MUNICIPAL DISTRICT BONNYVILLE NO. 87
COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS October 24, 2018
Keeping you informed of the services, business and development that affect YOU!
#1 New Deputy Reeve Appointed – During the annual Municipal District of Bonnyville Council Organizational Meeting, Ward 6 Councillor Ben Fadeyiw was appointed Deputy Reeve for a six-month term. Ward 1 Councillor Marc Jubinville was appointed to the following six-month term to finish out the year. The regular Council meeting dates of the second and fourth Wednesday of the month, and Committee dates of the first and third Wednesday, at 9:30 a.m. in Council Chambers in Bonnyville were maintained. Remuneration and subsistence rates for Council and M.D. Committees and Boards will be reviewed at a future date. Council will also release a Request for Proposal (RFP) to contract out the appointment of a Municipal Solicitor and a Municipal Auditor once the present contracts expire. All Council committee appointments were maintained for a second year, with the exception of the Northern Lights Library Board with Ward 5 Councillor Dana Swigart being newly appointed. A complete Committee appointment listing can be found on the M.D. website at www.md.bonnyville.ab.ca.
#2 Moose Lake Monitoring Assistance – Council agreed to contribute $50,000 to the Moose Lake Watershed Society for the purchase of water testing equipment. While the priority at this time is monitoring the health of Moose Lake, the equipment can be used on other lakes in the M.D. Council will work closely with the Moose Lake Watershed Society, the Lakeland Industry & Community Association (LICA) and residents around all the lakes in the M.D. to monitor and protect the health of its waterbodies.
#3 Livestock Prescriptions Producer Meeting – The M.D. and the Lakeland Agricultural and Research Association (LARA) are hosting a producer meeting on November 1 at the Fort Kent Hall at 5:30 p.m. to discuss the new regulations on acquiring medications through veterinarians. As of December 1, producers cannot purchase any medications at their local feed store, everything will need a prescription through a licensed veterinarian. Producers are also required to have a herd health visit before prescriptions are given. A meal will be served at the meeting. There will also be presentations from Alberta Agriculture representatives regarding feed quality and options for winter feeding.
#4 Council Funds New Ambulance – The M.D. of Bonnyville and the Town of Bonnyville agreed to fund the $50,000 shortfall on the replacement costs of a new ambulance, with each municipality contributing $25,000. Deputy Fire Chief Jay Melvin told Council that the Bonnyville Regional Fire Authority, which is responsible for ambulance services for the Town and M.D., is facing funding challenges now that ambulances are run by Alberta Health Services (AHS). Melvin said the BFRA is negotiating with AHS to reduce the replacement lifespan of ambulances from seven years to four or five years, due to the additional mileage being put on the vehicles due to patient transfers.
#5 Rural Crime Prevention Continues – The Crime Prevention Officer continues to do a steady stream of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) property surveys. He is working on both commercial and residential properties, as well as some farm properties in the Beaverdam and Alexander areas. He will be hosting open houses focusing on vehicle theft. Open houses are scheduled for: Willow Prairie Hall (La Corey) on November 1; Goodridge Hall on November 20 and Cherry Grove Community Hall on December 4. All open houses will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Officers did some crime prevention patrols in the Alexander and Beaverdam areas after they were hit with a string of property crimes in the early morning hours. Officers took action on several calls regarding suspicious vehicles in the Moose Lake, Flat Lake, Dupre, Beaverdam, Alexander and Ardmore areas. In some cases, the vehicles were found to have legitimate reasons for being in the areas. In one situation, the suspicious vehicle fled the scene when an officer started driving down the road towards it.
#6 Equine Infectious Anemia Found In The M.D. – The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) announced last week that one case of Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) was found in the M.D. Equine Infectious Anemia is a potentially fatal viral disease affecting horses and other members of the equine family, such as donkeys and mules. There is no human health risk associated with the disease. It is a reportable disease under the Health of Animals Act, which means that all suspected cases must be reported to the CFIA. The farm where the disease was found has been quarantined and the animals have been destroyed and disposed of according to regulations. Transmission of EIA occurs mainly through the transfer of contaminated blood from one animal to another. Insects such as horse flies, stable flies and deer flies aid in the spread of the disease.
