Residents in Bonnyville are being reminded to stay on top of bylaws heading into spring, as the Town also celebrates the promotion of Community Peace Officer Wanda Tomm.

Tomm, who has worked in enforcement for 14 years, was recently promoted to Senior Community Peace Officer, a role that will see her supervising incoming officers and helping guide the local program.

“I just received my promotion… it just means that I’m the supervisor senior peace officer, so any incoming peace officers will report to me,” Tomm said.

The promotion comes following additional training, including a university-level leadership program.

“It’s been a lot of hard work… it’s kinda nice to get that recognition,” she added.

Dog complaints on the rise as weather warms up

With warmer weather beginning to arrive, Tomm said the Town is already seeing an increase in dog-related complaints, particularly around barking and animals running at large.

“This time of year… we have excessive barking complaints, lots of dogs at large, things like that,” she said.

Tomm said while occasional barking is expected, ongoing issues can lead to complaints from neighbours.

“A dog that barks five, 10 minutes, probably not the end of the world, but if it’s barking every day at the same time for a long time… that can be a bit annoying for your neighbours.”

There is no set time limit under the bylaw for barking. Instead, the Town relies on a record of disturbance submitted by residents to determine whether the issue is excessive.

“What that does is it gauges a week or two of barking… and then we can make a determination from there,” Tomm explained.

If violations are confirmed, enforcement typically begins with a warning, though repeat offences can lead to fines.

The Town also reminds residents they are limited to three dogs and two cats per property.

Communication between neighbours encouraged

Before filing formal complaints, Tomm said residents are encouraged to try resolving issues directly when possible.

“We just encourage people to communicate with their neighbours too… sometimes that’s all it takes.”

Landfill use and green bin reminders

Speaking from the Bonnyville landfill, Tomm also shared reminders about waste disposal and green bin use.

Residents who miss their scheduled pickup can bring waste to the landfill, but need to clearly identify what they are disposing of.

“If you miss your green bin pickup, you can come out with your garbage, but you need to be sure to tell the scale house that it’s kitchen waste and not household waste,” she said.

Kitchen waste is handled differently and may avoid additional fees.

Don’t overfill bins on pickup day

Tomm also reminded residents that garbage bins must be properly closed to be collected.

“If you are overfilling your garbage or putting things in that you’re not supposed to be putting in, then your garbage can obviously not be picked up.”

Wind can sometimes be a factor, but consistently overfilled bins may result in missed collection.

Extra green bins available for growing households

For households producing more waste, additional green bins are available through Public Works.

Tomm said residents can request a second bin for a $100 one-time fee, along with an additional monthly charge of approximately $10.

Spring cleanup coming after May long weekend

The Town’s annual spring cleanup is expected to return shortly after the May long weekend.

Residents are encouraged to time when they put items out to avoid blocking alleys or roadways.

“Anything too big that’s going to obstruct an alley or interfere with the roadway, don’t put it out right away. Wait until closer to pickup time,” Tomm said.

Recycling changes also on the way

Tomm also noted that blue bins for recycling are expected to roll out in the future as part of a broader provincial initiative to improve waste management.

“I think that’s a good thing… it might actually cut down on the amount of waste people have,” she said.

Growing role for local enforcement

With the promotion and plans to hire additional officers, Tomm said the Town’s CPO program continues to evolve.

The role focuses largely on community-based enforcement, including animal control, bylaw compliance and education.