MUNICIPAL DISTRICT BONNYVILLE NO. 87
COUNCIL & COMMITTEE HIGHLIGHTS November 18 & 25, 2020
Keeping you informed of the services, business and development that affect YOU!
#1 Public Auction Of Lands Date Set – Municipal District of Bonnyville Council set Tuesday, March 30, 2021 at 2 p.m. in Council Chambers as the date for the Public Auction of Lands on the Tax Arrears List. As of November 19, 2020, there are 12 properties subject to the 2020 Public Auction. Council also approved the proposed sales conditions for the Public Auction. Conditions include: a deposit of 10 percent of the successful bid payable in cash, certified cheque, bank draft or money order must be received by 4:30 p.m. on the day of the sale; the balance of the purchase price shall be paid on or before Friday of the week of the public auction; all properties are to be sold on an “as is, where is” basis and the municipality gives no warranty whatsoever to the adequacy of services, soil conditions, land use districting, building and development conditions, absence or presence of environmental contamination, or the ability to develop the subject land for any use proposed by the purchaser and all sales are subject to the reserve bid and any conditions and/or reservations on the existing title.
#2 Bonnyville Regional Airport Bylaw Gets First Reading – Council gave Second Reading to Bylaw 1753 to authorize the operation of the Bonnyville Regional Airport and to establish fees and charges for its operation. Currently the airport charges its users for lot lease, parking fees and landing fees.
#3 M.D. Equipment Analysis – Council directed Administration to proceed with the proposed equipment changes outlined in the Equipment Summary. Transportation and Utilities staff have reviewed the needs and applications of the existing equipment fleet in conjunction with construction and maintenance activities, resulting in recommendations for operational efficiencies. The internal costing for the equipment charge-out rates were also reviewed, and new rates have been proposed for a realistic cost estimation.
#4 Door-To-Door Waste Collection System Approved – After looking at alternatives, Council approved sticking with the existing Curotto can door-to-door waste collection system. The potential benefit of purchasing a smaller truck for door-to-door waste collection is that it may decrease the wear and tear on the edges of the roads in the hamlets and subdivisions. The disadvantages would be the extra storage and maintenance required for a separate unit, when the current Curotto can system is an attachment that can be used by the three existing garbage trucks.
#5 Public Safety Quarterly Report – Director of Public Safety, Luis Gandolfi, presented the Public Safety Department’s quarterly report on November 18. From July to September, Peace Officers issued 458 tickets and warnings, which includes speeding tickets. Traffic Safety Act tickets and warnings per ward were: Ward 1 – 139, Ward 2 – 30, Ward 3 – 56, Ward 4 – 22, Ward 5 – 83 and zero in Ward 6. During the same time period, officers conducted 77 commercial vehicle inspections, performed 128 Vacant Home checks as part of the Rural Crime Prevention Program, and conducted 1,630 Rural Crime Prevention patrols. School Resource Officers had a busy back to school season, with 85 visits where they presented programs (Right Choices, CSI, Peace Patrol), did drop-ins to connect with staff and students, and assisted/participated in school events.
#6 Parks, Recreation & Culture Updates – At its meeting November 18, Council decided to create a Trail Master Plan to help plan for a variety of trail uses and surfaces types. Council will submit their ideas to administration. Once a comprehensive list has been established, staff will investigate the possibility of each trail. Also during this meeting, Council heard from RC Strategies + PERC – the consultant working on the M.D.’s Recreation Master Plan. The draft was accepted with information, giving Council a chance to request changes/updates.
#7 Ag and Waste Updates – All blasting of beaver dams was completed before freeze up, and the pest control officer is concentrating on catching beavers in drainage ditches where the M.D. has easements. Landowners are encouraged to call the Ag Services Department at 780-826-3951 if they require help trapping the problematic pests. The M.D.’s new garbage truck should be arriving by the end of the month. It was expected earlier this year, but the COVID-19 global pandemic delayed delivery. Tetra Tech was awarded the tender for the Hydrovac Facility Feasibility Study. Karasiuk Enterprises was awarded the tenders for the Muriel Creek Restoration (Phase I and II). Work is expected to begin November 30. Over 40 kms of roadside brushing has been completed in the Flat Lake, Lessard and Cherry Grove areas. Due to an increase in local COVID-19 cases, the freecycle areas at landfills/transfer stations have been closed.
#8 Funding Support – At its November 18 meeting, Council agreed to give the Willow Prairie Senior Citizen’s Club a Community Action Grant for $25,000. The money will be used to install two sets of accessible doors, which will make the building more accessible to seniors and those using walking aids, wheelchairs, etc. Council approved the request for a letter of support from the Grand Centre Golf and Country Club for their Community Facility Enhancement Program (CFEP) grant application.
#9 Briefly – Council appointed Esther Quiambao as the Returning Officer and Stephanie Severin as the Substitute Returning Officer in accordance with the Local Authorities Election Act for the October 18, 2021 Municipal Election.