#7 Ag and Waste Update – Total claims in the second quarter of the Veterinary Services Incorporated (VSI) Program from April 1 to July 31 totalled $40,200. The claims are nine percent higher than the same time last year. The 2018 budget for the VSI Program is $111,000. Council approved the removal of a $1,320 outstanding receivable from the M.D.’s financial records on the condition that the property owner continue with existing weed reduction practices. A new invoice will be issued if the reduction practices are not followed.
#8 Planning and Development News – Final Reading was given to Bylaw No. 1694 for the lease and closure of a road at N/NE 8-60-5-W4M as per Section 13 of the Traffic Safety Act on the condition that an adjacent landowner be provided an access key for the gate. The undeveloped Township Road 602 allowance on the North of NE 8-60-5-W4M was brushed to facilitate the ATCO service line to be run for a new development. Final Reading was given to LU Bylaw No. 569 to rezone Plan 062 7848 Block 1 Lots 3, 4 and 5 within SE 30-60-5-W4M from CR1 to Agriculture. Final Reading was given to LU Bylaw No. 567 to amend Bylaw 1667 for Direct Control District #1 – Wood Creek Resort – NE 30-60-6-W4M – to include Bunkhouse (RV Lots Only) as part of Permitted Uses, include in Section 3.0 – Development, and 8.0 Definitions to include “Accessory Building” and “Bunkhouse”. A letter was received to cancel an original request to clear approximately 67 acres of a grazing lease on NW 33-61-7-W4M.
#9 Parks, Rec. and Culture News – Staff at Kinosoo Ridge Snow Resort are working on snow gun and water line maintenance, getting ready for the season. Staff are being hired for winter. The Parks Department has received approval from the province to remove the boat launch pads at Muriel Lake in the spring. Staff are dealing with a break-in at the Homestead Museum at Cold Lake M.D. Park. The locks on the doors were broken off and some antiques being stored there were destroyed. The RCMP were called. Parks is working with the Crime Prevention Officer to do a CPTED assessment to improve security at the park. Cameras are being installed at the park gate and one at the office. Cold Lake Public Safety Officers are also doing patrols around the park. Staff are researching boat docking systems to be installed at Crane Lake, Vezeau Beach and Kinosoo Ridge.
#10 Public Safety Update – Officers have been stopping commercial trucks, such as gravel haulers, for unsecure loads on Highway 660 and in the La Corey and Iron River areas. Officers took action on several complaints regarding aggressive driving and speeding on Highway 892, La Corey North Resource Road, Flat Lake, Dupre and Fort Kent areas over the last two weeks. Extra patrols are being done in the Flat Lake area after a complaint was received about quads trespassing on a resident’s land. Officers have been busy with a variety of dog complaints including aggressive dogs, running at large, as well as chasing livestock. One complaint of a neglected dog was directed to the Alberta SPCA. Officers on patrol in the La Corey and Iron River areas have been watching for commercial trucks driving in the center of the road and not turning off their LED spot lights while driving. School Resource Officers have been doing some sessions on cannabis laws and regulations, as well as having students use the distortion goggles to demonstrate what driving impaired is like. Program sessions on Right Choices, Crime Scene Investigation and Peace Patrol are ongoing. Stand-alone sessions on Stranger Danger and Halloween Safety were done as well. Grade 9 students at Bonnyville Centralized High School are now taking the Girl’s Self-Defense Class.
#11 Grant Applications Approved – Council approved the grant application to the 2018/19 Alberta Community Partnership Program for the completion of an Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework (ICF) Project in partnership with the City of Cold Lake. The M.D. will act as the managing partner for the $150,000 grant. The frameworks foster the creation of intermunicipal servicing agreements that promote the efficient and economical use of municipal resources. Council also approved the joint application, with the City of Cold Lake, to the 2018/19 Alberta Community Partnership Program for the completion of an Intermunicipal Development Plan (IDP) Review Project. The $125,000 project will start in 2019, with the City of Cold Lake as the managing partner. Council approved the grant application to the Alberta Tourism Growth Innovation Fund for the completion of a Destination Management Plan for Kinosoo Ridge Snow Resort at the maximum cost to the M.D. of $18,750 for the $75,000 grant. The project will provide an outline for the successful implementation of year-round operations at Kinosoo Ridge.
#12 Briefly – Council approved the Public Auction of Lands on the Tax Arrears List date of March 26, 2019 at 2 p.m. in Council Chambers.
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 at facebook.com/MDBonnyville and Twitter @MDBville.