MUNICIPAL DISTRICT BONNYVILLE NO. 87
COMMITTEE & COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS May 5 and 12, 2021
Keeping you informed of the services, business and development that affect YOU!
#1 Budget Balanced – Council agreed to defer work on Township Road 610 until 2022 in order to address the 2021 Budget taxation revenue shortfall of over $2.8 million due to the five percent drop in assessment value. The engineering on three miles of construction on Township Road 610, from Highway 28 to Range Road 460 will be completed, but construction work for an estimated budget of $4.3 million will be deferred to 2022. Tenders for the project will be released in late fall or early January 2022.
#2 Dust Control Proceeds – Council accepted the 2021 Dust Control List as information and directed Administration to proceed with the 27 dust controls as presented. Administration is proposing to complete the work this year, including new dust control requests received and known issues based on concerns from the previous year. Infrastructure Services is using HF500 Cold Mix Asphalt or MG30 for dust controls. The HF500 has a proven track record and comes with the advantage of a longer expected service life than MG30. It is not durable when installed under heavy industry traffic, where MG30 is preferred. The $700,000 estimated cost to complete the 2021 Dust Control List fits within the Infrastructure Services approved 2021 Operating Budget.
#3 Additional Drainage Projects Approved – Council accepted the updated 2021 Operational Drainage Priorities Workplan with an additional five work locations, as well as one engineering study for the Marie Lake Drainage Plan. The projects were selected based on the approved 2021 Drainage Priorities Map and the feasibility of delivering these projects in the current calendar year.
#4 Ardmore Fire Hall And Grader Shop Approach Expansion – Council approved the redesign of the Ardmore Fire Hall and Grader Shop approach to the full width of the building. The construction will be included as part of the 48 Avenue Drainage Project to be funded from the Ardmore Roads and Underground 2021 Budget. The expansion will allow large units to manoeuvre around to get in and out of the bays.
#5 Beaver River Gravel Pit Acquisition – Council approved the acquisition of the Beaver River No. 3 and No. 7 gravel pits from Alberta Transportation for reclamation on their behalf, in lieu of a $254,224 royalty payment owed to Alberta Transportation for gravel mined from the Beaver River No. 7 pit. Taking over Beaver River No. 7 will allow the M.D. to maintain a gravel stockpile for use in that area. There is still a substantial volume of material in the pit to be crushed, and the M.D. would have the rights to that material without any additional charge. There is a potential end use for the Beaver River No. 3 pit as an access and parking lot for the Beaver River. M.D. Parks, Recreation, and Culture Department have had discussions with Public Lands about this location, and believe it’s an ideal spot to develop for access to the river. As this is an “in lieu” opportunity, and the value of the aggregate will exceed the value of the reclamation at both locations, the M.D. will gain from taking over the two gravel pits.
#6 Municipal Road Approaches Clarified – Council adopted the amended Municipal Road Approach Policy No. 4A.019. Changes to the policy include: added clarity about first approach and number of approaches allowed; exceptions to the standard approach; widening process for approaches and short-term approach approvals and expiry. The M.D. will ensure the existence of the first approach to a quarter section, when that quarter section is along a developed road allowance. Any additional approaches require an approach development permit and are constructed at the expense of the landowners, or in the case of Crown land, the lessee.
#7 Excavator Purchases – Council approved the $633,866.14 purchase of a Link Belt 245X4 LC (24-ton excavator) and the Link Belt 300X4 (29 ton). The $330,000 will be funded from the 2021 Budget and $303,866.14 is to be funded as an unbudgeted expenditure from the Equipment Replacement Reserve Fund.
#8 Pump Purchase – Council approved the reallocation of the approved New Initiative Funds for Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) in the 2021 Budget to the purchase of four complete pump systems for the Ardmore and Fort Kent water plants, with the unbudgeted $50,000 coming from the Equipment Reserve Fund. Replacing the pumps/motors in each of the water plants will ensure a reliable pumping system at each location.
#9 Supplementary Road Development – While Council denied the request for the construction of a supplementary road on an undeveloped road allowance for a half mile on Range Road 420, north of Township Road 614, Council will be taking a look at policies regarding developing road allowances to allow access for property owners. During discussions for Budget 2022, Council will also look at allocating funds for supplementary road development.
#10 Historical Site Policy – The Historical Site Recognition and Dedication Policy No. 3A.006 was amended and approved by Council. The definition of the term “historical site” was amended to mean “an official location or structure where pieces of political, military, cultural and/or social history must be preserved due to their cultural heritage value. A historical site may be any building, landscape, site, or structure that has a minimum of 50 years of local or regional significance.” The M.D. will contribute up to a maximum of $500 for historical markers.
#11 Funding Support – Council agreed to provide a $125,000 contribution to the Iron River School Association for a new playground, with money budgeted from the Legacy Fund. Council will also provide a letter of support for the group’s application for a Community Facility Enhancement Program (CFEP) Grant for the new playground. Council approved a $20,000 Community Association Capital Grant to the Bonnyville and District Historical Society for the relocation of the St. Anne Chapel to the Bonnyville museum site. The funds will come from the 2021 Transfers to Recreation Boards Budget. Council agreed to contribute $750 for a lunch sponsorship to the 2021 Healthier Communities Golf Tournament hosted by Lac La Biche County to raise funds for the Lac La Biche Regional Health Foundation and Portage College.
#12 Briefly – Personnel Files Policy No. 2C.006 was amended and approved.