The Council of the Town of Swan River met on Tuesday, December 3, 2024 at 7:00 pm in the Town Council Chambers with Mayor Jacobson presiding along with Deputy Mayor Moriaux and Councillors Boychuk, Medwid, Powell and Whyte.
Absent with Permission: Councillor Bobick
Also Present:
CAO D. Poole, CFO T. Gnida, Public Works Dir. D. Harvey, Rec Dir. E. Clouson
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: 2024-0600
Moved By: Tanya Powell
Seconded By: Duane Whyte
RESOLVED that the agenda for the December 3, 2024 regular meeting of Council be adopted.
Carried
3. Confirmation of the minutes
Resolution No: 2024-0601
Moved By: Tracy Boychuk
Seconded By: Tanya Powell
RESOLVED the minutes of the November 19, 2024 regular council meeting be approved.
Carried
4. Reception of Delegations and Hearings
5. Reception of Petitions
6. Communications
6.1 Letter from Manitoba Justice
Resolution No: 2024-0602
Moved By: David Moriaux
Seconded By: Tracy Boychuk
RESOLVED that the letter from Manitoba Justice Public Safety Division dated November 19, 2024 regarding the 2024/25 Urban Police Grant be received.
Carried
7. Reports
7.1 Director of Public Works Report
Resolution No: 2024-0603
Moved By: Tanya Powell
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 Customs Broker Power of Attorney
Resolution No: 2024-0604
Moved By: Tracy Boychuk
Seconded By: Duane Whyte
RESOLVED that Chief Administrative Officer Derek Poole be authorized to sign, and Mayor Lance Jacobson be authorized to certify, the Border Brokers Direct Importer to Customs Broker Power of Attorney.
Carried
8.2 To set 2025 tax sale auction date
Resolution No: 2024-0605
Moved By: Tracy Boychuk
Seconded By: Duane Whyte
WHEREAS Section 365(2) of The Municipal Act provides that Council may in any year designate the immediately preceding year, or any earlier year, as the year for which properties, the taxes in respect of which are in arrears for the year, must be offered for sale by auction to recover the tax arrears and costs;
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Designated Year for which properties in arrears be offered for sale by auction, be 2024 (meaning all properties with outstanding taxes from the year 2023 or prior); and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT in accordance with Section 363(1) of the Municipal Act, “costs” shall be the actual costs incurred for each parcel listed for the 2025 tax sale plus an administration fee of $50.00 (as set forth in Manitoba Regulation 50/97); and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the 2025 tax sale be held Wednesday, September 10th, 2025 at 2:00 pm in the Town of Swan River Committee Room and that Taxervice be hired to manage the Tax Sale for the Town during the Fiscal Year 2025.
Carried
8.3 911 Service Agreement- updated schedule A (2025)
Resolution No: 2024-0606
Moved By: Tracy Boychuk
Seconded By: David Moriaux
WHEREAS the Town of Swan River approved a service agreement with the City of Brandon for 911 services on September 21st, 2018, and
WHEREAS the fee for service is listed on an attached schedule A that is updated each fall season for services the following year,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED the updated Schedule A, consisting of the increases in fees for the 2025 service year, replacing the previous years Schedule A, be received.
Carried
8.4 Snow Removal Agreement
Resolution No: 2024-0607
Moved By: Duane Whyte
Seconded By: Tanya Powell
RESOLVED that the Snow Removal Agreement with Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure be signed.
Carried
Table Boychuk: Motion to table. No Result Point of Order Medwid: Can mover Table *No Decision by Chair Withdrawn Boychuk: Withdrew Motion to Table Table Whyte: Motion to table. Powell: Seconded Vote Result: Carried Carried
8.5 Truck Purchase
Moved By: Tracy Boychuk
Seconded By: Duane Whyte
RESOLVED that The Town of Swan River purchase a 2018 Chev Silverado from Swan River’s Key Chevrolet Buick GMC Inc. for $23,490 plus applicable taxes.
Tabled
8.6 Procure Duboff Edwards Schachter
Resolution No: 2024-0608
Moved By: David Moriaux
Seconded By: Tanya Powell
WHEREAS it is general practice the Town of Swan River hire the services of an experienced labour Lawyer for the duration of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Town and CUPE local 851, and
WHEREAS the Town of Swan River has a excellent working relationship with Duboff Edwards Schachter, who have positively represented the Town multiple times in past negotiations,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED the Town of Swan River procure the services of Duboff Edwards Schachter for the purposes of collective bargaining as per schedule A attached.
Carried
9. Unfinished Business
10. Accounts
10.1 To approve accounts
Resolution No: 2024-0609
Moved By: Duane Whyte
Seconded By: David Moriaux
RESOLVED the accounts as follows be hereby approved for payment:
1. General Account Cheques No. 32281 to No. 32315 totaling $178,380.72 as listed on Schedule A.
2. Payroll Account Cheques No. 5514 to No. 5517 totaling $114,050.41 as listed on Schedule B.
3. Direct Deposit Payments totaling $825.00 as listed on Schedule C.
4. Direct Deposit Payments totaling $15,569.95 as listed on Schedule D.
Carried
10.2 To add unpaid accounts to taxes
Resolution No: 2024-0610
Moved By: Tracy Boychuk
Seconded By: Tanya Powell
WHEREAS the Town of Swan River has issued penalties to owners of properties for violating By-Law 6/2023 that The Municipal Act subclause 236(1)(b)(iii) provides may be collected in any manner in which a tax may be collected or enforced under the Act;
AND WHEREAS sufficient time has been allowed for payment of such outstanding amounts as listed on the attached Schedule “A” totaling $600.00;
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;
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, 2025.
Carried
10.3 To approve assessment alterations
Resolution No: 2024-0611
Moved By: Tracy Boychuk
Seconded By: David Moriaux
WHEREAS Section 326 of The Municipal Act provides that a municipality may impose supplementary taxes, and Subsection 300(6) provides 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 November 21st be made to the 2024 Property Tax Roll, with the resulting increase of $34.93.
Carried
10.4 To adopt the October 2024 financial statements
Resolution No: 2024-0612
Moved By: Tracy Boychuk
Seconded By: Tanya Powell
RESOLVED the Financial Statements for the Ten Months Ending October 31st, 2024 be adopted as received.
Carried
11. By-Laws
12. Notice of Motion
13. Member Privilege
14. In Camera
RESOLVED that, pursuant to Section 152(3) of the Municipal Act, Council go into Committee and close the meeting to the public.
15. Out of Camera
RESOLVED that pursuant to Sections 152(4) of the Municipal Act this meeting be reopened to the public.
16. Items Arising out of Camera
17. Adjournment
Resolution No: 2024-0613
Moved By: Corinna Medwid
Seconded By: Tracy Boychuk
RESOLVED that this regular meeting of Council now adjourn at 8:09 pm.
Carried