MUNICIPAL DISTRICT BONNYVILLE NO. 87
COUNCIL & COMMITTEE HIGHLIGHTS September 15 & 22, 2021
Keeping you informed of the services, business and development that affect YOU!
#1 Kinosoo Ridge Green Chairlift Replacement a Go – Council agreed to pay an extra $1.216 million from the Equipment Replacement Reserve to replace the green chairlift at Kinosoo Ridge in 2022. The project had previously been approved with a $3 million budget. Unfortunately, the budget had not taken into consideration the costs associated with the removal and disposal of the existing 40-year-old chairlift, among other items. The project budget is now set at $4,216,000. This price will also see the inclusion of bike racks for the chairlift, for future summer use.
#2 Energy Efficiency Is Win-Win – Council agreed at the September 15 meeting to proceed with the Second Annual Energy Efficiency Contest. The contest will begin on Energy Efficiency Day (October 6) and will be open to residents in the M.D. and Village of Glendon. The contest will test residents’ energy efficiency knowledge and give them the opportunity to win a prize package stuffed with energy efficient goodies for their home. Watch the M.D.’s Facebook page at facebook.com/MDBonnyville for contest announcements.
#3 Agriculture Services Update – At its September 22 meeting, Council received an update from the Agriculture Services Department detailing their summer activities. Staff inspected 3,339 properties under the Weed Control Act, helping residents get rid of the weeds, while dispersing information about invasive and noxious plants. Due to the drought conditions, the roadside spraying program was limited to just under 300 kilometres this summer. Mowing was done in the M.D.’s 84 subdivisions twice, while the M.D. boundary signs had the grass trimmed three times. Roadside mowing is ongoing. There were 459 rat inspections done by the end of June. The department recently received a call from a farmer to report a rat. Ag services has confirmed the rodent is a Norway Rat and is currently dealing with the situation. It is the first time in 30 years a wild rat has been spotted in the M.D. There were 177 beavers removed this year. Nineteen dams were blasted, and an additional 244 dams were opened to move water. Staff inspected 437 canola fields for Clubroot. The inspection yielded only one infected field to be added to the 16 that have been found over the past five years. General Manager Matt Janz attributes the slow spread of the disease to farmers following best practices, including crop rotation, planting Clubroot resistant crops, and cleaning of farm equipment.
#4 Intermunicipal Trail Plan Coming – The M.D. and City of Cold Lake received an Alberta Community Partnership Grant for $125,000 in 2019 to hire a consultant to help create the Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework. The document was created without the need to hire a consultant. The M.D. and City requested the grant be redirected for a different intermunicipal project – namely the Intermunicipal Master Trail Plan. The municipalities have received approval from Alberta Municipal Affairs to use the grant to create the plan, which is expected to be completed in the next year and a half.
#5 Waste Services Update – Council heard the quarterly update from Waste Services at its September 22 meeting. The Roadside Cleanup saw 19 non-profit groups helping clean up over 290 kilometres roadside ditches, with just under $23,000 being donated back to the groups for their hard work. There were 597 mattresses recycled this summer. Waste sent 120 bales of grain bags to Full Circle Plastics to be recycled. These materials end up as planters, park benches, and boards to be used to make fences and decks. The piles of recycled concrete and the stores of recycled glass were crushed this year – a total of 4,143 tonnes. The material will be used for bin site improvements around the M.D. The Ardmore Landfill expansion was completed. The FireSmart program at Marie Lake will see brushing of three locations this fall to help eliminate potential fuel for forest fires.
#6 Updated Fees for Kinosoo Ridge – At the Committee Meeting on September 15, Council agreed to update fees for winter activities at Kinosoo Ridge Resort for the 2021/22 season. After conducting a review of previous years’ fees and fees at comparable ski hills in the province, Council agreed to increase fees, with some prices to be phased in over a few years to lessen the impact on visitors’ pocketbooks. The updated fees will be available on the Kinosoo Ridge website at kinosoo.ca by the end of September. The Early Bird Season Pass Sale is scheduled to begin in mid-October. Exact dates and information will be announced on the KR Facebook page at facebook.com/skikinosooridge.
#7 Public Safety Update – On September 22 Council received an update from Public Safety on their work from April to August of this year. During that time, Peace Officers conducted 201 commercial vehicle inspections, 66 Vacant Home Checks, 5,047 Rural Crime Prevention patrols, and School Resource Officers attended schools for programs, drop-ins, and teacher/parent visits 147 times.
Council agreed to sell the three Remington shotguns that the department owns. Council decided in August to not seek enhanced authority from the Solicitor General for officers to be able to use shotguns to disperse injured wildlife. The shotguns will be sold for $250 each to the County of Vermillion River.
#8 Briefly – At the September 15 meeting, Council directed Administration to request financial statements and more information from the Bonnyville Friendship Centre regarding their men’s shelter request for funding. BFC had requested $50,000 from Council to help keep the shelter open for the next three months. Council was concerned about long-term funding and how the shelter would continue to stay open past the end of the year. At the September 22 meeting, Council agreed to host three budget deliberation meetings in November, as well as four public consultation meetings, and one public question period during a Council meeting. Keep an eye on our website and Facebook page for public consultation dates and locations. Council agreed to replace a woodchipper that was damaged earlier this year. The replacement was awarded to Arborist Supply at a cost of $62,000. The price, minus a $5,000 deductible, will be covered by insurance.
Recordings of the Council meetings can be found on the M.D.’s YouTube Channel.