Town of Bonnyville Council Highlights

Town of Bonnyville

Council Highlights

Regular Council Meeting

September 28 & October 5

 

FINAL MEETING

Council’s Oct. 12 meeting marked the last for the current Mayor and three Councillors. Administration took a moment to recognize the long-serving members who were retiring from Municipal Council. Mayor Gene Sobolewski sat on council for 17 years and Coun. Ray Prevost had a total of 25 years on Town Council. Coun. Lorna Storoschuk had 20 consecutive years as a Councillor while Coun. Rene Van Babrant had 23 consecutive years under his belt.

66^TH ST. TRAIL PROJECT

Council awarded Phase C of the 66^th St. Trail to E-Construction for the amount of $749,324 during their Oct. 5 Special Meeting. The 2021 Capital Budget included Phase A and B to extend the trail to the dog park, with the remaining portion that would go to Gurneyville Road was budgeted for 2022. The original budget for the first two phases of the project were $1.08-million and was awarded for $480,200, which was 64 per cent under budget. The favourable construction conditions through the West wetland, combined with unusually dry conditions this year, are a few reasons for the preferred pricing. Costs for Phase C came in at $749,324 and that brought the whole project budget to $1,229,524. With a $30,000 contingency in place, the project total comes to $1,259,524. That is $172,442 over the budgeted amount for the work that would happen in 2021. Phase C was originally budgeted to be completed in 2022 for $600,000. Due to cost savings, that amount can now be used for other capital projects.

DELEGATIONS

The Sept. 28 meeting marked the first for this year that saw local groups and non-profits make presentations to Council requesting financial assistance for the upcoming year. The Bonnyville Curling Club requested continued funding of $20,000. The Bonnyville and Distract SPCA asked Council to continue funding their ‘much needed’ services with an annual grant of $50,000. The Bonnyville Jr. A Pontiacs also had a representative join the meeting via Zoom, where they asked Council to continue to provide $15,000 to be part of the Community Ambassador Program that allows the team to lower ticket prices and to donate tickets to the Dove Centre. There will be more presentations in the coming weeks at future meetings.

DELEGATIONS PT. 2

Council’s Oct. 12 regular meeting saw six more groups attend via Zoom to put in their requests for financial assistance from the municipality. The Bonnyville Primary Care Network requested continued support of $25,000 for the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Collaboration, in addition to an ask of $50,000 to go towards a Youth Hub in the Bonnyville area called the Hive. The Bonnyville and District Chamber of Commerce requested $34,500, which would go towards the Town’s membership with the Chamber, sponsorships for events hosted by the Chamber, money to operate the visitor information centre, among others. The Cold Lake Air Show asked for $20,000 for the upcoming event, while the Ronald McDonald House Charities asked Council to provide $9,000 to sponsor their 2022 events, including the Winterland Invitational and a golf tournament. The Riverland Recreational Trail Society requested their annual amount of $1,920 and the Bonnyville Friendship Centre requested $35,000 to go towards their Men’s Homeless Shelter.

PONTIACS REQUEST

The Bonnyville Sr. AA Pontiacs requested that during the Oct. 12 meeting that Council be a sponsor for their upcoming season. Administration suggested Council approve the purchase of a quarter page sponsorship in the Sr. Pontiacs Game Day Brochure Program at the cost of $500.

PROCLOMATION

October is Canadian Library Month. The Bonnyville Municipal Library, along with other public and school libraries, add immensely to the culture, creativity, and growth of citizens by promoting and supporting lifelong learning by helping people to access the information and tools they need to live, learn, and work. Communities across Canada are celebrating the important role libraries play in enhancing the quality of life for all Canadians. Mayor Gene Sobolewski declared October 2021 as Canadian Library Month in the Town of Bonnyville.

SUB-CLASS BYLAW PASSED

Council provided second and third reading to the 2022 Residential Assessment and Supplementary Assessment Sub-Class Bylaw during their Sept. 28 meeting. The Bylaw divides the Residential Assessment Class into the following sub classes: Single Family Residential and Multi-Family Residential. The first reading of this bylaw was provided by Council during their Sept. 14 meeting.