Newell No. 4, County of

Welcome

WELCOME TO THE COUNTY OF NEWELL NO. 4

Area Overview

COUNTY OF NEWELL NO. 4
HISTORICAL OVERVIEW

CELEBRATING 50 YEARS AS A COUNTY IN THE PROVINCE OF ALBERTA IN 2003

ADMINISTRATION

The land in the Province of Alberta known as the County of Newell has come a long way since settlers began settling the area at the turn of the century. Many people have worked very hard over the years to make it the prosperous area that we all enjoy today.

Before the area known as the County of Newell became a County, many municipal organizations and re-organizations took place. Until 1935, the County of Newell area was comprised of 8 small Improvement Districts. In 1935, the Province of Alberta Municipal Affairs amalgamated the 8 small Improvement Districts to form a single Improvement District called Improvement District No. 123, with Mr. G. Anderson as the Municipal Inspector. Just over 3 years later, another change was made by Municipal Affairs that saw I.D. No. 123 change to I.D. No. 28. The history books do not record why the I.D. number was changed from 123 to 28.

In 1952, the Eastern Irrigation District School Division No. 44 and Improvement District No. 28 joined forces and made application to the Province of Alberta Municipal Affairs to amalgamate the two governing bodies and incorporate them to become what we now know as the County of Newell No. 4. on January 1, 1953. The newly formed County of Newell No. 4 was then responsible for Education, Agriculture and Public Works. The first elections as a County took place in 1953.

In the first election of Councillors for the County of Newell No. 4, there were 9 Councillors elected to represent 9 Electoral Divisions within the County. By 1987, the population in the County made it necessary for changes in the Electoral Divisions to facilitate a 10th Division.

The County of Newell No. 4 continued to operate the rural school system complete with a School Board from 1953 until 1988. In 1988 the Province of Alberta changed the education system and amalgamated several school districts across the Province. The County of Newell No. 4 School District and the Brooks School District were then combined to form what is now called the Grasslands Regional School Division No.6.

With the growth and expansion of the County has come a greater responsibility to members of Council who now control a budget that has grown from $773,000 in 1953 to over $22 million in 2003.

Many changes took place at the end of the 80's and the start of the 90's. Probably most visible to County residents is the equipment being used by County Staff to maintain County roads and control weeds.

Growing up in the County, many of us made fun of the age of the County equipment as it passed by our rural homes.

It was well known that the equipment was old and could stand to be replaced. Old equipment is no longer the case at the County of Newell. During the past decade, all of the old roadwork equipment has been replaced with state-of-the-art road building and maintenance machines. It was determined that it would cost County tax payers a lot less to operate new equipment than it would be to maintain old decrepit machinery. Public works operates a full service shop where mechanics maintain County equipment.

With the ushering in of the Information Age during the 80's and 90's, forward thinking Members of Council began funding technology in the County which has effected every department of the County of Newell No.4 including Administration, Agricultural Services and Public Works. Administration has moved from manual bookkeeping to a state-of-the-art digital computer accounting system, a digital file storage system, and an internet web site complete with e-mail communications. Public Works & Agricultural Service Board are linked to a County operated Global Information System at the Administration Building that records live data from graders, spray trucks, mowers and most County vehicles to enable maps to be produced that make maintaining the County a lot more efficient. A quick glance at a computer screen is now all that is needed to instantly know where County equipment is located and what job it is performing. These maps enable Public Works and A.S.B. to draw up budgets for upcoming years.

PUBLIC WORKS

With the formation of one large Improvement District from the smaller 8 Districts, construction on improved roads began in earnest. By the end of 1952, the District was able to boast several miles of what, at the time, were considered "high quality graveled roads".

It is hard for most of us to imagine what it would have been like to be there the day the original prairie sod was turned to begin building the first road in the area. The equipment used in those days is primitive by today's standards. Most of the original roads were built using two horse slips and four horse fresnos. The equipment was horse drawn and the operators were forced to stand on metal that sometimes reached temperatures that would easily fry an egg. Unlike today's $300,000 plus graders that have a comfortable cab and all the power the operator requires to groom a road, road grader operators of the past used a contraption constructed of 3 pieces of heavy duty angle iron, bolted together, with a plywood plank over top where the operator would stand. With this machine, the operator would do his best to groom the roads that were often little more than prairie trails. The angle iron contraption was later replaced with what was called a "horse drawn road maintainer". The road maintainer was the first piece of equipment used to care for roads and it began to take the shape of what we now know as a road grader. Even with the purchase of the newer horse drawn maintainers, roads still continued to be rough at best with very few roads being graveled and wooden culverts only being installed in the areas that had the most problems with drainage.

