Kneehill County council grudgingly accepted a list of vehicle purchases that were already put into motion by a previous council. The discussion was held at the Dec. 9 regular meeting of council.

Councillors heard a presentation from Marika von Mirbach, manager of financial planning, regarding pre-approved capital equipment purchases for 2026; in effect, vehicle and equipment purchases scheduled for next year that were already approved by the previous council.

“At the Sept. 23 council meeting, council pre-approved a series of projects and capital equipment plan purchases for 2026,” stated von Mirbach’s report to council. “With the municipal election in Oct. 2025, the 2026 budget process was delayed from its typical timeline, with full approval planned for early 2026 rather than in Dec.

“This delay allowed newly elected council members to participate in orientation activities before starting the 2026 budget process. Considering this timing, specific projects and capital equipment plan purchases were brought forward for pre-approval to ensure that critical initiatives planned for 2026 could proceed without delay.

“This report is intended as a progress update for council. It provides an overview of the project and equipment statuses, current expenditures or committed funding, and work in progress. No new approvals, funding decisions or changes to previously approved projects or capital equipment plan purchases are being requested; the report is solely for informational purposes to support transparency and oversight,” added the report.

The report summarized that of the 10 pre-approved projects at the Sept. 23 council meeting three are in progress and have funds committed to the initiative, four are in progress without specific funding commitments to date and three are still in planning phases with no substantial work initiated. It went on to state of the 20 capital equipment plan purchases approved on Sept. 23 four are in progress and have funds committed in relation to the equipment replacement, nine are in progress without specific funding commitments to date but for which request for proposals (RFPs) have been issued or are ready to be issued and seven are in the planning stages.

Reeve Lonnie McCook started the discussion by asking if half ton pick-up truck purchases had begun. Von Mirbach responded that all of the purchases were pre-approved by council and meet the county’s capital equipment plan. Two appendixes to the report quoted a total of about $20 million impact to the county budget.

McCook stated that he’s heard from ratepayers that, “(Kneehill County is) driving around in the fanciest trucks around. We’re not here for show. We don’t need the fanciest lines of trucks.” McCook stated that he had also heard from ratepayers that Kneehill County trades in vehicles and equipment such as graders too soon, when the vehicle in question still has a lot of life left in it. “It’s public perception, that’s what’s killing us here,” said McCook, adding that he felt Kneehill County should hold onto vehicles and equipment longer to get more value for tax dollars.

Staff responded that the county determined in the past the best time to trade in certain vehicles is when they hit 160,000 km on their odometer; past this milestone and maintenance costs climb while resale value drops.

McCook responded that’s not the way a lot of farms are run and said he’s heard that statement from a lot of ratepayers. “This is taxpayers dollars,” said the reeve.

Coun. Richard Hoppens asked how many pick-ups Kneehill County has; staff responded with 29 and pointed out some are rented.

Interim Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Theresa Cochrane noted that the 160,000 km milestone was approved by a past council and that the current council can change that number when that policy comes up for discussion.

Councillors discussed von Mirbach’s report and a suggestion was made that it was part of the interim budget and could be changed later. However, that’s not correct, as CAO Cochrane pointed out. Cochrane noted the capital equipment purchases for 2026 being presented were already approved by a previous council and that if the current council wanted to change these decisions, now was the time to do it.

However, it was pointed out in the meeting some purchases were already in motion, including some road graders, and if certain purchases were cancelled Kneehill County would be on the hook for penalties.

Coun. Laura Lee Machell-Cunningham noted the plan was approved in Sept. and she voted against approval then as she felt it should be left until after the municipal election. “If I remember correctly I did bring that comment up because I think it was Sept...and I did mention that maybe we wanted to hold onto this and bring it forward for the next council,” said Machell-Cunningham.

Coun. Jerry Wittstock, who was also a member of the previous council, said it was approved because councillors were concerned about possible substantial price increases for vehicles and equipment Jan. 1, 2026.

Councillors accepted von Mirbach’s report as information, with Reeve McCook voting against.