Lacombe County Lowers Lakeside/Sargent Road Speed Limit, Shifts Development Costs to Owners
Lacombe County Council unanimously passed a new Speed Control Bylaw on Thursday, lowering the speed limit on a key stretch of Lakeside/Sargent Road to address safety risks cited by local residents.
Bylaw 1445/25 reduces the limit from 100 km/h to 80 km/h starting 300 meters east of the C&E Trail intersection, continuing west to Highway 2A. The decision follows a formal request from a resident who cited dangers involving school bus stops, horseback riders, children, and slow-moving farm equipment. The change also aligns with recent whistle cessation efforts at the nearby rail crossing.
Developers Foot the Bill for Road Upgrades
Council also approved updates to Policy OP(47), clarifying that property owners and developers are responsible for the costs of upgrading roads to service new residential developments. This policy now explicitly applies to roads, alleys, and lanes within hamlets and subdivisions. Under the rules, landowners must construct or upgrade access roads to County standards if they wish to subdivide or build a new residence. The County will continue to require a $10,000 per kilometer security deposit to ensure work is completed properly.
Vandalism and Rising Costs at MEGlobal Park
Representatives from the Lacombe Athletic Park Association (LAPA) requested a funding increase to $45,000 annually for the next three years, up from $30,000. Diane Hayduk, LAPA Chairperson, reported that while the park remains a high-traffic regional asset, it faces rising utility bills and ongoing vandalism.
Hayduk noted several incidents, including a Pride flag being burned on the turf, holes being dug into field lines, and broken picnic tables. LAPA is also facing a $1.8 million shortfall for its proposed track and field expansion despite a previous $250,000 commitment from the County. Council directed administration to prepare a report on the funding request for a future meeting.
Infrastructure Concerns in Mirror
Stantec engineers presented a condition assessment of the Hamlet of Mirror’s water and wastewater systems. While much of the 8 kilometers of sewer pipe can be repaired using trenchless lining, the report identified 87 manholes in significant decay, some with exposed rebar. The assessment recommended annual flushing and a targeted rehabilitation program to prevent total system failure.
Council Action and Resident Inquiries
In other business, Council approved a $5,599 contribution to the Town of Blackfalds to cover 15% of the costs for a chemical storage shed and HVAC upgrades at the Abbey Centre. The funds will be drawn from the Recreation Capital Assistance Reserve.
During the inquiry period, individual councillors brought forward several localized issues:
* Mirror Animal Limits: Councillor Knight asked for clarification on how many chickens are permitted per lot in Mirror. Planning services is reviewing the current limit.
* Road Maintenance: Following complaints of washboarding due to weather, Director of Operations Bill Cade committed to publishing an article in the County News regarding road grading schedules.
* Highway 20 Safety: Councillor Wilson requested flashing stop lights at the intersection of Highway 20 and Aspelund Road. Cade noted this is under provincial jurisdiction but agreed to follow up with Alberta Transportation.
* Joffre Signage: Councillor Visscher noted the lack of a community road map in Joffre. The County will work to install a map sign near the hamlet’s post office boxes.
What’s Next
The new 80 km/h speed limit on Lakeside/Sargent Road takes effect immediately upon the installation of new signage. Council will review the status of the Lacombe Athletic Park funding and Mirror’s infrastructure priorities during upcoming budget deliberations in November.