Crowsnest Pass council has redesignated the provincial property containing the former York Creek Lodge and Tecumseh Manor in Blairmore for public and institutional use.
Council gave second and third readings to Bylaw 1272, 2026 following a public hearing Oct. 20.
The bylaw changes Block OT, Plan 5186FA from Recreation and Open Space RO-1 to Public P-1. Administration said the former designation was more appropriate for parks and sports fields and did not match the institutional buildings already on the property.
The Public P-1 district allows government and community facilities and can accommodate seniors supportive housing. Ordinary single-family homes and apartment buildings are not permitted unless the residential use forms part of a seniors supportive housing facility.
Coun. Dean Ward characterized the change as a correction to the property’s historical designation.
“This is just correcting a historical mistake then,” Ward said. “It should never have been recreational open space.”
Chief Administrative Officer Patrick Thomas agreed and said the province was looking to subdivide the property to separate the two facilities.
One resident spoke at the public hearing, raising questions about the Public P-1 district and concerns about future density in the neighbourhood.
Council approved both readings without recorded opposition. A future proposal for ordinary residential development would require another rezoning process.
Municipality receives Q2 financial report
Council received the municipality’s second-quarter financial report for information.
The report covers the first six months of the 2026 budget year and uses 50 per cent as the general benchmark for revenues and expenses. Administration cautioned that seasonal operations and expenses recorded at particular times of the year will not necessarily track that benchmark evenly.
The report states the municipality is on track to remain within budget by year-end.
Council questioned the way some expenses were presented. Thomas said $61,508 shown as wages in the culture department relates to the library and is recorded that way because of its accounting software, although the budgeted amount appears under contracted services.
Council was also told $420,000 had been budgeted for policing services. Thomas said the final cost was not yet known because the municipality had not received the bill.
The report was received without recorded opposition.
Failed water cistern cannot be repaired
Administration will test one of the municipality’s water-storage cisterns during a live exercise as it considers the future of the rural fire-water sources.
The discussion followed a letter from Rendy Guinchard about a failed water source that appeared to be a fire hydrant.
Thomas said the structures are unpressurized storage tanks rather than hydrants connected to the municipal water system.
“They’re essentially just a storage tank of water. They’re non-pressurized,” Thomas said.
The cistern identified in the letter suffered a catastrophic failure and cannot be repaired, Thomas said.
Administration is working with the fire department to test another cistern and determine how it performs with an engine in a live exercise. It is also considering replacing hydrant-style tops with couplings that more clearly identify the structures as cisterns.
Council accepted the letter. No replacement project or funding was approved.
December council meeting moved
Council has moved its final regular meeting of 2026 from Dec. 22 to Dec. 15 at 1 p.m.
Administration said no agenda items or public hearings had been scheduled for Dec. 22 and the earlier date could be accommodated.
The change gives council a break from Dec. 16 until its next scheduled meeting Jan. 12, 2027.
Council supports Frank monument effort
Council directed administration to provide a letter supporting the Frank Slide Interpretive Centre’s proposed Frank monument and plans marking the 125th anniversary of the Frank Slide.
The anniversary falls on April 29, 2028. The centre requested the letter as it pursues grants connected with the monument.
The request followed an Oct. 6 presentation by interpretive centre manager Myriah Sagrafena and Mary Anna Misseghers of the Blairmore Lions.
Council approved the support letter through its consent agenda.
Policing committee proposal expected in January
Coun. Doreen Johnson said she plans to bring council a January proposal for a committee to examine future policing costs and service options.
Johnson said the committee could include community, RCMP, administration and council representatives.
“If we’re going to come up with a different policing model, we’d better get on it right now,” Johnson said.
Johnson raised concerns about future RCMP funding arrangements and the expiry of the provincial policing agreement in 2032.
Thomas cautioned that the municipality remains in the enhanced-policing stream and has not received provincial notice that its status will change. He said many future costs and policing arrangements remain unknown and that creating a municipal police service would carry considerably greater expenses.
Council made no decision on a policing committee Oct. 20. Johnson’s proposal will require council consideration when it returns.