MUNICIPAL DISTRICT BONNYVILLE NO. 87
COMMITTEE HIGHLIGHTS May 6, 2020
Keeping you informed of the services, business and development that affect YOU!
#1 Letter of Support For Moose Lake Study – Municipal District of Bonnyville Council agreed to provide a letter of support to the Lakeland Industry & Community Association (LICA) for their grant application to fund an external Moose Lake phosphorus budget study. The M.D. funded an internal phosphorus budget study, which was completed in the fall of 2019. In order to fully understand the total phosphorus budget within Moose Lake, both the external and internal analysis is required in determining the possible source of phosphorus. Both studies will provide direction for the Moose Lake Watershed Society as to the possible options of treatment or management of the phosphorous levels within Moose Lake, which would mitigate the blue-green algae spread in the lake.
#2 M.D. Makes An Offer For Bonnyville Regional Airport – Council directed Administration to put forward an official offer to the Town of Bonnyville to take ownership of the Bonnyville Regional Airport. During discussions at the joint Airport Committee, composed of councillors from both municipalities, it was indicated that the town would be in favour of the M.D. taking on full ownership of the airport.
#3 Second Reading For Tax Penalty Bylaw No. 1746 – Council gave First and Second reading to Bylaw No. 1746 – Penalties on Unpaid Taxes Bylaw to amend the date of levying penalties on unpaid taxes to after the taxation deadline from September 15, 2020 to October 15, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
#4 Cold Lake M.D. Park Sani-Dump Goes Ahead – Council awarded the $288,841.05 contract for the construction of the Cold Lake M.D. Campground Sani-Dump to Urlacher Construction. Project funding of $156,917 comes from the 2020 Parks Capital Budget and $240,034 of unbudgeted expenditures is to be funded from cash flow reserves. A new, paved access road will be constructed for the sani-dump to provide space for three RVs, one using the sani-dump and two waiting, to minimize the impact on traffic leaving the campground.
#5 Cross-Country Ski Trail Development Support – Council agreed to provide the Lakeland Cross-Country Ski Club with a letter of support for a Community Initiatives Program (CIP) grant application and approved the request for a $5,000 Community Action Grant to assist with the CIP project. The funds will come from the program’s 2020 budget. The club is also asking for the same amount of funding from the County and Town of St. Paul. The CIP grant is to fund capital project expenses such as trail development, signage, replacing an aging groomer, constructing a warming hut, and maintenance of equipment used in their rental program. The club’s rural ski trail site is on private property 17 km northeast of St. Paul in the M.D. of Bonnyville. The club’s goal is to jointly promote winter attractions in the Lakeland area and increase the number of cross-country skiers through the Jack Rabbit Program.
#6 Fort Kent and Ardmore Fire Halls Under Construction – Construction has begun on the Ardmore and Fort Kent Fire Halls. Total project funding for the fire halls is $5 million. Excavation is completed at the Fort Kent site, piles poured, forming and rebar placement for footing has been completed. Workers are getting ready for the pre-engineered building to be delivered the first part of May. Fort Kent is scheduled to be finished in September. Substandard sub-soil conditions have hampered the Ardmore project, pushing the scheduled completion to November.
#7 Fee Increase For Insulation Waste – Council gave First and Second Reading to Bylaw No. 1747 Waste and Resource Recovery Management to repeal and replace Schedule F in Bylaw No. 1627. The amendment will change the rate for insulation waste, to bring it in line with the rate for demolition waste, at a tipping fee of $300 for a 30 Yard End Dump and a waste rate of $2. A request was made to make some clarifications to Schedule F to make it clear when a tipping fee is charged and when and how a waste rate is charged.
#8 New Property Tax Penalty Cancellation Policy – Council approved Policy No. 1.011 Property Tax Penalty Cancellation Policy. According to the Municipal Government Act (MGA), Council may cancel, reduce, refund or defer property tax if it is equitable to do so. The new policy sets the framework for the cancellation of property tax penalties. The policy states that Council shall cancel a property tax penalty if the request is for the current year tax levy occurring in September, or as defined in the Property Tax Bylaw, and if the property owner has not had any property tax penalties levied on any of their currently owned properties in the preceding five years. All property tax penalty requests received will be presented to Council on a bi-monthly basis.
#9 Town Of Bonnyville Buys In – The Town of Bonnyville has confirmed its participation in the Regional Economic Development Partnership Project with the M.D. The town will allocate funds from its 2020 Operating Budget contingency for the Economic Development Officer position. The current Joint Ad Hoc Economic Development Committee, composed of two councillors from each municipality, will undertake the development of a Terms of Reference for the formal implementation of a long-term joint committee.
#10 High School Grad Messaging – After the municipality received a request from the Bonnyville Outreach School for a video clip congratulating the 2020 graduating class, Council directed the Reeve to make a formal video clip congratulating all high school graduating classes in the region.