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TOWN OF BONNYVILLE
COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
JANUARY 10 & 24
THEATRE FUNDING
A one-time donation of $100,000 was approved by Council to the Clayton Bellamy Foundation for the Arts Theatre to develop a state-of-the-art venue within the Bonnyville Centralized High School (BCHS) gymnasium. Council passed a motion earlier this year to approve the funding subject to the Foundation obtaining the Community Facility Enhancement Program (CFEP) grant, which they just received confirmation their application had been approved. The Interim Capital Budget did include this one-time donation.
WINTERLAND INVITATIONAL
A motion was passed to provide the Ronald McDonald House Charities 2023 Winterland Invitational with an $8,000 Ice Level sponsorship, which is on par with what the Town has contributed in past years. The ask was included in the 2023 Interim Operating Budget, however, as this event is being held before the approval of the final budget. Administration brought it before Council for approval.
LETTERS OF SUPPORT
Council approved a number of letters of support for local organizations. The approvals include ratifying letters of support for the Lakeland Society for Truth and Reconciliation for their application for a federal grant for commemorative activities for the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation 2023, Go East of Edmonton Regional Tourism’s and Alberta Bilingual Municipalities Association’s application for the Northern Regional Economic Develop (NRED) grant. A letter of support was also provided to the MD of Bonnyville for their application for the NRED grant.
LETTER OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT
The Town of Bonnyville will be providing a letter of financial support for the Bonnyville Jr. A Pontiacs’ bid for the 2024 or 2025 National Jr. A Championship bid. Should the bid be successful, the Pontiacs requested a financial commitment from the Town in the amount of $175,000 plus half the cost of the Bonnyville and District Centennial Centre for the 11-day tournament. The total financial commitment from the Town is estimated to be $213,500. The tournament, formally known as the RBC Cup, includes a ten-team format featuring league champions from all nine members of the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) and host team. Administration will include the amount in the 2024 budget to be funded from any surplus from 2022 or 2023 or the General Operating Reserves.
NLLS 2023 LEVY
The 2023 Northern Lights Library Systems (NLLS) 1.5 per cent levy increase was approved by Council. The Town contributes annually to the NLLS based on a levy calculated using municipal populations. In 2022, the municipality paid $36,196.83 based on a population of 6,921 at $5.23 per capita. The population used in this calculation was the 2016 population figures.
AIRPORT BYLAWS REPEALED
Council provided three readings to Bylaw No. 1544-23, a bylaw to repeal Bylaw No. 686, which established an airport commission for the purpose of constructing and operating the Bonnyville Municipal Airport, and Bylaw No. 1091-95, a bylaw to authorize the operation of the Bonnyville Regional Airport and to establish fees and charges for the Bonnyville Regional Airport. This was done as both were obsolete, as the MD of Bonnyville purchased the Bonnyville Regional Airport in December 2020.
BRIEFLY
Members of Council will be attending the St. John’s United Church’s Hawaiian Luau Event on Feb. 25. The $80 ticket cost will be funded from the Council Receptions and Public Relations Budget.
A $250 donation was approved for the Lakeland Jaguars to go towards the U18 Female B Hockey Alberta Provincial Championship that’s being held in Cold Lake at the Energy Centre from March 30 to April 2, 2023.
After discussions regarding an Electric Vehicle Charging Station funding program that would only cover 46 percent of the total costs to install a station, Council decided to hold off on this project and to have the Administration look into other programs that would cover more of the costs.
The Bonnyville Curling Rink’s request to use $25,000 from their reserves to assist with increased utility costs and the impacts from being closed for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic was approved.
