Pincher Creek town council approved up to $225,000 for a wastewater pump replacement and renewed its regional planning agreement during a wide-ranging meeting Aug. 24, which also touched on a rise in break-ins, staffing shortages at the local RCMP detachment and support for several community organizations.

The meeting opened with a presentation from the Pincher Creek and District Community Food Centre, which reported serving 427 people and completing 785 deliveries over the past fiscal year.

Food centre reports busy year

Board chair Davina Brown told council the food centre served 282 returning clients and 145 new ones over the past fiscal year. Children aged 18 and under made up the largest group of recipients, at 132.

The program serves Pincher Creek and surrounding communities, including Pincher Station, Beaver Mines, Lundbreck, Twin Butte, Castle Mountain and Cowley.

The centre also reported a $50,000 surplus for the fiscal year and said it has been accredited by Food Banks Canada.

Brown credited past town funding with helping cover delivery costs, including a monthly refrigerated truck run to Lethbridge.

The centre’s priorities for the coming year include surveying clients, strengthening financial reserves, improving board recruitment and increasing community engagement.

The centre plans to hold an open house on World Food Day, Oct. 16.

Wastewater pump needs replacement

Council approved up to $225,000 from the utilities reserve to replace one of three pumps at the town’s main wastewater lift station.

The decision followed heavy rain in the spring that caused stormwater to seep into the sanitary system and exceed the lift station’s capacity.

The town had to use vacuum trucks to pump effluent from the lift station wet well and transport it to the lagoons. When the trucks were no longer available because of run-time restrictions, some effluent overflowed into the creek.

Administration reviewed the lift station and inspected all three pumps, finding all are at or near the end of their service lives. One was completely inoperable and could not be rebuilt.

Chief administrative officer Konrad Dunbar told council the failed pump has no off-the-shelf replacement and must be custom-built, with a lengthy lead time.

“Normally, I would try and save this for [the] budget process,” Dunbar said, but the order needs to go in soon if the town wants the pump installed before next spring. Most of the cost is not expected to come until 2027 and any funds not spent in 2026 will be allocated through the 2027 budget.

Council renews regional planning agreement

Council approved an updated 2026 membership services agreement with the Oldman River Regional Services Commission.

It combines and replaces three previous agreements covering planning services, regional assessment review services and the Chinook Intermunicipal Subdivision and Development Appeal Board.

Coun. Sahra Nodge said the updated agreement appeared to mainly bring the town’s existing arrangements in line with current practices and legislative requirements.

Mayor Wayne Oliver asked who would be responsible for enforcing conditions added to a development permit by the regional appeal board.

Dunbar said the town remains responsible for ensuring compliance with board decisions.

Nodge said the regional appeal board provides an independent appeal process while allowing municipalities to handle the follow-through locally.

Break-ins surge, other crime mixed

An RCMP report on crime statistics for April through June showed break and enters rose to 13 files from four during the same period in 2025. The detachment linked the rise to a wave of thefts targeting commercial sites for copper wire and said investigators identified suspects and laid charges.

Several other property offences also climbed. Fraud files rose from five to 12, while mischief cases involving property damage doubled to 10. Overall property offences increased from 45 to 67, though the detachment said the five-year trend remains within normal range.

Crimes against persons decreased compared to the previous year. Assault files fell from 15 to 10 and criminal harassment from six to three. Sexual assault files rose from one to two.

Total Criminal Code offences increased from 95 to 112.

Traffic enforcement was active during the quarter, with 223 tickets issued. Many were tied to tourism traffic and a highway construction zone south of town.

RCMP staffing remains an issue

The detachment reported five officers working out of 11 established positions. Three officers are on temporary leave and there are three hard vacancies. The report said two constables and one corporal are expected to transfer into the detachment in the fall.

Council discussed asking for a meeting with the RCMP K Division commander at the Alberta Municipalities convention in September, continuing years of talks over the town-owned detachment building. The town has previously explored the possibility of the RCMP taking ownership.

Dunbar said the building has experienced some settling but no longer appears to be undergoing the significant movement seen in its early years.

Coun. Bernice Cyr raised separate concerns about new recruits and about unanswered questions on drug enforcement and elder abuse raised at police advisory meetings. Oliver will attend the next meeting with Cyr to better understand the concerns.

Council backs watershed, AI initiatives

Council agreed to send a letter supporting the Oldman Watershed Council’s request for renewed provincial funding.

The OWC’s current four-year core grant provides $320,000 annually and accounts for about 20 per cent of its operating budget. The funding is set to end March 31, 2027.

Council also agreed to support Community Futures Alberta Southwest’s application for funding for a proposed Rural AI Accelerator program.

The program would help rural businesses, entrepreneurs, organizations and municipalities understand and adopt artificial intelligence for day-to-day operations.

Councillors approved for conferences

Council approved Coun. Valerie Wynder’s attendance at the Tourism Economic Leaders Forum dinner and gala awards in Edmonton on Nov. 16.

Wynder said the event could provide an opportunity to learn more about tourism development and bring ideas back to the region.

Council also authorized Cyr and Wynder to attend a course on effective meetings at the Alberta Municipalities convention. The $425 course will cover meeting procedures, motions, debate, conduct and decision-making.

Coun. Sahra Nodge received council’s support to apply for an Alberta Municipalities committee position.

Library update

Council received an update from the Chinook Arch Regional Library board about changes to the Alberta Libraries Act and Regulation. The changes require libraries to restrict access to certain materials based on age, with policies and procedures due by Jan. 1, 2027.

By Somya Lohia, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Original Published on Sep 02, 2026 at 15:14

 

This item reprinted with permission from   Shootin' the Breeze   Pincher Creek, Alberta

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