The Council of the Town of Swan River met on Tuesday, December 19, 2023 at 7:00 pm in the Town Council Chambers with Mayor Jacobson presiding along with Deputy Mayor Moriaux and Councillors Bobick, Boychuk, Medwid, Powell, and Whyte.
Absent with Permission:
Also Present:
CAO D. Poole, CFO T. Gnida, Public Works Dir. Harvey, Rec Dir. E. Clouson, Youth Councillor Campama.
Delegation Attendees:
Media: Jeremy Bergen, Star and Times
1. Call meeting to order
Mayor Jacobson called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.
2. Adoption of the Agenda
Resolution No: 2023-0509
Moved By: David Moriaux
Seconded By: Tracy Boychuk
RESOLVED that the amended agenda for the December 19, 2023 regular meeting of Council be adopted.
Carried
3. Confirmation of the minutes
Resolution No: 2023-0510
Moved By: Don Bobick
Seconded By: Tanya Powell
RESOLVED the minutes of the December 5, 2023 regular council meeting be approved.
Carried
4. Reception of Delegations and Hearings
5. Reception of Petitions
Councillor Medwid arrived in meeting at 7:03pm
6. Communications
Moved By: Tanya Powell
Seconded By: Tracy Boychuk
Carried
6.1 To receive SV Veterinary Services District 2024 Budget
Resolution No: 2023-0511
Moved By: Tanya Powell
Seconded By: Don Bobick
RESOLVED that the Swan Valley Veterinary Services District Budget for 2024 be received.
Carried
6.2 To receive letter from Minister Bushie
Resolution No: 2023-0512
Moved By: Duane Whyte
Seconded By: Corinna Medwid
RESOLVED that the letter from the Honourable Ian Bushie, Minister of Municipal and Northern Relations, dated December 6, 2023 regarding Mobility Disadvantaged Transportation Program – 2023 Interim Operating Grant be received.
Carried
6.3 EcoStrat – Letter of Relationship
Resolution No: 2023-0513
Moved By: Tanya Powell
Seconded By: Tracy Boychuk
RESOLVED that the Letter of Relationship from Ecostrat with regards to the Establishing Biomass Supply Chains project be acknowledged and received.
Carried
6.4 To receive building permit applications
Resolution No: 2023-0514
Moved By: Tracy Boychuk
Seconded By: Tanya Powell
RESOLVED that Building and Demolition Permits 67/23 through 69/23 with a total estimated value of $1,205,000 be received.
Carried
6.5 NWRIS – Request for a Letter of Support
Resolution No: 2023-0515
Moved By: Tracy Boychuk
Seconded By: Duane Whyte
RESOLVED that the request for a Letter of Support from North West Regional Immigrant Services Inc. be received.
Carried
6.6 Swan River & District Community Resource Council Inc. – Letter regarding Snow Clearing
Resolution No: 2023-0516
Moved By: Duane Whyte
Seconded By: Tracy Boychuk
RESOLVED that the letter from Swan River & District Community Resource Council Inc. be received.
Carried
7. Reports
7.1 Director of Public Works Report
Resolution No: 2023-0517
Moved By: Tanya Powell
Seconded By: Tracy Boychuk
RESOLVED the Director of Public Works report be received.
Carried
7.2 Recreation – Report
Resolution No: 2023-0518
Moved By: Tracy Boychuk
Seconded By: Duane Whyte
RESOLVED that the report for Recreation be received.
Carried
7.3 Other Reports
7.4 Council and CAO Reports
8. New Business
8.1 Appointment of Youth Council Member
Resolution No: 2023-0519
Moved By: Tanya Powell
Seconded By: Don Bobick
RESOLVED that Dominga Campama be appointed as Youth Council Member for the Town of Swan River, as described in the Organizational By-Law.
Carried
8.2 Council Meeting Video Contract
Resolution No: 2023-0520
Moved By: Duane Whyte
Seconded By: Corinna Medwid
RESOLVED the Chief Administrative Officer accept and sign the contract for Town of Swan River meeting video services for the 2024 year from Mountain Dweller Media.
Carried
8.3 Municipal Office Cleaning Contract
Resolution No: 2023-0521
Moved By: Corinna Medwid
Seconded By: David Moriaux
RESOLVED the Chief Administrative Office sign the Municipal Cleaning Contract with Moonlight Cleaners as per schedule A.
Carried
8.4 Indemnity Policy
Resolution No: 2023-0522
Moved By: Duane Whyte
Seconded By: Corinna Medwid
RESOLVED that the policy regulating the submission and administration of indemnity forms for council be approved.