As road building technology improved, so did the roads in the County of Newell No.4. Between 1953 and 1981, many roads had been improved substantially. In 1981 the total roads that had hard surface amounted to 61 km, hard surface overlay 72 km, oil treated roads 146 km, graveled roads 443 km and improved dirt roads accounted for 131 km. In 1981 there were 1,200 plus kilometers of roads in the County of Newell No. 4.

During the same time frame, 261 km of roadside drainage were also constructed. The drainage system was required to reduce damage to roads during the natural spring run-off. The drainage canals were then linked to the E.I.D.'s irrigation canal system and the Bow River so that the run-off water could be used to irrigate more lands in the County.

By the County’s 50th Anniversary, the amount of pavement covering the roads in the County has increased to 469 km with an additional 1,907 km of graveled and oil base roads.

The 80's era saw several changes take place to the roads in the County of Newell No.4. During the 80's, the County and the Province funded the construction of at least one paved road to every community located within County of Newell boundaries. The Provincial Government had also paved Highway 36 that runs north/south through the centre of the County. Having the TransCanada Highway, Highway 36 and a paved road to each community, transportation within the County had finally reached a satisfactory level to handle the volumes of high tech vehicles of the new millennium.

In 2001 more changes were in store for the County Road System. In 2001 the Province of Alberta took over the maintenance and operation of all paved and non-paved Secondary roads in the Province. However, this did not mean that the County of Newell No. 4 would not be getting any more pavement, instead, it meant that the County could then concentrate on paving roads in the County that would not normally be covered under a Provincial paving program. In 2002, the County of Newell paved large portions of One Tree Road, Antelope Creek Road and the service road that runs from Lakeside Farms to Cassils Road.

In 2003 the County of Newell No. 4 Council implemented a paving tax that would garner monies for future paving projects throughout all 10 County Divisions.

As the County develops, it is certain that Public Works will keep pace with the need for road construction and upgrades.

AGRICULTURAL SERVICE BOARD

During the past 50 years, the Agricultural Service Board has supported the agricultural industry throughout the County of Newell. Many of the services offered by the A.S.B. have remained the same with the exception of a few new programs, however the technology and equipment they deliver those services with have changed monumentally.

In the early days, the A.S.B. sprayed for weeds like they do today. The difference is, now the A.S.B. is equipped with several pieces of equipment that make the job a lot more efficient. A.S.B. staff use everything from portable spray back-packs, quad mounted sprayers, and diesel powered spray trucks that have portable weather stations and computers on-board. The computers on the spray equipment are in constant contact with a computer at the Administration Building that records where the trucks have been and what chemicals were applied. Detailed maps are then printed making the tracking and record keeping of spray activity totally automatic.

The A.S.B. of the new millennium uses hand-held G.P.S. devices to digitally record the location of noxious weeds that are then plotted on a map which makes it easier to track the spread of the weed.

Although the equipment used to spray for weeds has changed since 1953, the reasons for spraying remain the same to this day. Without the spraying program, weeds would overtake the roadsides and quickly spread to farmers fields.

Along with spraying, the A.S.B. also cuts the grass along the roadsides. The cutting and spraying combined reduces the amount of snow that can accumulate in the ditches and also tends to help beautify the County. Other duties that have been introduced to the Agricultural Service Board over the years including the Predator Control Program that controls the coyote and gopher populations.

The A.S.B. continues to oversee the planting of thousands of trees each year in the County of Newell. These trees are a key factor in preventing erosion through the use of shelter belts.

A very successful part of the County’s Agricultural Service Board is the rental of well-maintained newer equipment that ranges from magpie traps to 20 foot no-till drills. By offering this equipment for rent to local ranchers and farmers, it helps free up capital that they can invest in other areas of their operation.

OVERVIEW

A drive around the County of Newell No. 4 quickly proves that the County has prospered in the past 50 years and continues to do so today.

A majority of the County residents continue to make their primary living from the land. A strong agricultural backbone was the reason many of our ancestors chose the County of Newell to call their home and the reason we continue to do the same today.

