Lacombe County Stands Firm on Fire Invoices, Denies Gull Lake Playground Funding
Fire Billing Dispute Reaches Final Stance
Lacombe County Council has officially endorsed its formal response to residents Dan Kyncl and Harvey Brink regarding the county’s controversial fire department invoicing practices. While Council agreed to waive late payment charges for two specific invoices—provided they are paid by Jan. 1, 2026—it refused to cancel the fees entirely.
Residents Kyncl and Brink previously challenged bills totaling approximately $43,000, arguing that fire protection should be covered 100% by property taxes. Mr. Kyncl told Council that the county was “doing it wrong” and questioned the justification for a policy change that began in 2021.
Council’s formal response states that property taxes already fund 77% of the $3.054 million fire services budget. The remaining costs are recovered through a “user-pay” system to ensure long-term sustainability. The county also corrected two billing errors, reducing Mr. Kyncl’s invoice from over $27,000 to $18,717.50 after adjusting mutual aid rates and travel time.
Gull Lake Playground Request Denied
In a blow to the Gull Lake Community League, Council defeated a motion to contribute $20,000 toward a new playground structure in Centennial Park. The total project cost was estimated at $72,124.
County administration recommended the denial, noting that the county typically funds only one urban-based playground per municipality. The Gull Lake Community League previously received $25,000 in 2022 for a playground at the community centre. Officials argued that because the county already maintains its own parks and has previously supported Gull Lake, additional funding for a second site was not supported.
Clean Water Solution for Lakeview Estates
Council has selected a path forward to address fluoride levels in the Lakeview Estates water system that currently exceed provincial maximums. The county will apply to Alberta Environment and Protected Areas to install in-home reverse osmosis units.
The project is estimated to cost $64,000 for installation and roughly $13,378 in annual operating costs. This “Point of Use” strategy was chosen over more expensive options, such as drilling a new well (estimated at $565,000) or an ion exchange system ($500,000). The annual operating costs will be borne by the users of the water system through their utility fees.
Museum and Community Funding
Council approved $140,666 in total funding for historical and tourism facilities for 2026. This follows a policy to cap increases at 2% to match other recreation grants. Major allocations include:
* Lacombe Regional Tourism and Marketing Association: $63,036
* Lacombe and District Historical Society: $43,361
* Mirror and District Museum Association: $17,855
Additionally, $11,000 in surplus Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) funding was reallocated to local groups, including Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Alix Mirror Wellness Supports Society.
Agriculture and Infrastructure
Council approved a road closure of approximately 0.373 acres within NE 13-41-23 W4M to accommodate a new alignment for Range Road Ext 23-0. In agricultural business, the county will now advocate for the hiring of additional provincial meat inspectors and the retention of large animal veterinarians in rural Alberta.
What’s Next
The next regular council meeting is scheduled for Dec. 11, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. A Committee of the Whole meeting will take place on Dec. 2 to discuss the 2026 fire services agreement framework with Bentley, Alix, and Clive.