Carried
8.5 Proceed with New Arena Project Preparations
Resolution No: 2023-0523
Moved By: David Moriaux
Seconded By: Duane Whyte
RESOLVED administration proceed with preparations to advertise for a Design Project Manager for the New Arena Project.
Carried
9. Unfinished Business
10. Accounts
10.1 To approve accounts
Resolution No: 2023-0524
Moved By: Don Bobick
Seconded By: Tracy Boychuk
RESOLVED the accounts as follows be hereby approved for payment:
1. General Account Cheques No. 31033 to No. 31092 totaling $132,131.44 as listed on Schedule A.
2. Payroll Account Cheques No. 5393 to No. 5396 totaling $123,469.90 as listed on Schedule B.
3. Payroll Account Cheques No. 5397 to No. 5399 totaling $16,606.64 as listed on Schedule C.
3. Direct Deposit Payments totaling $29,344.66 as listed on Schedule D.
Carried
10.2 To add unpaid accounts to taxes
Resolution No: 2023-0525
Moved By: Tracy Boychuk
Seconded By: Corinna Medwid
WHEREAS the Town of Swan River used municipal equipment, materials and labour to carry out private works on private property under The Municipal Act clause 250(2)(e), and set the fees and charges for the works under clause 252(1)(a) of The Act;
AND WHEREAS sufficient time has been allowed for payment of such outstanding amounts as listed on the attached Schedule “A” totaling $2.393.69;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT each of the unpaid amounts listed on Schedule “A” be added to the corresponding property tax roll and collected in that manner under subsection 252(2) of The Act;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT notice be sent to each property owner detailing the amounts being added to the taxes and advising that interest will accrue on said amounts in the same manner as for unpaid property taxes effective January 1st, 2024.
Carried
10.3 To adopt the 2024 Interim Operating Budget
Resolution No: 2023-0526
Moved By: Corinna Medwid
Seconded By: David Moriaux
WHEREAS Section 163 of The Municipal Act provides that “A Council may adopt an interim operating budget to have effect only until the Council adopts the operating budget for the fiscal year”;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the following interim operating budget be adopted for the year 2024:
General Operating Requirements:
General Government Services $800,000
Protective Services $1,800,000
Transportation Services $1,000,000
Environmental Health Services $1,000,000
Public Health & Welfare Services $150,000
Regional Planning & Development $40,000
Resource Conservation & Industrial Development $50,000
Recreation & Cultural Services $1,000,000
Water & Sewer Services $1,300,000
Carried
10.4 To transfer to Water and Sewer Reserve
Resolution No: 2023-0527
Moved By: Tracy Boychuk
Seconded By: Corinna Medwid
WHEREAS the 2023 Financial Plan for the Utility Operating Fund included $98,565.00 Transfer to Utility Reserve;
BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that the lesser of $98,565.00, or the Utility Operating Fund Net Operating Surplus for the 2023 fiscal year, be transferred from the Utility Operating Fund to the Water and Sewer Reserve Fund once the 2023 fiscal yearend has been completed.
Carried
10.5 To transfer to Tax Stabilization Reserve
Resolution No: 2023-0528
Moved By: David Moriaux
Seconded By: Tanya Powell
WHEREAS the Town deems it advisable to use any surplus in the General Operating Fund to stabilize property tax increases in future years;
BE IT RESOLVED that an amount equal to the General Operating Fund surplus for the 2023 fiscal year be transferred to the Tax Stabilization Reserve once the 2023 fiscal yearend has been completed.
Carried
11. By-Laws
11.1 Second Reading – Bylaw 6/2023 – Maintain and Regulate Property
Resolution No: 2023-0529
Moved By: David Moriaux
Seconded By: Don Bobick
RESOLVED that By-Law No. 6/2023 being a By-Law of the Town of Swan River to maintain property and to regulate nuisances, derelict, abandoned and unsightly property be read a second time.
Carried
12. Notice of Motion
13. In Camera
RESOLVED that, pursuant to Section 152(3) of the Municipal Act, Council go into Committee and close the meeting to the public.
14. Out of Camera
RESOLVED that pursuant to Sections 152(4) of the Municipal Act this meeting be reopened to the public.
15. Items Arising out of Camera
16. Member Privilege
17. Adjournment
Resolution No: 2023-0530
Moved By: Corinna Medwid
Seconded By: Tanya Powell
RESOLVED that this regular meeting of Council now adjourn at 8:13pm.
Carried