MUNICIPAL DISTRICT BONNYVILLE NO. 87
COUNCIL & COMMITTEE HIGHLIGHTS February 19 and 26, 2020
Keeping you informed of the services, business and development that affect YOU!
#1 2020 Roadside Allowance And Vegetation Control Program Approved – Municipal District of Bonnyville Council approved the following road allowance brush and vegetation control for 2020: Flat Lake Area – approximately 15.5 km; Lessard Area – approximately 16.5 km and the Cherry Grove Area – approximately 17.5 km. As per Policy No. 5A.016 Development Road Allowance and Vegetation Control, Agriculture staff toured all of the developed municipal roads and determined the roads that are to be brushed for 2020. This will be the start of the 20-year plan for brushing in municipal right-of-ways. Brushing locations are based on grader concerns, farm equipment widths, soft roads and the maturity of the trees that are breaking off as a result of environmental conditions. Landowners will be contacted before work is done along their property.
#2 Mapping And Prioritizing Drainage And Flooding Issues – Council agreed to review and provide input into the areas identified on the drainage and flooding maps presented to Council on February 19. Once all the issue areas are identified by Councillors, administration will produce a priority list for years one, two and three to be discussed at a future Council meeting.
#3 Fort Kent Area Structure Plan Open House – The second Open House for the Fort Kent Area Structure Plan (ASP) is scheduled for Tuesday, April 28 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Fort Kent Senior’s Hall. Stantec, the M.D.’s consultant, will provide the draft ASP for review and feedback from residents.
#4 Fire Guardians Approved – On February 19, Council approved the appointment of Fire Guardians under the Forest and Prairie Protection Act for the 2020 Fire Permit Season. Fire Guardians include: Kim Kissel, responsible for portions of Wards 1, 2 and 4, east side of Moose Lake, west side of Moose Lake and crown land in the Moose Lake area. Dwayne Wolosiewicz, responsible for portions of Ward 3 – west of Hoselaw and south of Township 62. Bob Highberg, responsible for portions of Ward 5 and south of Highway 28 to Highway 659 and Township 63, Range 2 in Ward 6, Fort Kent and Ardmore. Dwight Retzlaff, responsible for portions of Ward 6, except for Township 63, Range 2. The following Bonnyville Regional Fire Authority (BRFA) staff and Station Chiefs were also appointed: Jay Melvin – Regional Fire Chief, Dan Heney – Regional Deputy Chief, Walter Smyl – Station Chief Goodridge, Dan Amalia – Station Chief Glendon, Gordon Graves – Station Chief Iron River, Kim Ferguson – Station Chief La Corey, Cordell Ackert – Station Chief Fort Kent, Roland Vachon – Station Chief Ardmore, Dwayne Ethier and Irene Welecki. Council also authorized the Reeve, or Deputy Reeve in his absence, in consultation with the BFRA, to place and remove Fire Bans in the M.D. for the 2020 Fire Permit Season.
#5 Council Accepts Draft Recreation Master Plan – Consultants RC Strategies + PERC, presented the draft Recreation Master Plan to Council on February 19. Council requested some additions to the Master Plan, such as an exact count of ball diamonds and playgrounds, including those at schools, throughout the region. The plan is being developed to guide future decision making and priority setting in recreation and related services. The M.D.’s investment in recreation will be focused on achieving the following five outcomes: personal health and wellness, community connectedness and appeal, financial sustainability, environmental sustainability and economic vibrancy. Twelve strategies laid out in the plan include recommended approaches to help ensure future infrastructure investment is well informed and best aligned with need. Council will discuss the Recreation Master Plan in depth at an upcoming meeting.
#6 Garbage Truck Purchase Approved – Council approved the purchase of a $342,238 Garbage Truck from London Machinery, Inc. with the unbudgeted expenditure of $29,738 to be funded from the Equipment Replacement Reserve. The increase in cost is due to low value of the Canadian dollar, as the truck chassis must be purchased in the United States, and the fact that the M.D. added features such as additional undercoating and heated hydraulics, to lengthen the lifespan of the truck.
#7 Funding Denied – On February 19, Council denied a funding request from the Bonnyville Bingo Association to assist with additional renovation costs of $17,000 not covered by the original $140,000 loan guaranteed by the Town of Bonnyville. The majority of Council had an issue with providing funds to the Bingo Association, stating they would be more in favour of individual community groups approaching Council for funding.
#8 Regional Emergency Master Plan In Development – The M.D., in cooperation with the Town of Bonnyville, Village of Glendon and the Summer Villages of Bonnyville Beach and Pelican Narrows, is creating a new Regional Emergency Master Plan. The City of Cold Lake has stated that they wish to continue on their own as a reciprocal agency. All the municipalities have been working together to train their emergency management staff to support each other in emergency situations to be in compliance with the Emergency Management Act and the Local Authority Emergency Management Regulations. By formulating a joint municipal plan, the M.D. will have back-up from other municipalities for emergency situations and business continuity.
#9 Fees Waived For Village Of Glendon – Council agreed to waive Endorsement and Municipal Reserve Fees in the amount of $1,122 for Glendon, as two lots are being consolidated and registered as a public utility lot (PUL). The PUL is for a drainage ditch that will benefit both municipalities.
#10 Final Readings For LARB And CARB – Final Reading was given to Bylaw 1742 to establish a Local Assessment Review Board (LARB) and Bylaw 1743 to establish a Composite Assessment Review Board (CARB). Councillor Ben Fadeyiw was appointed Chair of both boards.
#11 Lac La Biche ICF Adopted – Council adopted the Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework (ICF) with Lac La Biche County, and passed the Road Maintenance Service Agreement for Seibert Lake Road. Municipalities that share a common boundary must create an ICF with each other by March 31, 2020, as per legislative requirements introduced in 2016 through the Municipal Government Act (MGA). The M.D. has been providing gravel road maintenance on 4.18 km of the Siebert Lake Trail for approximately 20 years. The no cost, five-year contrac,t is now formalized within the ICF.
#12 Briefly – Council approved a letter of support for Lakeland Industry and Community Association (LICA) for a grant application for a Community Garden in the Town of Bonnyville. Council approved a letter of support for the Ardmore Parent Advisory Association to apply for a grant to erect a shade structure on school grounds. On February 19, Final Reading was given to Bylaw 1744 for the Renewal of Lease Agreements for Municipal Leased Lands. The nine leases will be renewed for a three-year term. On February 19 Council also adopted the Recreation Committee Terms of Reference.