Cypress County Aug. 18 Meeting highlights

Posted on August 27, 2026 by Ryan Dahlman

By Nerissa McNaughton
Southern Alberta Newspapers

Cypress County Council covered a full agenda at its August 18, 2026 meeting. Here are the highlights.

Previous Council Minutes
Adopted 

Council began by adopting the minutes from the July 7 Council meeting. Among the discussions and motions were the following:

• Development Permit 26/105 allows for four 2.2 MW gas generators along with 2.2 MW bitcoin mining units, subject to conditions.

• Development Permit 26/106 permits the operation of a dog boarding kennel. The approval includes conditions limiting the facility to a maximum of 24 dogs at any one time. Dogs must also be kept indoors from 7:00 pm to 7:30 am, seven days a week.

 • Council directed administration to apply for two grants: the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation grant and the Pembina Pipeline Community Investment Program grant. If successful, the funds will go toward the previously approved responder safety equipment program.

• Council approved a budget amendment for the arena dressing rooms and washrooms project at the Irvine Complex. The additional $16,052.34 covers extra project scope, including two baseboard heaters and new flooring. This raises the approved budget from $250,000 to $266,052.34.

• Council directed administration to proceed with an application, and/or an expression of interest, to the Building Communities Strong Fund direct delivery stream. The goal is to secure grant funding for the Dunmore Recreation Facility project.

• Council approved a refund of $6,388.34 to 573117 Alberta Ltd. The amount represents overcharged property taxes from 2019 to 2025, resulting from an incorrect assessment classification for Roll #24572700.

• Council approved a full 80’ x 150’ fabric cover replacement for Building O, the sand shed. The work carries an estimated cost of $59,979.37 and will be funded from the Buildings Replacement Reserve.

• Council approved the construction of three bridge files: 73577, 72441 and 78557. The projects will use funding from the approved Strategic Transportation Infrastructure Program (STIP) grant, along with the County’s required matching contribution of $621,750 from the Infrastructure and Construction Reserve Fund.

• Council approved a planning and design stage budget of $800,000 for the Dunmore Wastewater project. The funds will come from the Water and Wastewater Reserve Fund.

Following the adoption of the
minutes, the meeting continued with new business

• DP 26/114 – McDonald Storage Building and Riding Arena: Greg and Susan McDonald applied to build a 120-foot by 80-foot storage building and riding arena for personal use on their property. The application requests a setback relaxation of 10 metres to the centre of the road. The McDonalds explained that limited space makes the setback difficult to meet. Meeting the requirement, they said, would mean removing a large number of well-established trees. Because the proposed site sits within a potential flood area, the owners offered to enter a Restrictive Covenant and Indemnity Agreement with the County, to be registered on title.

• DP 26/117 – Bitcoin Mining Expansion Near Schuler: The second phase of a bitcoin mining operation came forward under this application, which was made on behalf of 2783294 Alberta Ltd. It proposes adding four 2.2 MW natural gas generators and four 2.2 MW mining units to an existing gas compressor site west of the Hamlet of Schuler. All equipment will sit within the fenced, secure compressor site. The Alberta Utilities Commission approved the project on June 26, 2026. Phase 1 received County approval earlier this year. Installation is expected to begin in November 2026, with daily traffic remaining low at zero to two light vehicle trips once the site is operational.

• DP 26/121 – Chan Lean-To Addition and Storage Container: Timothy Chan sought approval for an existing 24-foot by 40-foot lean-to addition and one storage container on his 2.24-acre parcel. The addition, attached to a shop built in 2018, will free up space for tools and vehicles. Chan noted that he consulted his neighbour to the east and matched the exterior finish of the container and siding to the existing structure.

• DP 26/123 – Gillespie Dog Breeding Kennel: Nathalie and Arnold Gillespie applied to operate a dog breeding kennel within an existing building on their property. The Gillespies operate Cowboy Up Kennel, which has run in Cypress County for 20 years and was formerly located north of the Hamlet of Irvine. They recently purchased the property and plan to relocate the business there. The building will offer 50 square feet of indoor and outdoor space per dog, with six-foot fencing and a cement floor to prevent digging. The kennel will house 15 to 18 adult dogs, with no employees, signage, or outside boarding. The nearest residence sits about 152 metres away, and the neighbouring property already runs a dog boarding facility.

• DP 26/124 – Field Home-Based Trucking Business: Trent and Melanie Field applied to operate First Light Carriers Inc., a home-based business hauling agricultural commodities such as grain and fertilizer, on their parcel about 1.8 kilometres south of the City of Medicine Hat. The operation includes storage of one tractor unit and one set of Super B grain trailers near the existing Quonset. The Fields confirmed there will be no clients or deliveries to the property. Mature trees screen the area from a nearby Country Residential development.

• SUB 26CY11 – Doehring Agricultural Subdivision: Benchmark Geomatics, on behalf of Aaron Doehring, applied to subdivide an 8.39-hectare parcel. The subdivision would allow family members to run independent agricultural operations. A dam and a natural draw create a severance between the two areas, which led to the larger proposed parcel.

• SUB 26CY12 – Hill Country Residential Subdivision: Benchmark Geomatics Inc. applied on behalf of Bruce and Kathleen Hill to subdivide a 1.43-hectare parcel into two titles. The Hills plan to sell the existing residence and develop the vacant parcel. The property lies within a country residential subdivision approved in 1998.

How to Learn More

Residents are encouraged to attend future Council meetings or visit the Cypress County website for agendas, minutes, and information on upcoming applications.