MUNICIPAL DISTRICT BONNYVILLE NO. 87
COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS August 14, 2019
Keeping you informed of the services, business and development that affect YOU!
#1 Councillor, Committee and Board Member Remuneration – Council passed the Councillor, Committee and Board Member Remuneration Policy. The policy had been discussed in July. Administration was directed to bring the policy back with a number of changes, including keeping the monthly honorarium at its current rate of $3,000 for the Reeve and $2,000 for Councillors. Honorariums will be affected by Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) as per the Alberta Consumer Price Index, and will match increases given to staff. Meeting rates were also held at current levels - $150 for meetings/conferences lasting less than four hours, $300 for those lasting more than four hours, but less than eight hours and $400 for those exceeding eight hours in a day.
#2 Road Classification Map – Abid Malik, General Manager of Infrastructure Services, gave Council its first glimpse at the Road Classification Map. The map breaks M.D. roads into six classifications – Arterial Road – Class 1 Grid Road, Arterial Road Industrial – Class 1A Grid Road, Collector Road Major – Class 2 Grid Road, Collector Road Minor – Class 3 Grid Road and Local Roads, Classes 4 and 5. Council had a number of recommendations for changes to the map. Malik will bring the map back after suggested changes have been made.
#3 Planning and Development Update – Council gave First Reading to Bylaw 1715, which will amend a legal land description in Bylaw 1705 for a road closure. The amendment is necessary due to an error at the provincial Land Titles office. Council also gave First Reading to Bylaw 1717 which will update the M.D.’s Safety Codes Permit Bylaw to reflect changes made to the Safety Codes Act.
#4 Infrastructure Services Update – Council awarded the contract for a project that will see the base and paving done for Township Road 622 between Range Roads 435 to 440 as well as the improvement of the intersection at Highway 55 and Rge. Rd. 433. The project will be completed by E-Construction for the total cost of $1,488,322, which includes construction, engineering and contingency funds. Council also awarded a tender for the engineering of two roads – one in the subdivision located at the corner of Twp. Rd. 630 and Rge. Rd. 452A and the other in the subdivision located on Rge. Rd. 435, north of Hwy. 55. A third road (Rge. Rd. 414) will be looked at in 2020. The engineering for the two roads was awarded to Wood E and I Solution for $80,264.
#5 Parks, Recreation & Culture Updates – Council adopted the Trail Development Standards Policy. This policy will assist with the planning and development of recreational trails in the M.D.
#6 Funding Support – Council approved a variety of funding requests, including $2,500 for the Kinosoo Performing Arts 40th Anniversary, $5,000 for the Bonnyville Senior Citizens Society for upgrades to the centre, a $2,500 monetary donation plus $2,500 work-in-kind for Bonnyville Gear Grabbers, and $5,000 for the Cold Lake Entertainment Society’s Verge Festival.
#7 Briefly – Council denied a request to repair a washed out road owned by the Moose Lake Gospel Camp. Council reviewed funding given to both the Cold Lake and Bonnyville chambers of commerce from 2014 to 2019, including work-in-kind, golf tournament teams, business of the year awards and other events. At the July 24 meeting, Council agreed to provide both chambers with an annual operating grant of $15,000. Keeping this in mind, Council denied the Bonnyville and District Chamber of Commerce’s request for $1,500 for the Business of the Year Awards being held in October.