#1 Crawford Estates Flooding Remediation – Municipal District of Bonnyville Council agreed to proceed with remediation “Option 1” to provide a long-term solution to prevent flooding in Crawford Estates. Option 1 involves pumping water from Pinsky Lake, which has no natural drainage outlet, to an adjacent road ditch, from which the water will flow, under gravity, to the north, meandering around Morris Estates and eventually entering into Long Bay on Cold Lake. This solution was Council’s preferred option due to factors that may expedite Alberta Environment and Parks (AEP) approvals. These approvals are the next step in the remediation process. Once approval is received from AEP, the engineering design will be presented to Council for budget approval.
#2 Recreation Master Plan Proposal Awarded – RC Strategies + PERC were awarded the $33,700 Recreation Master Plan Request For Proposal (RFP). The company is familiar with the M.D. having recently produced the Recreation Needs
Assessment, the feasibility study for the Recreation Park, as well as the feasibility study for the Regional Aquatics Facility. The plan will provide priorities, planning tools and service delivery goals for long-term recreation within the municipality.
#3 Renovation Tender Awarded – At its October 2 meeting, Council awarded the $340,000 contract for the design and construction of the Main Administration Office Building Renovations to GenMec ACL, with $240,000 to come from unrestricted reserves. Offices will replace a meeting room on the second floor, offices and a small meeting room will be constructed on the third floor.
#4 Iron Horse Trail Upgrades – On October 2, Council agreed to re-tender the upgrading of the Iron Horse Trail through Glendon (from Range Road 482 to 485) and the paving of the parking lot, and upgrading a portion of the Trail, at the Beaver River Trestle, until January 2020 in order to reduce the cost of the projects. Council agreed that tenders came in over budget due to the short timeline to complete the project this fall. Retendering for spring construction should reduce the cost. Council also made a motion to hire Industrial Road Bond Services to resurface a test section of the Iron Horse Trail from North Shore Heights, west for one kilometre, to a maximum cost of $50,000. The company also agreed to resurface a half mile of the trail at the Beaver River Trestle within the budgeted amount. The company is demonstrating a new bonding product that will harden the surface of the trail.
#5 Major Area Structure Plan Priority List – In discussions regarding concerns about development within the Hamlet of Ardmore, Council reiterated the Major Area Structure Plan priority list adopted in March, 2019. The priority list includes: in 2019-2020 Fort Kent and La Corey, which were previously completed in 1988, will be the priorities under an extension of an Alberta Community Partnership (ACP) Grant. In 2020-2021, Ardmore and Highway 55 will be done. These two areas were previously completed in 2004 and 2001 respectively. In 2021-2022, Moose Lake and Cherry Grove will be done, having previously been completed in 1985 and 1988 respectively. Crane Lake, Highways 28 and 41 and Chicken Hill Lake will be done in 2022-2023. They had previously been completed in 2006, 2018 and 1982 respectively. In 2023-2024, Ethel Lake and Marie Lake, which had been completed in 2011 and 1988 respectively, will be studied. In 2024-2025, Muriel Lake will be reviewed, having been completed in 1989.
#6 Procurement Policy Adopted – Council adopted Policy No. 2B.012 – Procurement Policy, which updates the policy in response to the recommendations provided in the New West Partnership Agreement (NWPTA). The policy provides a framework for purchasing in the M.D. and sets the guidelines for request for quotes, request for proposals and tenders. All purchases shall be included in the current year’s budget or as otherwise approved by resolution or bylaw of Council, or any policy adopted by Council. The M.D. must comply with purchasing practices legislated under the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), the Canadian European Union Comprehensive and Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) and the New West Partnership Trade Agreement (NWPTA). Under NWPTA goods and services over $75,000 and construction projects over $200,000 must be procured openly.
#7 Meetings With Ministers – Council agreed to discuss three priorities with the Minister of Municipal Affairs Kaycee Madu at the Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) Convention in November. These include: ID 349 funding model; Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework (ICF) deadlines and flexibility; and the sale and term length agreements for leased land. Council also made a motion to set up a meeting with the Associate Minister of Red Tape Reduction, Grant Hunter, to discuss the rules and regulations managing gravel pits.
#8 Funding Support – On October 2, Council agreed to purchase tickets for Councillors and spouses to attend the CNRL Steak & Shrimp Silent Auction Fundraiser at a cost of $480.
#9 Briefly – Council approved scheduling the 2019 Organizational Meeting of Council on October 23 at 9:30 a.m., to be followed by the regular meeting of Council. Council provided a letter of support to Cold Lake First Nations for a Community Facility Enhancement Program (CFEP) grant to construct a Culture Camp at English Bay on Cold Lake. On October 2, Council agreed to contract the services of the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association (AUMA) as the provider of benefit services for the M.D., for a savings of $125,538.24 a year.
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