MUNICIPAL DISTRICT BONNYVILLE NO. 87
COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS October 11, 2017
Keeping you informed of the services, business and development that affect YOU!
#1 Crime Prevention Patrols – Officers are busy doing Rural Crime Prevention Patrols in hot spots at various locations in the M.D. Officers keep track of every patrol. From January 2017 to the end of September 2017, officers have completed 799 patrols in rural communities. Officers complete the Crime Prevention Patrols in addition to their regular shift responsibilities, focusing on different aspects of the rural area depending on the time of day or night.
#2 Spreading the Word About Recycling – M.D. Waste staff have been speaking to Grade 4 classrooms across the municipality for the past couple of weeks, educating the students about the M.D.’s Waste and Recycling Programs. A couple of schools have visited landfill sites to learn how they operate. The program’s goal is to increase the student’s recycling skills and to bring the message back home to their parents, thereby increasing recycling in the community.
#3
Bugs vs. Weeds – The Agriculture Department released thousands of Canada Thistle Stem Mining Weevils throughout the M.D. last week to help control the growth of Canada Thistle. These small bugs only mine into plants directly related to the Canada Thistle and will not affect other vegetation. The targeted areas are around lakes and large slough areas. The program will continue next year, with more areas receiving the weevils.
#4
Planning and Development News – In September, 26 Development Permits were issued, including 23 Residential and three Industrial, with a year-to-date total of $16,776,787. Year-to-date housing starts include 25 Single Family Dwellings and 10 Mobile Home Units. In September, 120 Plumbing, Gas, Sewer and Electrical Permits were issued.
#5 Public Safety Update – Officers investigated the issue of asphalt being stolen from M.D. work sites. Information gathered was passed onto the RCMP. Officers have been covering rural school bus routes due to some complaints from drivers of speeding vehicles and vehicles not stopping for the bus lights. Tickets have been issued. Fines range from $465 to $543. During September, School Resource Officers did over 100 sessions with students at various area schools. These sessions included Internet Safety, Peace Patrol presentations, Healthy Relationships with Grade 9 students and assisting in some Terry Fox Runs. Going into Halloween, SROs will also be giving presentations on stranger awareness. When investigating a complaint about loose garbage on the road, Officers discovered unwanted office papers and material from a break and enter into a rural business. RCMP were contacted. Councillor Dana Swigart voiced concerns about speeding on Main Street in Ardmore, which is primarily a 30 km/h zone. Director Chris Garner said he could move the speed sign to the hamlet’s main street. He also said he would look at the Ward Officer’s schedule to see if they could dedicate more time to that particular area.
#6
Parks, Recreation & Culture Update – Winter is right around the corner. As soon as temperatures drop to (and can be maintained at) -5 C, Kinosoo Ridge Snow Resort staff will begin snowmaking. Prep work on the trails has begun. Installation of the Beaverdam playground will be completed this week. Staff are finishing up the wood storage pole shed at Cold Lake M.D. Park. Work on the Crane Lake East Park ditching will begin shortly, but work in the Crane Lake West Park is being postponed until spring. This is to allow the coconut matting to take hold, ensuring less erosion. Removal of the trees along the west ditch is being done this fall.
#7
Transportation and Utilities News – The Construction Crew is working on Range Road 453, as well as Township Road 605. If the weather holds, the crew will start on Rge. Rd. 474 this year. The Paving Crew has completed the north two miles of Rge. Rd. 485 and half of the bottom lift of the south two miles. They will continue working on completing this project. The Oiling Crews have completed their portion of the project list and will be working on shaping some of the oiled road prior to freeze-up. The Drainage Crew completed the work at Pine Meadows and is working on other priorities while waiting on environmental approvals to proceed with bigger projects. The contractor is still working on Baywood Road and should finish the cement work this week. M.D. crews have been placing gravel on the sections that are ready. The paving crew will mobilize to place the bottom lift as soon as a section is ready. The Esso Road has been tested and we are currently waiting on the geotechnical recommendation for the structure of the roadway. Council made a motion to give the Industry Liaison Committee authority to continue working with Esso to investigate the joint maintenance and ownership of 6.5 kilometres of the road, north of the Esso gate. The contractor has completed the bottom lift of paving on the Ardmore Surface Works Project and is scheduled to be back in mid-October to complete the top lift. The contractor will be in penalty for the delay and has been informed of that. Director Darcy Zelisko anticipates the fine could be as high as $25,000. Access for all residents has been completed. As weather conditions change, patch trucks will be switching over to plow trucks. ATCO will be replacing two solar lights at Crane Lake in the next couple of weeks. The lights were installed as part of a solar light initiative. However, our northern climate proved to be too much for the batteries.
#8
Agriculture Update – Agriculture staff are continuing to remove beaver dams in flooded agricultural areas. Local trapping contractors have been hired to reduce the influx of beavers that have occurred this past year. The Ag Department is hosting a Trapper’s Course on December 1 to 3 at the Public Works Office. To register for this course, call 780-349-6626. The final mowing pass of the season is ongoing, with mowers trying to get to the fence lines to remove small brush. The M.D. has completed mowing Highway 28 and the portion of Hwy. 55 from the Saskatchewan border to La Corey, under agreement with the provincial government and their contractor Carillion. The Kinosoo Ridge Snow Resort ski hill will be mowed in mid-October, prior to the snow falling.
#9
Funding Support – The Fort Kent Seniors received their $25,000 Annual Operating Grant. Council agreed to buy a $360 table sponsorship for the first annual Cold Lake Hall of Fame Banquet on November 4.
#10 Council Compensation – Council passed a motion to have staff look at compensating Council members who turn 71 during their term. After the age of 71, funds can no longer be deposited into an RRSP – which is how Council members build a pension. The M.D. and the Council member both contribute to the RRSP.
Reeve Ed Rondeau said it wasn’t fair Council members who have turned 71 during their term wouldn’t be receiving that benefit. He also asked to have the outgoing members of Council that are affected receive compensation, which would be about $11,000 total.
For more information, contact Diane Jenkinson, Marketing and Communications Manager at 780-826-3171. Our website is a useful way to get the information you need. Visit: www.md.bonnyville.ab.ca Follow us on Facebook and Twitter @MDBville.