M.D. of Bonnyville Council Highlights

MUNICIPAL DISTRICT BONNYVILLE NO. 87

COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS February 14, 2018

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

#1 Strategic Priorities Chart Adopted – Municipal District of Bonnyville Council adopted its 2018 Strategic Priorities Chart developed during a two-day planning session at the end of January. There are five priorities Council will tackle immediately, six priorities which will require Council advocacy to the provincial and federal governments and nine priorities that will move into place as the top five are dealt with. The top five priorities include: Overall M.D. Road Priorities Plan and Operational Cost Analysis;

M.D. Recreation Needs; Regional Collaboration; Intermunicipal Collaboration and Natural Gas Accessibility. The Advocacy Priority List includes: Crime Prevention Awareness; Justice System Changes; Methane Gas Emission Regulations; Medical Service Access; ICF Grants and Cold Lake Medical Professional Recruitment. The nine priorities waiting to move into the top five include: plans for an all-season Kinosoo Ridge Snow Resort; regional Economic Development Strategy; review of the Municipal Development Plan; hamlet Area Structure Plans; hamlet growth policies; Tourism Strategy and the three Intermunicipal Collaboration Frameworks (ICFs) for the City of Cold Lake, Town of Bonnyville and the Village of Glendon.

#2 Drainage Project Moves Ahead – M.D. of Bonnyville Council agreed to proceed with a major drainage project on Range Road 454 north of Township Road 622. The estimated budget for the project is $500,000 and the M.D. will utilize some of our own staff to complete most of the work. Neighbouring landowners have been invited to a Public Open House on March 1 at the Bonnyville Centennial Centre. The M.D. received an order from Alberta Environment to repair the erosion caused by the ditch and to control the flow of water down to the Beaver River. Some work needs to be completed prior to spring runoff to avoid further siltation in the

#3 Agriculture And Waste Update – The M.D. and the County of St. Paul are hosting a Clubroot Information Session on February 26 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Flat Lake Hall. The session will include an update on the clubroot situation in the region, as well as the status in the rest of the province. Please call 780-826-3951 to register. The date for the Toxic Round-Up has been set for Saturday, June 23 at the Bonnyville Regional Fire Hall in Bonnyville. The Shelterbelt Program, which opened up on February 1 for orders, has now been sold out. The M.D. ordered 10,000 trees to distribute, with 13 different species available. Over 150 farms and acreage owners placed an order this year. The total expenditure for the Veterinary Services Incorporated (VSI) Program in 2017 came in at

$93,930. The 2018 requisition is for $116,200, including a $10,300 administration fee to run the program. To date, 450 producers are registered in the program. Animals continue to be brought in under the Coyote and Wolf reduction program, with 489 coyotes and 22 wolves accounted for.

#4 Public Safety Report – Officers responded to a number of traffic complaints on the La Corey North Resource Road. The complaints include aggressive driving, stop sign violations, speeding, following too closely and overloaded trucks. Officers also responded to complaints of commercial trucks using LED work lights while driving. One charge was laid. Other trucks have been stopped and checked, with drivers being reminded not to use the lights while other traffic is on the road. Officers have contacted CNRL and Devon regarding the use of these lights by their haulers. Public Safety has also asked the provincial Commercial Vehicle Inspectors to stop trucks on Highway 55. Officers also dealt with debris being dumped on the road, an abandoned vehicle, and a suspicious vehicle parked in Ardmore. School Resource Officers provided the Right Choices Program at St. Dominic’s and Art Smith Aviation Academy, a Body Image presentation at Art Smith and three bullying presentations at Cold Lake High School and Notre Dame Elementary. Ten informal visits were also made. Dog complaints continue to roll in, most were related to stray dogs and one was for a dog barking excessively.

#5 Parks, Recreation and Culture News – Council approved the purchase of a$63,000 tracked Bobcat to be used for tree removal, beach improvements, boat launch repair, wood processing, trail maintenance and campsite improvements. Weather continues to be a challenge at Kinosoo Ridge Snow Resort. While snow conditions are perfect, cold and wind temperatures have caused more closures and school cancellations in the middle of January and the beginning of February. Kinosoo continues to offer programming, and rescheduling schools to accommodate for the cold weather. The Cold Lake Blizzard Blast Race recently drew over 150 racers to the Ridge. The first ski trails were tracked with the new mini-truck at Muriel Lake at the beginning of February. Not to be defeated by the weather, Parks staff are gearing up for summer. The Cold Lake M.D. Park shower house is undergoing renovations, with new walls, shower stalls, concrete floor and upgraded plumbing. Caretaker and summer job postings will be coming up in a few weeks. Discussions have begun with Alberta Parks regarding the French Bay Kinosoo lease renewal.

#6 Planning and Development Statistics – In January, 16 Development Permits were issued, including 13 Residential, and three Recreational, with a year-to-date total of $733,185. Year-to-date housing starts include one Mobile Home Unit. In January, 37 Plumbing, Gas, Sewer and Electrical Permits were issued. The M.D. has three Subdivision Applications to date.

#7 Funding Support – Council agreed to contribute $10,000 to the Shock Trauma Air Rescue Service Foundation (STARS) to assist in providing the highest level of emergency services to rural Alberta. Council agreed to contribute $1,575 to the Cold Lake Ag Society to sponsor a Bronze Spur Package for the 50th Annual Cold Lake Stampede. Council to contribute $500 to the Tuneagers Senior Choir to cover half the cost of bus rental transportation to a provincial music festival in Barrhead. Council agreed to sponsor two teams in the Village of Glendon Pyrogy Bonspiel for the total cost of $250.

#8 Briefly – D. Council approved amendments to the Cold Lake Annexation Agreement to reflect some road clarification changes and the January 1, 2019 date for final presentation to the Municipal Government Board (MGB).