The Council of the Town of Swan River met on Tuesday, December 17, 2024 at 7:00 pm in the Town Council Chambers with Mayor Jacobson presiding along with Deputy Mayor Moriaux and Councillors Bobick, Boychuk, Powell and Whyte.
Absent with Permission: Councillor Medwid
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: 2024-0619
Moved By: Duane Whyte
Seconded By: Don Bobick
RESOLVED that the agenda for the December 17, 2024 regular meeting of Council be adopted.
Carried
3. Confirmation of the minutes
Resolution No: 2024-0620
Moved By: Tracy Boychuk
Seconded By: Tanya Powell
RESOLVED the minutes of the December 3, 2024 regular council meeting be approved.
Carried
4. Reception of Delegations and Hearings
5. Reception of Petitions
6. Communications
6.1 Municipal and Northern Relations Bulletin re Short-Term Rental Properties
Resolution No: 2024-0621
Moved By: Tanya Powell
Seconded By: Tracy Boychuk
RESOLVED that the Municipal and Northern Relations Bulletin #2024-27 re Change in Assessment Classification of Short-Term Rental Properties be received.
Carried
6.2 To receive building and demolition permit applications
Resolution No: 2024-0622
Moved By: Don Bobick
Seconded By: Duane Whyte
RESOLVED that Demolition Permit 52/24 and Building Permit 53/24 an estimated value of $1,500,000 be received.
Carried
7. Reports
7.1 Director of Public Works Report
Resolution No: 2024-0623
Moved By: Tanya Powell
Seconded By: Don Bobick
RESOLVED the Director of Public Works report be received.
Carried
7.2 Recreation – Press Release – Pool Issues
Resolution No: 2024-0624
Moved By: Duane Whyte
Seconded By: Tracy Boychuk
RESOLVED that the Recreation Press Release regarding the Pool Repair Issues be received.
Carried
7.3 Handivan Report
Resolution No: 2024-0625
Moved By: Tracy Boychuk
Seconded By: Tanya Powell
RESOLVED the November 2024 Swan River Handi-Transit Van Report be received.
Carried
7.4 Council and CAO Reports
8. New Business
8.1 Airport Commission 2025 Budget
Resolution No: 2024-0626
Moved By: Don Bobick
Seconded By: Duane Whyte
RESOLVED that the Swan Valley Municipal Airport Commission 2025 budget be accepted as received.
Carried
8.2 Appointment of Screening Officer(s)
Resolution No: 2024-0627
Moved By: Duane Whyte
Seconded By: David Moriaux
WHEREAS The Municipal By-law Enforcement Act, C.C.S.M. c. M245 permits the establishment of an administrative penalty scheme for Municipalities to enforce their Bylaws;
AND WHEREAS the Act and our Bylaw requires that a Screening Officer be appointed to review and make decisions with regards to any screening requests;
RESOLVED that the Chief Administrative Officer, and the Municipal Lead Hand, be appointed as Screening Officers under the current Penalty Notice Scheme for all contraventions listed under Schedule A of the Enforcement Bylaw except for contraventions of the Structure Standard Bylaw;
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council for the Town of Swan River be appointed as Screening Officer for offenses under the Structure Standard Bylaw.
Carried
8.3 Swan Lake Watershed District- 2025 appointments
Resolution No: 2024-0628
Moved By: Duane Whyte
Seconded By: Tanya Powell
WHEREAS the Town of Swan River is a contributing member of the Swan Lake Watershed District, which is overseen by the Sub-District Board, and
WHEREAS contributing municipalities are required to appoint two new or existing individuals, one being a member of council, one being a member of the public who is a ratepayer within our municipality,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED the Town of Swan River appoint Don Bobick, Councillor of the Town of Swan River, and Jason Delaurier, ratepayer within the Town of Swan River, to the Swan Lake Watershed Sub-District Board for the year 2025.
Carried
8.4 Lobby Effort- Federal Government-Municipal Consideration
Resolution No: 2024-0629
Moved By: Duane Whyte
Seconded By: Don Bobick
WHEREAS the Town of Swan River appreciates the services provided by our RCMP officers and the hard work they do, and supports the RCMP right to collective bargaining, upheld by the Supreme Court of Canada, and
WHEREAS the Federal Government is negotiating on behalf of municipalities without representation, and during the first and second negotiations municipalities were not considered or consulted, leaving a 23.7% retroactive pay and a $2,500 bonus for frontline officers to be paid without warning by municipalities, which are the only level of government that is legally not allowed to run a deficit, and
WHEREAS the federal government is failing to properly inform, update, and consult with municipal leaders in their negotiation process,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED Town of Swan River request by letter that the Federal Government Chief Negotiator advocate for all municipal contract partners and negotiate a deal that takes municipal fiscal circumstances into consideration, and attempt to bargain for a long-term deal to gain certainty in our budgeting processes.
