MUNICIPAL DISTRICT BONNYVILLE NO. 87
COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS April 11, 2018
Keeping you informed of the services, business and development that affect YOU!
#1 Budget Initiatives Approved – In a recorded vote, Municipal District of Bonnyville Council approved reducing the non-residential mill rate to 15.000 from 15.500. Reeve Greg Sawchuk opposed the motion as he was in favour of reducing the non-residential mill rate still further to 14.500. Increased industrial assessments for 2018 provided the opportunity to reduce the non-residential mill rate and bring the M.D. closer to the 5-1 non-residential/residential mill rate ratio legislated by the province of Alberta. Those municipalities not at, or under, the 5-1 ratio will be required to be at, or under, this ratio by an undefined future date. The new mill rate will reduce the M.D.’s ratio to 5.4-1, from the previous 5.6-1. In further budget discussions, Council agreed to contribute $17 per capita in 2018 to the Cold Lake and Bonnyville Public Libraries based on the FCSS/Library Population Split Formula. Council approved a $500,000 contribution to the Bonnyville Municipal Seed Cleaning Co-Op for two renovation projects to increase the volume and efficiency of the plant, and to address safety concerns. The M.D. will place a security on the facility to protect its investment. Council increased the Annual Operating Grant for the Glendon Agricultural Society to $150,000 as it is a recreational facility for the area. The society is responsible for the arena, RCMP Hall and the ice plant for the curling rink.
#2 Council Requests Removal Of Moose Lake Weir – After hearing a presentation from Alberta Environment and Parks (AEP) officials earlier in the week, Council approved a motion to make a request to the Minister to remove the weir on the Mooselake River. At the presentation, AEP representatives gave Council two recommendations: the first option would be to remove the weir and the second option would leave the weir in place. Council agreed that due to the water level concerns for residents on Moose Lake, the best decision was to remove the weir. Once the minister signs off on the request, Alberta Environment will start the weir removal process. Public consultation will be required under the Water Act as part of the decommissioning process. The M.D. will also be requesting special permission from AEP to remove the beaver dams upstream from the weir site so that water flow is not impeded.
#3 Got Grain Bags? We Will Travel To You! – The M.D. is looking for more producers to participate in the Grain Bag Recycling Program. Waste staff are rolling grain bags for the next few weeks and they will travel to locations throughout the M.D. to roll up the large plastic bags at no charge. The bags will be collected and then shipped to southern Alberta for recycling. The revenue from the bags will offset the transportation charges.
#4 Please Fill Out Your Surveys – The Waste Department will be doing surveys in several subdivisions in May. Residents in subdivisions adjacent to the City of Cold Lake will be asked if they would like door-to-door waste collection. Residents in the Muriel Lake east subdivisions will be asked about the relocation of the bin site that is located on Highway 657. Please let the M.D. know what your preferences are.
#5 Rural Cat Spay/Neuter Program Approved – Council agreed to proceed with a pilot program to spay or neuter cats that reside in the rural area. Council allotted a maximum of $6,200 for the program. A local veterinarian has agreed to provide discounted vet services for the program, which will be administered by a volunteer who resides in the M.D. The intent of the program is to get a maximum number of rural cats spayed or neutered. To ensure the animals are rural cats, residents who want to register to have a cat spayed or neutered will need to provide some documentation to prove where they live and that they are the owners.
#6 Council Undertaking A Recreation Needs Assessment – Council approved the Terms of Reference for a Recreation Needs Assessment to be conducted with M.D. residents. The M.D. is searching for qualified candidates to conduct the assessment based on feedback from residents, stakeholders and urban partners about what they feel are the immediate and future recreation needs within the M.D. Administration wants to expand on previous survey results in order to gain a comprehensive understanding of what our residents like to do for recreation, what they feel might be missing and what they would like to see for growth and new initiatives.
#7 Styrofoam Recycling Pilot Program – The Waste Department is implementing a pilot program to collect high grade Styrofoam after being approached by a Styrofoam Recycler in Brooks looking for product. The seven landfills/transfer sites will have bags to accept the Styrofoam. Initially, the M.D. will be concentrating on the white Styrofoam that is found on large products. Staff will assess the program and measure the volume the M.D. receives on a monthly basis.
#8 Richardson Ground Squirrel Control – The M.D. is once again selling 2% Strychnine for the control of Ground Squirrels. A 250 ml bottle sells for $7.50, which will treat one gallon of grain. Farmers who wish to purchase the product have to provide their name, size of farm and legal land location where they are using the Strychnine. They must agree to use the product as outlined in the conditions set out in the permit. The program is undergoing re-evaluation through the Pest Management Regulatory Agency this year and 2018 may be the last year using the product.
#9 Public Safety Update – Officers are monitoring Township Road 634 due to speeding complaints. Public Safety believes motorists are using the road as a quick way to get between the City of Cold Lake and Highway 897 to avoid slow motorists on Hwy. 55 during peak traffic times. Officers are also monitoring traffic on Hwy. 659 due to complaints about speeding motorists making it difficult to exit the Emerald Estates access road during peak traffic times. The speed limit at this location is 100 km/h. Officers are taking action on a complaint regarding stunting and vandalism on land adjacent to the cemetery near Ardmore.
#10 Transportation and Utilities Update – Council approved that the T&U Department proceed with the Beaver River Drainage Plan SE 20-62-5 W4M potential loss of land use compensation plan with a total maximum budget of $50,000 plus GST. The total compensation for potential loss of use would be funded under the original budget. The work being done on this drainage project mandated by Alberta Environment may slow the drainage in existing water bodies and affect 160 acres. Council approved a change in the procedure for road construction land acquisition. Agricultural landowners that sell land to the M.D. for the purpose of road widening during construction will be given the option at the time of fence replacement to have one approach gate consisting of up to a maximum of two, 16-foot steel gate panels installed, per quarter section land, at no cost to the property owner.
#11 Funding Support – Franchere Social Community Centre received its $5,000 Annual Operating Grant, and a $5,000 Capital Grant to purchase a 16-foot inflatable outdoor movie screen. The Society raised $8,000 in funds to cover the balance of the $12,000 total cost. The Society intends to host numerous functions during the summer to provide a modest source of revenue through admissions and rentals.
For more information, contact Diane Jenkinson, Marketing and Communications Manager at 780-826-3171. Our website is a useful way to get the information you need. Visit: www.md.bonnyville.ab.ca Follow us on Facebook and Twitter @MDBville.