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MUNICIPAL DISTRICT BONNYVILLE NO. 87
COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS June 13, 2018
Keeping you informed of the services, business and development that affect YOU!
#1 Lessard Bridge Approved For Repair – Municipal District of Bonnyville Council agreed to proceed with the engineering for the repair of Bridge File 9595 (Lessard Bridge). The engineering consultants have started work on the schedule for the repair of the bridge and estimate an engineering budget of $150,000. Repair costs are estimated at $900,000. The M.D. will now enter into a 60-day window for environmental studies, with the expectation to be out to tender at the beginning of September and completion of repairs at the end of December
#2 Kinosoo Ridge Master Plan Open Houses – The public is invited to the Kinosoo Ridge Master Plan Open Houses on June 19 and 20 to hear more about plans for Kinosoo Ridge, including the future of the Green Chair, an adventure park and the possibility of turning Kinosoo Ridge into a year-round destination. The first open house will be held at the Ardmore Community Hall June 19 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. There will be a formal presentation at 6 p.m. The second open house will be held at Beantrees Café in Cold Lake on June 20, also from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. For more information, contact Chris McCord, Director of Parks, Recreation and Culture at 780-826-3972.
#3 Bonnyville Household Toxic Round-Up – The Bonnyville Household Toxic Round-Up is being held on Saturday, June 23 at the Bonnyville Regional Fire Hall, 4407-50 Avenue, from 10a.m. to 2 p.m. The M.D. will supply two to three staff members to help out during the collection of hazardous waste, as well as supplying the cardboard recycling bins and waste bins.
#4 Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) Open House Dates – The Crime Prevention Officer has completed the majority of community hall meetings. While the turnout has been low at most of the meetings, residents that do come out are positive about the program and focused on dealing with crime in our area. La Corey area residents recognized the M.D. for its efforts, stating they are seeing patrol cars on their roads more often over the last few months. They asked for more hours into the night and early morning. Officer Dan Hansen has booked and completed multiple CPTED assessments in Cherry Grove, Ardmore, Sandy Rapids and La Corey areas. Remaining Open House dates are: Fort Kent – June 19 and Ardmore – June 21.
#5 New Fire Halls Move Ahead – Council agreed to take $129,450 from reserves for the design and engineering of the new Fort Kent and Ardmore Fire Stations. Council also passed a motion to approve up to $250,000 from reserves for the acquisition of two lots in the hamlets from Northeast Muni-Corr Ltd. The fire halls are an accelerated project that were not contemplated in the 2018 budget. The buildings will be based on the design used in the construction of the La Corey Fire Hall.
#6 Muriel Lake Trail Open For Day Use Horse Riders – Signage has been ordered for Muriel Lake trail riding. An application has been submitted to Alberta Environment and Parks to establish camping stalls in the upper parking lot. Until approval is received, the M.D. will allow day use riders, including a spot to dispose of manure and a watering tank.
#7 Parks, Recreation and Culture News – Online reservations began on June 11 for Muriel, Minnie and Crane Lake Parks. Cold Lake M.D. Park will go online at the beginning of August. In 2019, all campgrounds will be online at campreservations.ca. The boat launch at Birch Grove has been cleaned up. The cement blocks were removed and gravel was added to the road leading to the launch, filling in a washed out area. A holding tank will be installed at the Muriel Lake M.D. Park shower house as an assessment indicated the septic field has collapsed. Staff are continuing with mowing and making improvements to the Muriel Lake and Fort Kent ball diamonds. Parks is applying to put in an approach to the Willow Ridge playground to allow staff to unload mowers by the park, rather than the road. The Recreation Committee was reestablished to advise Council on planning, future growth and projects. Council appointed Reeve Greg Sawchuk and Councillors Marc Jubinville and Darcy Skarsen. Council agreed to transfer two pieces of equipment from Transportation and Utilities to the Parks, Recreation and Culture Department as they are scheduled for replacement. The Case MX120 Tractor Unit, valued at $40,000, was scheduled for replacement as it was undersized for its current use. The Vermeer BC935 Brush Chipper, valued at $5,000, was scheduled for replacement as the brushing crews utilize a larger unit for the volume of work that is being done on our roadways.
#8 Agriculture and Waste Update – With the heavy rains in parts of the M.D., crews have been out continually blasting beaver dams and opening up culverts. The M.D. is receiving multiple calls a week regarding the busy beavers. The M.D. is asking residents to assist in the eradication of the animals on their property as staff are overwhelmed with the requests. The threat to our lakes for Zebra Mussels has increased in the past couple of years. Lakes in Manitoba have high infestation levels, so the M.D. is urging residents to check their boats and leave the drain plugs out when they travel. The M.D. has two trained inspectors that are able to identify the invasive species. The M.D. is asking residents to take precautions when purchasing a boat from out-of-province or using your own boat from other areas of Canada or the U.S. The M.D. is in its second week of mowing roadsides and subdivisions. The subdivision mowers are working in Ward 2 and moving towards Ward 6. The large mowers have finished up the La Corey North Resource Road prior to its resurfacing. The mowers are finishing the Iron Horse Trail this week. The goal this year is for the two smaller subdivision mowers to complete the roadside and around stop signs twice this year in the 84 subdivisions. The Roadside Spraying Program is underway with concentrations on brush in the ditch and noxious weeds. Weed inspectors are spraying noxious weeds in industrial sites and Oxeye Daisy areas. Regular weed inspections are being done at all oilfield sites specifically for Scentless Chamomile.
