MUNICIPAL DISTRICT BONNYVILLE NO. 87
COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS July 24, 2019
Keeping you informed of the services, business and development that affect YOU!
#1 Council Remuneration Changes To Be Brought Back For Deliberation – In a recorded vote, Municipal District of Bonnyville Council defeated Policy No. 10.11.11 – Councillor, Committee and Board Member Remuneration. The policy addressed the elimination of the one-third income tax exemption for municipal politicians, effective January 1, 2019. In the policy, remuneration for council was increased by 15 percent as per the recommendation from the Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA). Subsequent to the defeated motion, Council approved a motion directing administration to bring back the policy indicating no increase to the monthly basic honorariums and tying future increases to Cost Of Living Allowance (COLA) adjustments.
#2 Road Classification System Approved – Council adopted a new Road Classification System standard to be used in the planning and upgrading of M.D. road infrastructure in a consistent and sustainable manner. The classifications are defined by traffic volumes, traffic composition, function and design speed. The classes include: Arterial Road (Class 1 Grid Road); Arterial Road Industrial (Class 1A Grid Road); Collector Road – Major (Class 2 Grid Road); Collector Road – Minor (Class 3 Grid Road); Local Road (Class 4 Grid Road); Local Road (Class 5) and One-Lane Two-way Local Road (Class 6). Where existing roads do not meet the standards, the M.D. will continue to keep these roadways “as is” until an upgrade is warranted.
#3 Fisheries Meeting – Council agreed to send Reeve Greg Sawchuk to meet with mayors and reeves from Northeastern Alberta to discuss the highly restrictive fishing regulations that are affecting the region’s tourism status. Lac La Biche Mayor Omer Moghrabi is leading the discussions to develop a unified strategy for lobbying Alberta Environment and Parks to enact fishing regulations that will balance the economic needs of Northeastern Alberta municipalities with environmental preservation.
#4 Briefing On Cold Lake IDP – Council accepted the presentation from ISL Engineering & Land Services outlining the Intermunicipal Development Plan (IDP) project with the City of Cold Lake. The current IDP was adopted in 2009. The IDP is being updated to meet new Municipal Government Act requirements, reflect the land annexation with the city, review existing and future land use areas, update future long-term city growth areas, and identify and protect M.D. development opportunities. Administrative provisions and dispute resolution processes will be updated. The new IDP will ensure consistency with both municipality’s Municipal Development Plans (MDPs). The project is funded through an Alberta Community Partnership (ACP) Grant with the city being the project manager.
#5 Community Association Operating and Capital Grant Policy Amended – Council agreed to include the Bonnyville and Cold Lake Chambers of Commerce as recipients of approved funding in Policy 70.74.05 – Community Association Operating and Capital Grant. Both Chambers received $15,000 in 2019, as well as a $2,000 membership fee. Including the chambers in the grant policy will provide an annual grant; consistent with funding the M.D. provides halls, museums, agricultural societies and community associations, as well as providing clear guidelines for available funding. The Community Action Grant will continue to be used for not-for-profit community groups.
#6 M.D. Applies To Set Up Collection Site – Council agreed to apply to Cleanfarms to establish a collection site in the M.D. for the Agriculture Plastics Recycling Group Pilot Program to recycle grain bags and twine. The program will be designating 20 collection sites throughout the province in 2019, along with paying $55 per tonne of clean product collected.
#7 Public Safety Quarterly Report – Director Chris Garner presented the Public Safety, April to June, Quarterly Report to Council. During the quarter, Officers handed out 298 Provincial Tickets and 20 Bylaw Tickets, along with 285 Provincial Written Warnings and one Bylaw Written Warning. In each ward, speeding vehicles received the most tickets and warnings. Issues with dogs – whether running at large, aggressive behaviour or being a nuisance – was the second most ticketed case. Officers performed 442 Crime Prevention Patrols and undertook 292 Vacant Home Checks. Officers handed out six Commercial Vehicle Violation tickets and issued 39 warnings. Public Safety is undertaking the following ongoing initiatives: joint force operations with the RCMP; Crime Survey; Rural Policing Committee, summer ladies self defense courses; speed limit/regulatory sign procedure; heavy users of service project; researching text message alerts to public and the ability to receive text messages from public.
#8 Planning And Development Update – Planning and Development received 26 building permits in June worth $2,072,000, bringing the year-to-date total to $7,954,890. Housing starts for 2019 include 14 Single Family Dwellings/RTMs/Mobile Homes. In 2019, the M.D. has received 12 subdivision applications.
#9 Rural Lobbying – Council agreed to have the Reeve attend a meeting, organized by Lac Ste. Anne County, to discuss the roles of northern Alberta rural MLAs, and how to present to the provincial government the unique municipal issues faced by rural areas across the province.
#10 Assessing BioMass Energy Techniques (BET) To Reduce Waste – After touring a few BioMass Techniques (BET) manufacturing and operational sites in Missouri in June, Council directed administration to set up a tour at the Allwest Bio-Energy Research Park in Edmonton once the BET system is operational in the fall. In partnership with the University of Alberta, Innovative Reduction Strategies Inc. (IRSI) is testing all sorts of waste material for burning, including municipal solid waste, plastics, leachate and contaminated soil for the production of heat, electricity and biochar. The benefits of having a system that uses wood fiber or Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) feed stock would include the potential elimination of landfilling, burning and decreased transportation costs when dealing the M.D.’s waste.
#11 Boosting Emergency Assistance – Council agreed to allow access to the Hoselaw Tower located on SW16-60-6W4 for the Cold Lake Amateur Radio Club (CLARC). Council also agreed to donate the Public Safety Repeater hardware located on the Hoselaw Tower and the VHF 2-way radios that are part of the system to the Cold Lake Amateur Radio Club. CLARC is a non-profit club that includes a public service in its mandate. They provide emergency assistance with the City of Cold Lake, 4 Wing and Ground Search and Rescue with their VHF radios. Currently the Public Safety repeater is not in use since the department has switched over to the Alberta First Responders Radio Communication System.
#12 Briefly – Council approved a letter of support for the Diocese of St. Paul and Camp St. Louis for a grant application through the Communities at Risk: Security Infrastructure Program for a security system to help control the number of break-ins and vandalism. Council agreed to cancel the Wednesday, August 7 Committee Meeting. Council adopted the updated M.D. policy file index structure and format, as well as the Municipal Policy and Procedures Policy.