Council Highlights December 14th, 2016

MUNICIPAL DISTRICT BONNYVILLE NO. 87

COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS December 14, 2016

Keeping you informed of the services, business and development that affect YOU!

 

Uncollectable Taxes Cancelled – Municipal District of Bonnyville Council agreed to write off $182,141.33 in property taxes deemed to be uncollectable by the Finance and Administration Department. Council also approved the transfer of a budgeted $400,000 to the Allowance Account to top up the $815,000 currently in the account, bringing the total allowance to $1,215,000 for 2017. Currently the M.D. has $2.4 million outstanding in unpaid property taxes, which includes $265,805.82 undergoing further research and $116,623.14 is awaiting public auction. Updates will be delivered to Council on a regular basis. The Finance Department may request additional cancellations where it is determined that certain tax roll accounts are uncollectable. The balance of the funds will go through a tax recovery process. In most cases, the M.D. believes property owners will clear up arrears as the economy picks up.

 

Municipal Road Approach Policy Review – M.D. Council reviewed and passed Policy 60.61.03 Municipal Road Approach. A paragraph was added to the policy clarifying the jurisdiction of approaches. It reads “All the approaches, once installed are within the jurisdiction of the Municipal District of Bonnyville No. 87 and therefore are deemed temporary. The M.D. reserves the right to relocate approaches to accommodate safe access onto all municipal roads.”

 

Transportation & Utilities Update – Council reviewed and passed Policy No. 30.32.01 Road Construction and Development. The policy provides a procedure to prioritize and respond to long-term transportation needs as well as Supplementary Construction projects. The contractor has completed the deficiencies on the sewer line sags in the Ardmore Underground Works Project. They will monitor the backfilled areas for settlement. If any additional work is required in the spring, they will do repairs. JMB has completed the supply of 200,000 tonnes of gravel to the yard and is organizing to start the next haul in the new year.  Crews have completed hauling topsoil for the side slope improvements on Township Road 624, east of Highway 28. Bridge repairs begin this week. The Construction Crew is finished for the season.

 

Public Safety News – Officers have been assisting other agencies and departments. They responded to two vehicle collisions and assisted the RCMP with securing four dogs at a residence they were searching. Officers are patrolling several school bus routes in response to complaints that vehicles are passing buses when red lights are flashing. Officers took action on various complaints such as dogs running at large, abandoned vehicles, suspicious vehicles and traffic concerns such as distracted driving, speeding, a loose load on a transport truck and issues with a tanker truck. School Resource Officers are doing the CSI Program at Nelson Heights and H.E. Bourgoin schools. There were two

Right Choices program graduations at Dr. Brosseau and Glendon schools. Several formal visits were made to Nelson Heights and Cold Lake High School for Snowmobile Safety, Drug Awareness and ATV presentations. Iron River School started the Right Choices Program.

 

Planning and Development Update – In November, 10 development permits, including six New Residential Building Permits, three Industrial Permits and one Recreational Permit were issued, with a year-to-date total of $25,566,014. Year-to-date housing starts include 40 Single Family Dwellings and 16 Mobile Home Units. Thirty-one applications for Subdivisions have been received in 2016. In November, 90 Plumbing, Gas, Sewer and Electrical Permits were issued. Final Reading was given to LU Bylaw No. 563 – Direct Control District – Wood Creek Resort – to amend the Land Use Bylaw to include single family dwellings within Phase III only and to amend wording from Homeowners’ Association to Community Association. Council approved the renewal of 20 Road Closure and Lease Bylaws for a three-year period from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2019. Council approved a partnership with the County of St. Paul to apply for a Alberta Community Partnership (ACP) Program grant to develop an Intermunicipal Development Plan (IDP). Under the new Municipal Government Act (MGA) municipalities are being required to develop IDPs with all the neighbouring municipalities.

 

Agriculture & Waste Services News – There will be no change to door-to-door waste pickup service during the Christmas holidays. The frontload garbage truck will be collecting from bin sites every day except for December 25 and January 1. The landfills will be closing early on December 24 at 4 p.m. and they will be closed on December 25 and 26, as well as January 1. The number of coyotes and wolves being brought in under the Reduction Program is less than previous years. The total number of coyotes is 76 and no wolves. Twenty-two students attended the Standard Trapping Course hosted by the M.D. in December. Once they complete the course, they can purchase their trapping license through Alberta Fish and Wildlife. The M.D. will host another course in the spring, if there is enough interest.

 

Funding Support – Goodridge Social and Ag Society and the Sandy Rapids Community Club received their $25,000 annual 2016 Operating Grant. Council agreed to contribute $1,000 each to the Bonnyville and Cold Lake Food Banks. Council agreed to provide a letter of support to the Bonnyville Senior Citizens Society for their application for a provincial Community Facilitation Enhancement Grant (CFEP) to cover roof repair expenses.

 

Kinosoo Ridge Opening Depends on Weather – Weather has wreaked havoc on the Kinosoo Ridge Snow Resort opening dates. Unusually warm temperatures pushed back the date to December to enable snowmaking. The facility was ready to open on December 10, but then an extreme cold front moved in. Balmy temperatures are predicted to arrive shortly, with the opening date scheduled for the December 17^th weekend. The Tube Park is ready to go, along with most of the runs off the blue chair. Installation of new Terrain Park rails is underway.

 

Briefly – Council cancelled the December 28 Council Meeting.

 

For more information, contact Diane Jenkinson, Marketing and Communications Manager at 780-826-3171. Our website is a useful way to get the information you need. Visit: www.md.bonnyville.ab.ca Follow us on Facebook and Twitter @MDBville.