#9 Public Safety Update – Officers responded to a complaint of a suspicious pick up with its licence plate obscured traveling around in the North Shore Heights neighbourhood. The truck departed the subdivision before their arrival. The officers stayed in the Moose Lake area and were able to pull over some potential candidates for traffic violations. Public Safety is asking the province to clean up a section of public land on Marie Lake that is being used to launch boats. Unfortunately users are leaving debris and garbage on the property, which is overflowing onto land adjacent to the access. Officers are patrolling north of Ethel Lake on the weekends to remove cars that are blocking the road. Officers are patrolling the following roads for speeding vehicles: Crane Lake, Ethel Lake, Highway 897, La Corey North Resource Road, Wolf Lake Road, Gurneyville Road, Range Road 492 north of Hwy. 660, Rge. Rd. 474 north of Hwy. 28 and south of Pelican Point campground, Hwy. 892 through and north of Ardmore and Township Road 630 east of Cold Lake. Officers investigated a severe attack by a dog in the Moose Lake area. The victim was bitten five times. The dog was put down by the owner. Officers are investigating Off-Highway Vehicle complaints in the Fort Kent, Moose Lake subdivisions and Crane Lake areas. Officers are patrolling Rge. Rd. 450 south of Fort Kent for trucks that are violating the engine retarder brakes restriction. Officers are patrolling the Beaver River Trestle for vehicle violations. School Resource Officers have completed all their programs for the school year. A review is done by the SROs and the Director of Public Safety to discuss which programs and sessions need updating and what tasks they will complete during the summer.
#10 Transportation and Utilities Update – The Road Construction Crew is currently working on Twp. Rd. 605 from Rge. Rds. 440 to 442. When finished, they will move to Twp. Rd. 630. The Road Oiling Crew is working on Rge. Rd. 470, north of Twp. Rd. 622. The Rip and Relay Crew is working on Rge. Rd. 485, south of Secondary Highway 660. The Paving Crew is working on Twp. Rd. 611A and will be moving to Rge. Rd. 485 to complete the top lift. The Base Crew is also working on Twp. Rd. 611A. The contractor is scheduled to start the overlay on the La Corey North Resource Road July 2. Work on the Hwy. 28 Trail Crossing has started with traffic restricted to one lane. The work is expected to take one month – as long as the weather cooperates. Construction on Wolf Lake Road will begin on June 19. The contractor has started line replacements on the Ardmore Underground and is working on 49 Street. Council added 300 metres of hill cut for improved drainage on Rge. Rd. 434, north of Twp. Rd. 622, to the 2018 Road Priorities list at an estimated cost of $15,000. Council agreed to take $300,000 from reserves to fix the underground lines and surface work in Connair Crescent in Fort Kent. Council agreed to proceed with the registration of a drainage ditch in the NW 15-61-8 W4M. Once registered, administration will proceed with reviewing the ditch profile and improving the efficiency of the drainage. Tenders for the new waterline between Cold Lake and Bonnyville will be closing between June 14 and 21. Once the total tender costs for the project are established, budget discussions with the province will need to be addressed. Contract gravel haulers have started and are being used for road graveling and hauling asphalt. All four patch trucks are up and running, dealing with emergent issues. A site meeting was held last week on the Rge. Rd. 454 Drainage Project and a local contractor will be completing the work. The Drainage Crew is working on miscellaneous culvert installations that were called in during spring flooding. Consultants have applied to the province for the permit to install a culvert in Hwy. 28 for the work on 47 Avenue in Ardmore. The project will be put out to tender this month. ATCO Electric will be removing two power poles from the alleyway north of 47 Ave. and installing the power underground to allow easier access to the right-of-way for
#11 Planning and Development News – In May, 33 Development Permits were issued, including 31 Residential, one Industrial and one Recreational, with a year-to-date total of $9,206,287. Year-to-date housing starts include 14 Single Family Dwellings and two Mobile Home Units. In May, 47 Plumbing, Gas, Sewer and Electrical Permits were issued. The M.D. has 15 Subdivision Applications to date. Final Reading was given to Bylaw No. 1689 for the Temporary Closure, Occupation and Lease of a Government Road Allowance between the NE 19 and NW 20-62-7-W4M. Final Reading was given to Bylaw LU 565, which would see part of SW 13-63-4-W4M rezoned from Rural Industrial to Agriculture. First Reading was given to Bylaw No. 1691 for the Temporary Closure, Occupation and Lease of a Government Road Allowance E/SE 35-60-4-W4M.
#12 Funding Support – Council approved a $20,000 contribution to the Lakeland Yellow Jackets Track and Field Club to purchase hurdles for the newly completed outdoor track in Bonnyville. Council approved a $750 Community Action Grant for the Crane Lake Advisory and Stewardship Society to host a Canada Day event with a pancake breakfast, beach volleyball tournament and
#13 Briefly – Second Reading of the loan guarantee Bylaw No. 1690 did not pass, therefore the M.D. will not be guaranteeing the loan sought by the Bonnyville and District Recreation Sports Association (Bonnyville Junior A Pontiacs). Council agreed to cancel several committee and Council meetings in the summer. There will be a Council meeting on July 25 and August Council agreed to provide a letter of support to the Bonnyville Senior Citizens Society for their application for a New Horizons for Seniors Grant.
