BARRHEAD - County of Barrhead councillors unanimously approved the 2024 Johnson Industrial Airport operating and capital budgets in two separate motions during their Dec. 5 council meeting.
The airport is jointly run by both of Barrhead's municipalities, with the county being the unit of authority.
The operating budget for the airport is $45,875, with funding coming from two equal contributions of $17,320, with the remainder of the revenue coming from hangar leases and tie-down fees.
This year, the airport does not anticipate purchasing or completing any capital improvements; therefore, the budget is nil.
The joint municipal airport operating committee recommended passing the budgets at its Nov. 16 meeting.
In separate motions, councillors also approved the three-year capital and 10-year operating plans.
As the airport is joint run, Town of Barrhead councillors are expected to approve the budgets at their Dec. 12 meeting.
Committee appointments
Following an in-camera session, councillors appointed Stephen Bablitz and Melissa Ouellette as members-at-large to the Barrhead Public Library Board. The appointment term is from Jan. 1, 2024, to Dec. 31, 2026.
The board requires seven members at large who must be residents of the town or county, one of whom has to be from the Neerlandia Library Society. The board also has a councillor from both municipalities.
Councillors also nominated Agricultural Service Board member Lorrie Jesperson. Nadine Quedenbaum filled the other vacancy, which county manager Debbie Oyarzun said must be an active agricultural producer.
ALUS (Alternative Land Use Services) is a community-led, farmer-delivered initiative that supports stewardship activities on agricultural lands.
Originating in Manitoba, it came to Alberta in 2010 and currently has chapters in a dozen rural municipalities, the closest being Lac Ste Anne County. In addition to Alberta and Manitoba, ALUS is active in Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec and Prince Edward Island.
The organization replaced H2C (Highway 2 Conservation), which is also an environmental stewardship group. While it started as a partnership with Westlock County and Athabasca County, the County of Barrhead joined in 2011 and became the managing partner in 2015.
