M.D. of Bonnyville Council Highlights June 12, 2019

MUNICIPAL DISTRICT BONNYVILLE NO. 87

COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS June 12, 2019

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

Council Passes Final 2019 Budget And Sets Mill Rates

The Municipal District of Bonnyville Council approved a $132,267,038 balanced 2019 budget, including operating and capital expenditures, on June 5. The total includes provincial school and Lakeland Housing requisitions. Council reduced the Non-residential mill rate to 14.50 from 15.00, bringing the M.D. closer to the 5:1 non-residential/residential mill rate ratio. The Small Business Property Sub- Class (fewer than 50 full-time employees) mill rate is reduced to 13.05 from 13.50, representing a rate 10 percent lower than the non-resident mill rate. The Residential and Farmland mill rates are being held at 2.7663 and 5.000 respectively.

“Reducing the non-residential mill rates, and maintaining the small business sub-class, fulfills a promise made by this Council,” says Reeve Greg Sawchuk. “In the current economic climate, Council wants to help maintain the businesses we have and encourage new businesses to locate in the M.D.”

The 2019 budget will be funded through $76.7 million in municipal taxes, $10.6 million in government grants and contributions, $8.4 million from general revenues, such as fees, equipment replacement programs, and reserves. A further $36.6 million will come from transfers from surplus (reserve funds carried over from projects and funds remaining from previous years’ budgets). This year the M.D. is investing $53 million in capital projects (roads, equipment replacement, trails, and buildings).

“Council is continuing to take a conservative path to ensure that the M.D. maintains a competitive business environment,” says Sawchuk. “Once again, Council has decreased the non- residential mill rate, bringing the M.D. closer to the 5:1 non-residential/residential mill rate ratio mandated by the provincial government and we have kept the small business property sub-class in place. Council believes that it will not significantly impact M.D. operations to achieve the ratio without raising the residential mill rate. By looking for efficiencies in our budget, Council intends to achieve the 5:1 ratio in 2020.”

Fort Kent and Ardmore Fire Halls Proceeding

On June 5 Council approved the submitted site plans and blueprints for the Fort Kent and Ardmore fire halls, allowing the architect to proceed to develop final detailed design and releasing the tender. The intent is to have the wall sections facing the Iron Horse Trail look like train stations, with room for an inviting short rest stop. The final design will be brought before Council for approval.

Improving The Health Of Moose Lake

Council agreed on June 5 to reallocate the $50,000 that was approved for the purchase of qPCR equipment (a DNA machine that helps figure out what species of algae are present in a lake) in order to proceed with an internal phosphorous study of Moose Lake. The Moose Lake Watershed Society will use the results of the study to identify a baseline for the lake, and then move forward with remediation proposals.

The study will be conducted by Algae Control Canada. The data collected from the 14 sediment core samples will be directly utilized in the total phosphorous budget report by Associated Environmental, which is being funded by the Lakeland Industry & Community Association (LICA). Council directed administration to work with the Moose Lake Watershed Society to develop a Regional Business Plan for the qPCR equipment to offset costs of the machine, such as supplies and a trained technician.

Resolution To Reject Bills C-48 and C-69

Council passed a resolution to send to the Canadian Senate asking it to reject Bills C-48 and C-69 without Senate amendments. The resolution reads:

Recognizing the extreme importance of the energy sector to the Bonnyville/Cold Lake region and its significant economic influence in other provinces, the Municipal District of Bonnyville No. 87 Council asks the Government of Canada to develop legislation that will support the energy sector.

The proposed legislation, in the form of Bill C-48 and Bill C-69 without the Senate amendments, will be detrimental to the viability and sustainability of the Bonnyville/Cold Lake area and the large energy sector that operates in the region. Municipal District of Bonnyville No. 87 Council encourage honourable members of the Senate of Canada to defeat Bill C-48, also known as the Oil Tanker Moratorium Act, and to defeat Bill C-69, if they return to the Senate without the amendments originally passed by the Senate. Reeve Greg Sawchuk, and Councillors of the Municipal District of Bonnyville No. 87, will continue their advocacy for the Bonnyville/Cold Lake region in raising concerns about Bills C-48 and C-69 with elected officials.

Transportation and Utilities Update

Council approved an additional 48 kilometres of MG 30 Dust Control for a total of 146 km in the 2019 Dust Control Program (MG 30). The estimated cost of the product will be around $625,000, plus the cost of gravel, water trucks, our manpower and equipment.

The approved budget is $1 million.

Council accepted as information the 2019 Gravelling Map. The total length of roads to be gravelled in 2019 is 211.5 miles, utilizing 42.300 tonnes of gravel. Council requested administration write a letter to Alberta Transportation requesting a study of the integrity of the intersection on the east end of the Town of Bonnyville at Highway 28 and Railway Avenue (by Tim Hortons), as well asking for illuminating lights at the intersection of Highway 55 and the turn off to the Hamlet of Cherry Grove.

Borrowing Bylaw Passed

Council gave Final Reading to Bylaw No. 1706 to approve a total borrowing limit of $150,000 for purchases made by M.D. credit cards. Payments on the credit card will be made monthly by the due date.

Celebrate Parks And Rec Month With A Free Burger

Council declared June Parks and Recreation Month with the theme “Take A Hike”. The M.D. will be celebrating with a Barbecue at Vezeau Beach Campground on Friday, June 21 at noon.

Planning and Development News

Final Reading was given to Bylaw No. LU 571 to rezone Plan 092 4820 Block 1 Lots 1 & 2 of Part NW 16-63-3-W4M from Agriculture “A” to Rural Industrial “RI” to allow the applicant to construct an additional 8,000 square foot shop on Lot 2. First Reading was given to three Intermunicipal Development Plan (IDP) Bylaws with neighbouring municipalities: Bylaw No. 1712 – IDP with the Village of Glendon, Bylaw No. 1713 – IDP with Summer Village of Pelican Narrows and Bylaw No. 1714 – IDP with Summer Village of Bonnyville Beach.

Joint Energy Use Grant Application

Council supported submitting a joint grant application, with the City of Cold Lake and the Village of Glendon, to the Municipal Climate Change Action Centre (MCCAC) Municipal Energy Manager Program to hire a Municipal Energy Manager. The Town of Bonnyville is not able to partner at this time, but they can choose to join later. The position will assist the municipalities develop an energy management plan, find energy saving opportunities and lead energy and Green House Gas reduction projects.

Funding Support

Council agreed to waive the rental fees for livestock panels and picnic tables for the Bonnyville Agricultural Society’s Professional Rodeo on June 14 and 15.

Briefly

Council cancelled the July 17 and August 21 Committee meetings. Councillor Ben Fadeyiw was appointed to the Cold Lake Public Library Board. On June 5 Council adopted Policy No. 10.11.03 – Councillor, committee and Board Member Meeting Attendance. The policy provides guidelines in regard to meeting and function attendance on behalf of the municipality. Council approved one Councillor to attend the two-day Biomass Energy Tour at the end of June in Kansas City, USA.

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 at facebook.com/MDBonnyville, Instagram @mdbonnyville and Twitter @MDBville.