The Council of the Town of Swan River met on Tuesday, March 5, 2024 at 7:00 pm in the Town Council Chambers with Councillor Bobick presiding along with Councillors Boychuk, Medwid, Powell and Whyte.
Absent with Permission: Mayor Lance Jacobson and Deputy Mayor Moriaux
Also Present:
CAO D. Poole, CFO T. Gnida, Public Works Dir. Harvey, Rec Dir. E. Clouson.
Delegation Attendees:
Media: Jeremy Bergen, Star and Times
1. Call meeting to order
Councillor Bobick called the meeting to order at 7:00pm.
Selection of chair: D. Bobick put name forward Boychuk 2nd. D. Bobick voted in as chair
2. Adoption of the Agenda
Resolution No: 2024-0073
Moved By: Duane Whyte
Seconded By: Tracy Boychuk
RESOLVED that the agenda for the March 5, 2024 regular meeting of Council be adopted.
Carried
3. Confirmation of the minutes
Resolution No: 2024-0074
Moved By: Corinna Medwid
Seconded By: Duane Whyte
RESOLVED the minutes of the February 20, 2024 regular council meeting and the February 27, 2024 Swan River Handi Transit Van Committee meeting be approved.
Carried
4. Reception of Delegations and Hearings
5. Reception of Petitions
6. Communications
7. Reports
7.1 Director of Public Works Report
Resolution No: 2024-0075
Moved By: Corinna Medwid
Seconded By: Tracy Boychuk
RESOLVED the Director of Public Works report be received.
Carried
7.2 Other Reports
7.3 Council and CAO Reports
8. New Business
8.1 Swan Valley Planning District 2024 Budget
Resolution No: 2024-0076
Moved By: Tracy Boychuk
Seconded By: Corinna Medwid
RESOLVED that the Swan Valley Planning District 2024 Budget be accepted.
Carried
8.2 To approve payment of the 2024 Swan Valley Planning District levy
Resolution No: 2024-0077
Moved By: Tracy Boychuk
Seconded By: Duane Whyte
RESOLVED that the Swan Valley Planning District 2024 levy of $7,388.26 be approved for payment once the 2023 audited financial statements have been received.
Carried
8.3 Adopt Offboarding Policy
Resolution No: 2024-0078
Moved By: Tracy Boychuk
Seconded By: Duane Whyte
Resolved the Town of Swan River offboarding policy be received and approved as per attached schedule A.
Carried
8.4 Adopt Vacation Restriction Policy
Resolution No: 2024-0079
Moved By: Tracy Boychuk
Seconded By: Corinna Medwid
RESOLVED the CAO – Director of Public Works Vacation restriction policy be received and approved as per schedule A.
Carried
8.5 Swan Valley G.I.S. unit commitment
Resolution No: 2024-0080
Moved By: Tracy Boychuk
Seconded By: Duane Whyte
WHEREAS crime of all types and levels of severity has risen in the Swan River Valley to a point where it is affecting our citizens ability to live, work, and play, and
WHEREAS the Federal Government is charged with creating criminal laws that apply across the country, the Federal government is also responsible for administering the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to enforce Canadian Law, prevent crime, and to maintain peace, order and security, and
WHEREAS the local Swan River RCMP detachment is short on resources needed to effectively enforce Canadian Law, prevent crime, and to maintain peace, order and security, and
WHEREAS the councils of the Swan River Valley believe it incumbent amongst themselves to assist in providing further resources to enforce Canadian Law, prevent crime, and to maintain peace, order, and security within their respective municipalities, and
WHEREAS the councils of the Swan Valley agree in principle to share the cost of these further resources,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED the Town of Swan River support an annual monetary contribution, in accordance to a signed contribution agreement, required to start-up the Swan Valley G.I.S. Unit in collaboration with the Rural Municipality of Mountain, the Rural Municipality of Minitonas-Bowsman, and the Rural Municipality of Swan Valley West.
Carried
8.6 Swan Valley Fire Board 2024 Budget
Resolution No: 2024-0081
Moved By: Tracy Boychuk
Seconded By: Corinna Medwid
RESOLVED that the Swan Valley Fire Board 2024 Budget be accepted.
Carried
8.7 To approve payment of the 2024 Swan Valley Fire Board levy
Resolution No: 2024-0082
Moved By: Duane Whyte
Seconded By: Corinna Medwid
RESOLVED that the Swan Valley Fire Board 2024 levy of $227,112.68 be approved for payment.
Carried
8.8 Fee Schedule 2024 – Amendment to the Recreation Schedule
Resolution No: 2024-0083
Moved By: Corinna Medwid
Seconded By: Tracy Boychuk
RESOLVED the Amended 2024 Fee Schedule with changes to the Recreation Schedule be received and approved.
Carried
Councillor Powell entered meeting 7:47pm
8.9 G4-Fund – Municipal Contribution Proposal
Resolution No: 2024-0084
Moved By: Duane Whyte
Seconded By: Tracy Boychuk
WHEREAS it is the position of the Town of Swan River that the Swan River Valley municipalities must work together in order to provide the most efficient and effective governance on behalf of it’s ratepayers, and
WHEREAS the four Valley Municipalities, known as the G4, when working together on a common goal, and have agreed upon payment structures; have provided the Swan River Vally’s most critical services and infrastructure projects, for example the Airport operations and the production of a CT Scanner within the Swan Valley Health Center, and
WHEREAS the G4 committee has no monetary capabilities,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED the Town of Swan River support an agreement, which details a monetary contribution starting 2025 to the G4 committee with the following conditions for consideration in negotiations:
In order for the contribution to be made, all four municipalities must be included in the binding agreement.
A maximum contribution amount shall be determined, once the fund in dollars meets the maximum contribution amount, there is no further requirement to contribute until the fund is used, triggering a contribution the following year.
The annual contribution amount shall equal 0.3 mills on the municipalities approved tax levy calculation for the contribution year.
Carried
9. Unfinished Business
10. Accounts
10.1 To approve accounts
Resolution No: 2024-0085
Moved By: Tracy Boychuk
Seconded By: Corinna Medwid
RESOLVED the accounts as follows be hereby approved for payment:
1. General Account Cheques No. 31330 to No. 31341 totaling $42,497.42 as listed on Schedule A.
2. Payroll Account Cheques No. 5421 to No. 5425 totaling $120,799.71 as listed on Schedule B.
3. Direct Deposit Payments totaling $785.00 as listed on Schedule C.
4. Direct Deposit Payments totaling $2,198.84 as listed on Schedule D.
Carried
10.2 To approve assessment alterations
Resolution No: 2024-0086
Moved By: Tracy Boychuk
Seconded By: Tanya Powell
WHEREAS Section 326 of The Municipal Act provides that a municipality may impose supplementary taxes, and Subsections 300(6) and 300(6.1) provide that a municipality may cancel or reduce taxes, upon receipt of assessment alterations from Manitoba Assessment Services;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the assessment alterations provided by Manitoba Assessment Services on February 23rd, 2024 be made to the 2024 Property Tax Roll, with the resulting increase being $2,354.57 and the resulting reduction being $1,319.12.
Carried
11. By-Laws
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: 2024-0087
Moved By: Corinna Medwid
Seconded By: Tracy Boychuk
RESOLVED that this regular meeting of Council now adjourn at 8:11pm.
Carried