As we continue to live in the County, and as others move in, let us never forget the responsibility we have to our ancestors who came from all over the world, to lay the groundwork for what we proudly call home: the County of Newell No. 4.

County of Newell Administration, Agricultural Services & Public Works

Community Lifestyle

Parks and Recreation

The County of Newell is home to some of the best golfing in southern Alberta. There are a total of 4 courses that include a 9 hole course in Duchess, an 18 hole course in Bassano, a 9 hole course in Rolling Hills, a Par 3 course in Cassils, and a world class 18 hole course on the eastern edge of Brooks. Golfing in the County of Newell is made more enjoyable by the dry prairie air and the intense sunshine coupled with never-ending panoramic views of the Alberta prairies.

The County of Newell is home to the Brooks Aqueduct that is now designated a National / Provincial Historic Site. Built by the early Pioneers to the area of 80 years ago, the concrete structure was a vital link to carry water to farmers and ranchers in the eastern areas of the County of Newell.

The concrete aqueduct has been replaced by an earthen structure but the original structure still remains, standing as is, now a major tourist attraction for the area. The Aqueduct Interpretive Centre serves tourists throughout the summer tourist season giving them a brief glimpse of what life was like in the County of Newell long before it became a County in 1953.

The County of Newell also plays host to the United Nations declared World Heritage Site of Dinosaur Provincial Park. A total of 73 square kilometers have been set aside by the Provincial Government because of the spectacular scenery and one of the richest fossils beds in North America.

Dinosaur Provincial Park is home to the field station of the Royal Tyrell Museum in Drumheller, Alberta. Each year staff from the Royal Tyrell converge upon Dinosaur Provincial Park to begin an annual nine week dig that often uncovers exciting fossils from the past. As recent as 1993, three complete dinosaur skeletons were excavated in the park.

As far back as 75 million years ago, the County of Newell was the place of choice to live and continues to remain the same today.

Economic Base

The County of Newell’s main economic base is agriculture and oil and gas.

There are well over 30,000 oil and gas wells within the County of Newell boundaries. The strong activity in the oil & gas sectors provides a large tax base to the County that makes taxes more affordable for ranch, farm and acreage owners in the County.

There are approximately 930,000 acres of native pasture within the County of Newell. Another 282,000 acres is served by the Eastern Irrigation District through a system of canals and pipelines that are fed by water diverted from the Bow River at the Bassano Dam located West of Bassano.

 The County of Newell is also home to one of Canada’s largest beef packing and processing plants. With over 2500 employees, Lakeside Packers processes just under 1 million cattle a year that are shipped to markets in Western Canada and the United States of America.

The County of Newell continues to be a hotbed of economic diversification. There are currently plans on the drawing table to construct a 1000 megawatt power generation station on the edge of Kitsim Reservoir. The power generation station will be coal fired and supplied with coal from the Bow City Coal Mines that Fording Coal plans to re-open in conjunction with construction of the new power station. The Eastern Irrigation District has plans to build a $20 million power generation station on the Bassano Dam. The construction project will see the EID make an investment of over $2 million dollars more than the dam originally cost back in 1912.

Agriculture, Oil & Gas, and Power Generation hold great promise for the continued prosperity of the County of Newell and its residents.

Agriculture Research

The County of Newell is home to a state-of-the-art agriculture research facility. The Crop Diversification Centre is operated by the Province of Alberta. The CDC has been instrumental in research that has developed several strains of crops for production in all areas of the Province and the whole of Canada.

The CDC currently operates a full plant genetics laboratory conducting research into new varieties of crops that either are, or potentially could be, grown in the County of Newell No. 4.

The Crop Diversification Centre also offers facilities for families or organizations to hold outdoor functions in a true park-like setting. One of the main attractions at the centre open for public viewing is the Rose Garden. Hundreds of different varieties of roses are grown in the garden, many of which can be found growing wild through-out the County of Newell.

The CDC conducts research into such crops as sunflower seeds, fruits, especially apples, corn, potatoes and many other crops grown in the County of Newell.

Education

The County of Newell is served by the Grasslands School Division #6 with main offices based in Brooks, Alberta. Public schools are located in Bassano, Gem, Rosemary, Duchess, Rolling Hills, Rainier, Tilley and Brooks.

Post-secondary education is provided at the Medicine Hat College Brooks Campus. The campus boasts a state-of-the-art facility as well as brand new on-campus student housing.

