MUNICIPAL DISTRICT BONNYVILLE NO. 87
COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS September 11, 2019
Keeping you informed of the services, business and development that affect YOU!
#1 Road Classification Map Approved – Municipal District of Bonnyville Council approved the Road Classification Map and directed administration to use this map in the planning and upgrading of M.D. road infrastructure. The map breaks municipal 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. The Road Classification Map is used as a fluid, foundational guideline for long-term planning, such as a 20-year road replacement capital plan. It provides the basis for systematic and sustainable road development, giving administration the ability to predict capital and operational costs. Council will be attending a Road Construction/Dust Suppression Demonstration on September 13 and a Budget Road Tour on September 18.
#2 Kinosoo Ridge Getting Ready For The Winter Season – Kinosoo Ridge Snow Resort is promoting its Early Bird Pass Sale until September 20. Two new options this year are for an early bird family pass to be paid in three installments and a senior’s pass. Tentative opening date is December 7. Lease renewal discussions for the Ridge are underway with Alberta Environment and Parks (AEP) as the expiry date is December 21, 2019. Administration is asking for the lease to be extended past the 10-year period. The Rare Plant Study, undertaken at the request of AEP, wrapped up on August 23. The area for the proposed Adventure Park appears to have no rare plants growing in it.
#3 M.D. Caretakers Packing Up, But Campground Upgrades Continue– All M.D. campgrounds closed their gates on September 8, but parks staff continue to make improvements. Staff are replacing all campground welcome signs, with the first one erected at Muriel Lake. The City of Cold Lake has approved the design for the sani-dump station at Cold Lake M.D. Campground. The project is now out for tender. The majority of the work will be completed this fall, with final installation and concrete work to be done in spring of 2020. ATCO will be providing the M.D. with options to provide power to Chicken Hill, Minnie Lake West and Crane Lake East campgrounds. Options include overhead versus underground services and requirements for the load amounts. The Vezeau Beach dock is well used, with the campground experiencing a busy summer. Due to the multitude of summer storms, staff have been on tree clean-up detail all season.
#4 Fort Kent And Ardmore Lagoon Liner Repairs – Council awarded the $700.472.25 contract for the Fort Kent and Ardmore Lagoon Liner Repairs to Double D Contracting and Construction Ltd., with the project funding shortfall of $554,000 to be funded from Unrestricted Surplus. Council requested that there be engineering oversight on the project. There has been an ongoing issue of the liners experiencing ballooning (whaling) since the construction of the storage ponds in 2009, thus reducing the storage capacity of the ponds. Council also directed administration to investigate the costs and alternative options of hauling industrial waste into the Fort Kent and Ardmore Lagoon sites.
#5 Kinosoo Ridge Adventure Park Grant Application Faces Delay – The M.D. was notified in August that timelines for the Investing In Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) grant have been extended until the end of December for the Expression of Interest (EOI) phase and possibly next summer for the successful grant recipients acceptance. The M.D. had applied for an $800,000 ICIP grant for the Kinosoo Ridge Adventure Park. Council agreed to wait until the spring of 2020 to make any decisions on the Adventure Park so as not to jeopardize acceptance of the grant application. Doing any work on the project, such as engineering design or initial construction, would risk cancellation of the grant application.
#6 Glendon Drainage Issue Review – Council authorized Administration to review the drainage issue within the Village of Glendon boundaries. The village has been experiencing drainage issues for a number of years. The majority of runoff that is flowing through Glendon comes from M.D. lands located south of the village. In the spring, the culvert located at Township Road 610 is incapable of handling the runoff from the south and the culvert is always running full, with the excess water being diverted through the village. This causes flooding within the village.
#7 Planning and Development Update – Planning and Development received 20 building permits in July worth $1,759,200, bringing the year-to-date total to $9,714,090. Housing starts for 2019 include 19 Single Family Dwellings/RTMs/Mobile Homes. In 2019, the M.D. has received 15 subdivision applications. On September 4, Council adopted Policy No. 4B.016 – Energizing Street Lights in Multi-Lot Subdivisions. At the same Committee Meeting, Council directed Administration to proceed with the application for the designated License of Occupation for the Birch Ridge boat launch located in Part NE 13-65-2-W4M.
#8 Parks Recreation and Culture Update – Staff have completed several improvement projects on Shaw House. All the rocks around Shaw House were moved to the park’s yard. The ground around the building was graded and seeded with grass. New stairs and wheelchair ramp were added to the entrance of the building using composite decking materials. North Shore Heights Trail was brushed, top soil stripped and the retaining wall by the culvert has been completed. Depending on fall weather, gravel will be laid down, with asphalt following close behind. The Parks Crew is working on maintenance of the road going to the boat launch at Birch Ridge on Cold Lake, as well as the Moose Lake Birch Grove boat launch approach. On September 4, Council amended the Community Action Grant Policy 3C.012 to state that new programs/events will be eligible for two consecutive years of funding in order to create and maintain sustainability. At the same Committee Meeting, Council directed Administration to proceed with development of an Occupancy Agreement between the M.D. and the Bonnyville and District Chamber of Commerce for rental of the Shaw House.
#9 Briefly – The Council Committee Meeting for September 18 has been cancelled due to scheduling conflicts. Council is meeting with MLA David Hansen and the Minister of Municipal Affairs on September 18 when Kaycee Madu visits the region. Council accepted, as information, the Species At Risk Conservation Agreement being developed by Cold Lake First Nations with Environment and Climate Change Canada. There is a small area north of Marie Lake, within the M.D., which would be a part of the Conservation Agreement. Reeve Greg Sawchuk and M.D. administration will continue to meet with Cold Lake First Nations to remain updated on the conservation direction. Council accepted, as information, an update on the Saddle Lake Lateral Loop Project that will increase the delivery capability for natural gas in northeast Alberta and northwest Saskatchewan.