CPO QUARTERLY REPORT: CPO Wanda Tomm presented the quarterly report to Council and outlined what the Protective Services Department has been up to. From August 2022 to October 2023, Officer Tomm handed out 54 provincial tickets, 46 provincial warnings, 115 bylaw tickets, and 44 bylaw warning tickets. The types of incidents Officer Tomm has investigated includes 138 animal, 114 unsightly properties, 52 garbage, 127 traffic, 28 criminal, and more. Office Tomm has also participated in community events, including the RCMP 150 Year event, RCMP Safe Halloween program, Duclos School’s Remembrance Day Ceremony, Canada Day Parade, among others. Education is a large part of the Protective Services Department. This is done through social media posts as well as content in the Town’s Newsletter.
RCMP ANNUAL UPDATE: Bonnyville RCMP S/Sgt. Sarah Parke presented the annual update to Council. The two main priorities for the local detachment, which has been their focus for the last several years, have been crime reduction and community engagement. When it comes to crimes in the area, motor vehicle thefts are sitting at 155, theft under or over $5,000 is at 387, break and enter to businesses is at 78, and mental health calls is at 152. The Bonnyville RCMP has attended 21 community events so far in their fiscal year, which goes from April to March, and plan to attend another 42. Some events include Remembrance Day ceremonies throughout the community, Day of Mourning, Canada Day Parade, Tim Hortons Camp Day, and more.
NON-RESIDENTIAL TAX INCENTIVE BYLAW: Bylaw No. 1556-23 the Non-Residential Tax Incentive Bylaw passed first reading. This bylaw will aid in attracting investment, development, and substantial redevelopment and expansion of commercial properties in the Town of Bonnyville. The incentives included in this bylaw are 100 per cent multi-year municipal property tax-exemptions or deferrals for non-residential properties for one to three years, 75 per cent for year four, and 50 per cent for year five. If this bylaw passes all three readings, it will be retroactive to Jan. 1, 2023.
BRIEFLY: Council provided first reading to Land Use Amendment Bylaw No. 1557-23, which would remove the requirement for home business permits to be renewed every year. A public hearing for this will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023.
A $500 donation will be made to the Zone II Regional Council of the Metis Nation of Alberta Associations annual Boxing Day Talent Show on Dec. 26, 2023, at the Bonnyville and District Centennial Centre.
Council passed a motion to hold a public auction on March 13, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. at the Town Administration Office for properties who have not paid their property taxes and are on the tax recovery arrears list.