact police and encourage families to speak openly about financial safety. Losses reached $3.8 million in 2024 and $2.7 million so far in 2025, and investigations often take years due to the complexity of the schemes.
  
  
• Strathcona County has announced its New Year’s Festival, which will take place on Wednesday, December 31st, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 p.m. The family-friendly event will feature live entertainment, winter fun zones, indoor activities, holiday displays, festive treats, and concludes with a fireworks show over Broadmoor Lake Park at 8:00 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring donations for the Strathcona Food Bank. Free Park ‘N Ride service will be available, as are multiple parking locations. Residents can enjoy a variety of attractions, including games, ice sculptures, fire dancer and aerial artist shows, along with hot chocolate and s’mores stations. Full festival details and maps are available on the County’s website.
  
  
• Ward 5 Councillor Aaron Nelson wrote an op-ed highlighting the important role agricultural societies play in sustaining vibrant rural communities across Strathcona County. He notes that organizations like the Josephburg, Ardrossan, and Colchester agricultural societies rely heavily on volunteers, contributing to hundreds of thousands of volunteer hours across Alberta each year. Drawing on his own experience with the Josephburg Agricultural Society, Nelson describes how partnerships, youth involvement through groups like 4-H, and strong governance help these organizations thrive. He points to long-running events, safety training initiatives, and community programs as examples of what dedicated volunteers can achieve. He closed the article with a call for residents to step up and get involved to ensure rural events and traditions continue for future generations.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

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