Red Deer County Reviews CAO Performance, Forensic Audit in Private Session
Internal Investigations and Performance Reviews
Red Deer County Council spent the majority of Tuesday’s Governance & Priorities Committee meeting in closed sessions, focusing on a forensic audit update and the performance evaluation of Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Curtis Herzberg.
The committee entered a private session for 94 minutes to conduct the CAO performance evaluation. Under the Access to Information Act, these discussions are kept confidential to protect personal privacy and administrative advice. The CAO is the sole employee of Council, responsible for overseeing all County operations and staff.
Separately, Council received an eight-minute update regarding an ongoing forensic audit. The matter was discussed in private, citing legal protections for workplace investigations and information that could be “harmful to law enforcement.” The County has not publicly disclosed the specific department or incident that triggered the audit.
Why It Matters
Forensic audits are typically launched to investigate financial irregularities or administrative misconduct. While the brief duration of the update suggests a routine status report, the citations regarding law enforcement and privileged information indicate the matter remains sensitive. Taxpayers currently lack a timeline for when—or if—the results of this investigation will be made public.
Citizen Input: Pool Petition and Speed Limits
Local residents are pushing for changes at the Innisfail pool. Councillor Dana Depalme informed the committee she has received “numerous calls” from residents regarding the facility.
Depalme noted that a petition is currently circulating among residents specifically targeting the pool’s changerooms. While the meeting minutes did not disclose the specific nature of the complaints, the petition signals significant organized dissatisfaction with the facility’s current setup.
Safety and maintenance also dominated councillor inquiries:
* Speeding: Councillor Christine Moore requested a roadmap for next steps regarding resident concerns over speed limits in Division 6.
* Traffic Safety: Councillor Lonny Kennett asked for increased patrol monitoring at the intersection of Highway 595 and Highway 262 to address traffic issues.
* Weed Control: Councillor Connie Huelsman followed up on previous inquiries regarding weed management within the County.
Other Business
Council reviewed required RSVPs for upcoming events and approved the minutes from the July 8 committee meeting. The meeting was attended by Mayor Jim Wood and all six councillors. Administration officials present included CAO Curtis Herzberg, Director of Operations Marty Campbell, and Director of Planning Treena Miller.
What’s Next
County Administration is tasked with following up via email on the inquiries regarding weeds, speed limits, and traffic patrols. No formal motions were made in open session regarding the forensic audit or the CAO’s evaluation. The next steps for the Innisfail pool changerooms will likely depend on the formal presentation of the resident petition to Council at a future date.