TOWN OF BONNYVILLE
COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS
REGULAR MEETING NOVEMBER 8
RCMP QUARTERLY UDPATE: Bonnyville RCMP S/Sgt. Sarah Parke presented the RCMP Quarterly update to Council. She outlined the two main priorities for the local detachment, which have been their focus for the past several years, Crime Reduction and Community Engagement. According to S/Sgt. Parke, a big part of what any RCMP Detachment does is Community Engagement. They have gone to local community events, such as flag raising ceremonies, Powwow Grand Entries and Treaty Days in Kehewin, activities at local schools, among others. So far in the RCMP’s fiscal year (April to March) has seen 116 vehicle thefts, 305 cases of theft under or over $5,000, and 82 cases for possession of stolen property under or over $5,000. Hot spot patrols and proactive patrols are two things that are very consistent for most of Bonnyville’s night patrols.
MUNICIPAL ENFORCEMENT QUARTERLY UPDATE: Town of Bonnyville’s Community Peace Officer Wanda Tomm presented her first quarterly update during the Council Meeting. Officer Tomm started at the Town in August 2022. Since then, she has dealt with 193 complaints that range from unsightly properties to dogs at large to noise complaints. Officer Tomm’s ongoing plans for enforcement include patrolling school zones and crosswalks, handing out warnings to residents regarding their snow-covered walkways, building the Community Peace Officer program at the Town, among others.
SUPPORT: Council passed a motion to support a letter for the Northeast Mayors, Reeves, and Indigenous Leaders’ Caucus call to action regarding Hwy. 28 Improvements. The Northeast Mayors, Reeves, and Indigenous Leaders’ Caucus is a recent initiative with the goal of encouraging Elected Officials from Northeastern Alberta to meet and discuss items of mutual concern. The condition of Hwy. 28 was a topic of discussion during the Caucus’ October 2022 meeting. Specifically, traffic safety issues, lack of passing lanes east of Hwy. 63, the importance of Hwy. 28 corridor to the Oil and Gas industry, the need for upgrades and improvements, among others.
OTHER: A letter of support was ratified by Council in support of the Bonnyville Senior Citizens Society for a New Horizons Senior Grant, which would be used to replace the existing lighting in the Seniors Hall to LED lighting.
After receiving the APEX Utilities distribution revenue forecast and 2023 franchise fee, Council maintained the current rate and directed administration to advise APEX Utilities that they don’t wish to amend the annual franchise fee percentage for 2023.
Council approved the reallocation of funds in the 2022 Capital Budget for a Tourism Strategy in the amount of $50,000 to an Economic Development Strategy and include funds for a Tourism Strategy in the 2024 Capital Budget.