Coalhurst council holds first regular meeting in Nov. 2025

Posted on February 19, 2026 by Sunny South News

Town of Coalhurst

Here are some highlights from the November 3, 2025, organizational meeting of council and the November 4, 2025, town council meeting

This is not an official record of the meetings. For more information – including the full agenda listing – you can read the organizational meeting of council agenda or the regular council meeting agenda and its attachments.

2025-29 Council makes new appointments at organizational meeting of council

The newly elected 2025–2029 Town of Coalhurst council held its organizational meeting on Monday, November 3, 2025, where members made annual appointments to key leadership roles, external boards and regional committees. These appointments and decisions ensure Coalhurst continues to have strong representation and collaboration within regional and provincial networks, supporting the community’s growth, partnerships and advocacy efforts. Council appointed Councillor Jesse Potrie to the office of Deputy Mayor for the 2025/2026 term.

The following external board and committee appointments were approved for the 2025/2026 term:

• Chinook Intermunicipal Subdivision & Development Appeal Board:

Councillor Brody Prete

• Green Acres Foundation: Mayor Deb Florence

• Oldman River Regional Services Commission: Councillor Colin Slingsby

• Community Futures Lethbridge Region: Councillor Brody Prete

• SouthGrow Regional Initiative: Councillor Colin Slingsby

• Barons-Eureka-Warner F.C.S.S. Board: Councillor Lori Harasem

• Chinook Arch Regional Library System: Councillor Lori Harasem

• Regional Local Assessment Review Board: Deputy Mayor Jesse Potrie

• Regional Composite Assessment Review Board: Deputy Mayor Jesse

Potrie

• Oldman Watershed Council: Councillor Lori Harasem

• Mayor’s/Reeves of Southern Alberta: Mayor Deb Florence

• Highway 3 Twinning Development Association: Deputy Mayor Jesse Potrie

• Intermunicipal Committee with Lethbridge County (IDP): Mayor Deb

Florence and Councillor Brody Prete, with Deputy Mayor Jesse Potrie

(alternate)

• Regional Emergency Management Committee: Councillor Colin Slingsby

and Deputy Mayor Jesse Potrie (alternate)

Additional committee appointments included the Municipal Subdivision Development Authority (MSDA), with Deputy Mayor Jesse Potrie and Councillor Lori Harasem appointed as council representatives, and Stan Reynolds appointed as the member-at-large.

Council confirms 2026 meeting schedule and sets dates for Miners Days

At the November 3 organizational meeting, council approved the 2026 council calendar, confirmed the dates for Miners Days 2026, and made adjustments to the remainder of the 2025 council meeting calendar.

Beginning in January 2026, the finance and committee of the whole will meet on the first Tuesday of each month, and regular council meetings will take place on the third Tuesday of each month. Additionally, all meetings will now begin at 5:30 p.m., a change from the previous 6:00 p.m. start time. This updated schedule marks a shift from the 2025 meeting structure, where two regular meetings were held each month. The adjustment aims to streamline council business while maintaining transparency, accessibility and efficiency.

Council confirmed that Miners Days will be held from July 24–26, 2026, continuing Coalhurst’s tradition of celebrating its rich heritage and community spirit. In addition, Council approved adjustments to the remaining 2025 meeting schedule as follows:

o Finance and Committee of the Whole – November 25: Meeting start time changed from 6:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

o Finance and Committee of the Whole – December 9: Cancelled

• Regular Meeting of Council – December 2: Moved to December 9 at 5:30 p.m.

• Regular Meeting of Council – December 16: Cancelled

• Regular Meeting of Council – November 18: Cancelled (confirmed at the November 4 Regular Meeting of Council)

All council and committee meetings are held at the Coalhurst Town Office (100 – 51 Avenue) unless otherwise posted, and the public is welcome to attend in person or observe electronically via the town’s YouTube channel. For the full meeting calendar and updates, visit http://www.coalhurst.ca 

Council amends budget to reflect town’s 30th anniversary sponsorships

At its November 4, 2025 regular meeting, council approved an amendment to the 2025 budget to incorporate sponsorship funds received in support of the town’s 30th anniversary celebrations.

The original 2025 Budget included $20,000 to fund anniversary activities. Since that time, the town has received an additional $11,500 in sponsorships from local and regional partners — Westco Construction, Precon, MPE and Benchmark Assessment Consultants — allowing for expanded programming and enhancements throughout the year’s milestone events.