MUNICIPAL DISTRICT BONNYVILLE NO. 87
COUNCIL & COMMITTEE HIGHLIGHTS October 21 & 28, 2020
Keeping you informed of the services, business and development that affect YOU!
#1 Riverhurst Hall Bin Site – In a survey of 600 property owners in the Riverhurst Hall area, 57 percent of respondents preferred a larger bin site be constructed near the hall. Twenty-four percent preferred a bin site be constructed at the Hilda Lake Landfill. Of those respondents who preferred the hall location, 55 percent said if that location was not an option the next best location would be the Hilda Lake Landfill, as opposed to the initial site on Range Road 433. Council directed Administration to look at combining a larger waste and recycling bin site with a new grader shop to be located in the Riverhurst area. Staff will come back to Council with options by the end of November. Council was not in favour of locating the new larger bin site near the Riverhurst Hall.
#2 Kinosoo Ridge Early Bird Season Passes On Sale – Go online to www.kinosoo.ca to purchase your Early Bird Kinosoo Ridge Snow Resort season passes. Family passes (up to five immediate members) are $725, Adult (18-64) or Student (13-17) are $265, Mites (four and under) are $99 and Seniors (65 and over) are $225. Please note that the ski season will look a little different this year due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. For up-to-date information on what’s happening at the hill, visit the website or follow them on Facebook.
#3 Council Organizational Appointments – Councillor Mike Krywiak was appointed Deputy Reeve until the end of the Council term. Councillor Ed Duchesne was appointed Chair of the Agricultural Service Board. The Council meeting day and time will remain every second and fourth Wednesday of the month, starting at 9:30 a.m. in Council Chambers. Committee meetings of Council will continue to be held on the first and third Wednesday of each month, also at 9:30 a.m. Council agreed to cancel the following Council and Committee meeting dates: December 23, 2020, March 17, 2021, July 7 and 21, 2021, August 4 and 18, 2021. There were several seat changes on a few committees. Click here for the 2020-2021 Committee/Board listing. The next Organizational Meeting will be held on October 27, 2021, following the October 18, 2021 municipal election.
#4 Procurement Policy Amended – Council adopted the amended Policy No. 2B.012 Procurement Policy that designates Council as the approver for all purchases of vehicles and heavy equipment. The policy has been updated to reflect the correct names of M.D. staff positions based on the organizational chart.
#5 Planning And Development Statistics – The Planning and Development Department received 17 building permits in July worth $1,119,500, 18 building permits in August worth $1,186,283.84 and 31 building permits in September worth $5,269,266, bringing the year-to-date total of 143 permits to $11,398,204.84 Housing starts for 2020 include 10 Single Family Dwellings one RTM and six Mobile Homes. In 2020, the M.D. has received 16 subdivision applications.
#6 Funding Request Denied – Council denied a funding request from the Village of Glendon for $25,000 annually to assist them with the maintenance of the Iron Horse Walking Trail within the municipality. Council agreed that the Village and the M.D. will each maintain the portions of the trail within their own municipal boundaries.
#7 Weather Radar System Road Build – Council agreed to have the federal ministry of Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) build a 600-metre road on undeveloped road allowance Range Road 412 South of Township Road 624, to M.D. Class-5 standard local road with a six-metre top width, with their own resources. The department is planning on installing a new Weather Radar System north of Cherry Grove at NE-22-62-01 W4M, and asked the M.D. if they could build the new road. ECCC has a designated License of Occupation (DLO) and Designated Miscellaneous Lease (DML) on the land where the 600m road and 400m access is to be built. However, the local resident with an active grazing lease on the Crown land is opposed to fencing the road which would restrict the movement of cattle. Administration has reviewed the ECCC’s request and is recommending that ECCC should build the road to M.D. standards through their own independent resources and cost.
#8 Infrastructure Services Updates – Council approved Policy No. 4A.007 Licensing of Road Allowances Policy to better align municipal policy with the requirements and terminology withing the Traffic Safety Act, Chapter T-6 revised Statutes of Alberta 2000.
#9 Funding Support – Council approved a $8,000 sponsorship for the Winterland Invitational organized by Ronald McDonald House Charities to be held February 5 to 28, 2021 to be funded from the 2021 budget. Due to COVID-19, teams across the province will be asked to challenge a team in their cohort and fundraise in their community. Council approved the $5,000 Community Action Grant application from the Lakeland Cross-Country Ski Club on behalf of the Bonnyville Nordic Ski Club, to be funded from the 2020 Budget. The funds will be used to purchase cross-country ski rental equipment. Council directed Administration to deny the request from the Alexander Recreation Society for funding to upgrade their existing outdoor rink at this time, until the M.D.’s Outdoor Rink Master Plan has been completed and approved by Council in 2021.
#10 Vezeau Beach Grand Opening – Council recommended the Vezeau Beach Grand Opening be held Friday, June 25, 2021. The public will be invited to come and enjoy the updated area, including walking trail, boat launch, playground, and jumping pillow.
#11 Briefly October 21 – Council proclaimed the week of October 26 to 30, as Alberta Development Officers Week. The Public Hearing for Bylaw No. 1750 was approved for November 25, at 10 a.m. Council adopted Policy 1.013 Delegation to Council Policy to ensure public requests to address Council are handled in an open and consistent manner. Second Reading was given to Bylaw No. 1751, to amend Bylaw No. 1739 Procedural Bylaw for the purpose of improving the alignment of Municipal Council and Committee meeting protocols with the new provincial Meeting Procedures (COVID-19 Suppression) Regulation. Bylaw No. 1751 outlines the requirements necessary for public meetings to be held electronically, as well as defining the necessary information to be made available to the public.
#12 Briefly October 28 – Council approved a regular meeting of Council be held on Thursday, November 12 at 9:30 a.m. in Council Chambers. Council adopted Policy No. 3B.003 M.D. Recreational Facilities Policy as amended to provide clarity and updates on fee schedules for campgrounds, Kinosoo Ridge, ball diamonds and picnic table rentals. Council accepted the Alberta Police Interim Advisory Board Quarterly Report as Information.