Emergency Services

Policing in the County of Newell No. 4

Police services in the County of Newell are provided by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. There are two detachments located within the County boundaries. One is located in the Town of Bassano and the other is located in the Town of Brooks.

County of Newell bylaws are enforced by the County’s own bylaw enforcement officer.

Fire Protection

The County of Newell is served by a total of 10 volunteer fire departments. The departments are located in the communities throughout the County.

A reciprocal agreement exists between the County of Newell and the Town of Brooks that covers Divisions 5 and 10 that surround Brooks. In the event of a large fire, the Town of Brooks will assist County Fire Departments in suppressing the fire.

The fire departments are funded through a tax requisition.

There are more than 50 firefighters trained and ready for action in 9 fire departments located throughout the County of Newell No. 4

Health Care

The County of Newell is covered by the Palliser Health Authority. The County of Newell is served by two hospitals: the Bassano Health Centre and the Brooks Health Centre

The Town of Brooks is served by a full scale hospital facility and emergency ward. A total of 4 ambulances staffed by both Paramedics and EMT’s operate from the Brooks Health Centre. The Brooks Health Centre also has a helipad for take off and landings of the STARS Air Ambulance for swift transfer of patients needing emergency critical care that is not available at the Health Centre.

The Town of Bassano recently had their hospital facility renovated. In addition, a helipad was added and improvements made to the extended care facilities at the hospital. The Town of Bassano operates an ambulance service that serves residents in the Bassano area.

Key Contacts for Business Development

Municipal

County of Newell No. 4
Box 130
Brooks AB T1R 1B2
Tel:(403)362-3266
FAX:(403)362-8681
WEBSITE: http://www.countyofnewell.ab.ca

Reeve
Ms. Molly Douglass
administration@countyofnewell.ab.ca

Administrator
Mr. Alan Martens
martensa@countyofnewell.ab.ca

Provincial (December 2004)

Alberta Economic Development
109 Provincial Building
346 - 3rd Street S.E.
Medicine Hat, Alberta
T1A 0G7
Tel: (403)529-3630
Fax: (403)529-3140

Elvira Smid, Regional Manager
elvira.smid@gov.ab.ca

Gloria Filgas, Client Service Rep.
gloria.filgas@gov.ab.ca

Hon. Lyle Oberg
Minister of Learning
Member of the Legislative Assembly
Strathmore-Brooks Constituency
204, 10800 - 97 Avenue
Edmonton, AB
T5K 2B6
Tel: (780)427-2025
Fax: (780)427-5582

Federal (Updated May 2001)

Monty Solberg
Member of Parliament
Medicine Hat Constituency
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6
Tel: (613)992-4516

Constituency Office:
P.O. Box 640
Brooks, Alberta
T1R 1B6

Location

The County of Newell is located west of Calgary on the Trans Canada Highway half way to Medicine Hat.

The Trans Canada Highway runs through the middle of the county east and west and the #36 highway, which is an extension of US interstate 15, runs through the middle of the county north and south. They intersect in the centre of the county 10 miles west of Brooks."

Taxation

	Residential/Farmland	Non-Residential
2004
Municipal Tax Rate	4.3461	5.6098
Education - Alberta School Foundation Fund Tax Rate	4.7481	6.5191
Education Opted Out Tax Rate	4.7481	6.5191
Seniors Lodge Accommodation Tax Rate	.1413	.1413

Transportation

Transportation plays a key role in the economic success of the County of Newell No. 4. Both the TransCanada Highway #1 and the Canadian Pacific Railway mainline pass through the centre of the County. The County of Newell is also served by Highway #36 that is the north-south transportation artery.

Population

Total Population 1991-2001

Newell No. 4, County of Population by Age Group (2001)

Education Statistics

Newell No. 4, County of Highest Level of Schooling 2001

Labour Force

Newell No. 4, County of Labour Force By Industry - 2001

Income

Building Permits

Total Housing Starts

Value of Building Permits

Dwellings

Farming

Newell No. 4, County of Total Farm Area : 840 acres

# of Farms by Total Farm Area

Total Gross Farm Receipts

Farming, Continued

Age of Farm Operators

Projects

Summary of Projects in Newell No. 4, County of as of September 2006

Value of Projects by Sector (as of September 2006)

Largest Projects in Newell No. 4, County of as of September 2006