Carried
8.5 Approve Video Contract – Mountain Dweller Media
Resolution No: 2024-0630
Moved By: Tanya Powell
Seconded By: David Moriaux
RESOLVED the Chief Administrative Officer be authorized to sign the Video Services Contract with Mountain Dweller Media as per attached Schedule “A”.
Carried
9. Unfinished Business
9.1 2025 Fee Schedule
Resolution No: 2024-0631
Moved By: David Moriaux
Seconded By: Tracy Boychuk
RESOLVED the Fee Schedule for 2025 be received and approved.
Carried
9.2 Class 2A Truck
Resolution No: 2024-0632
Moved By: David Moriaux
Seconded By: Don Bobick
RESOLVED that The Town of Swan River purchase a 2018 F150 from Formo Motors Ltd. for $31,999 plus applicable taxes.
Carried
10. Accounts
10.1 To approve accounts
Resolution No: 2024-0633
Moved By: Tracy Boychuk
Seconded By: Tanya Powell
RESOLVED the accounts as follows be hereby approved for payment:
1. General Account Cheques No. 32317 to No. 32351 totaling $28,088.90 as listed on Schedule A.
(Cheque No. 32316 was used for payroll Cheque No. P5514.)
(Cheque No. 32324 was voided as invoice was paid by Town Visa.)
2. Payroll Account Cheques No. 5518 to No. 5522 totaling $99,088.76 as listed on Schedule B.
3. Direct Deposit Payments totaling $1,484.11 as listed on Schedule C.
Carried
10.2 To approve assessment alterations
Resolution No: 2024-0634
Moved By: Tracy Boychuk
Seconded By: Don Bobick
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 December 13th be made to the 2024 Property Tax Roll, with the resulting increase of $27.52.
Carried
10.3 To approve contribution to Swan Valley RISE
Resolution No: 2024-0635
Moved By: Duane Whyte
Seconded By: Don Bobick
RESOLVED that the 2024 Swan Valley Regional Initiative for a Strong Economy contribution in the amount of $17,627.02 be approved for payment once the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023 and the budget for the year ending December 31, 2024 have been received.
Carried
10.4 To approve annual grant to Chamber of Commerce
Resolution No: 2024-0636
Moved By: David Moriaux
Seconded By: Tracy Boychuk
RESOLVED that Council authorize payment of the annual grant of $8,000.00 to the Swan Valley Chamber of Commerce, to be used towards the Chamber’s projects and operations, once the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023 have been received.
Carried
10.5 To transfer to Crime Prevention Reserve
Resolution No: 2024-0637
Moved By: Tanya Powell
Seconded By: Duane Whyte
WHEREAS the 2024 Financial Plan budgeted amount for Protective Services – Police included $180,000.00 for a planned RCMP GIS Unit;
AND WHEREAS no expenditures have been made in 2024 as the GIS Unit has not yet been established;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that $180,000.00 be transferred from the General Operating Fund to the Crime Prevention Reserve Fund to be used in a future year for expenditures incurred for the RCMP GIS Unit.
Carried
10.6 To transfer to Water and Sewer Reserve
Resolution No: 2024-0638
Moved By: David Moriaux
Seconded By: Duane Whyte
WHEREAS the 2024 Financial Plan for the Utility Operating Fund included $12,820.00 Transfer to Utility Reserve;
BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that the lesser of $12,820.00, or the Utility Operating Fund Net Operating Surplus for the 2024 fiscal year, be transferred from the Utility Operating Fund to the Water and Sewer Reserve Fund once the 2024 fiscal yearend has been completed.
Carried
10.7 To transfer to Recreation Facilities Reserve
Resolution No: 2024-0639
Moved By: Tracy Boychuk
Seconded By: David Moriaux
WHEREAS the 2024 Financial Plan Capital Budget included $45,000.00 Borne by General Fund for Centennial Arena roof repair;
AND WHEREAS such repair was able to be done at a nominal cost of only $712.00;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that $45,000.00 be transferred from the General Operating Fund to the Recreation Facilities Reserve Fund to be used for future recreation facilities capital projects.
Carried
10.8 To transfer to Tax Stabilization Reserve
Resolution No: 2024-0640
Moved By: Duane Whyte
Seconded By: Tracy Boychuk
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 2024 fiscal year be transferred to the Tax Stabilization Reserve once the 2024 fiscal yearend has been completed.
Carried
10.9 To adopt the 2025 Interim Operating Budget
Resolution No: 2024-0641
Moved By: David Moriaux
Seconded By: Don Bobick
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 2025:
General Operating Requirements:
General Government Services $900,000
Protective Services $2,000,000
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 $70,000
Recreation & Cultural Services $1,000,000
Water & Sewer Services $1,300,000
Carried
11. By-Laws
11.1 First Reading – Bylaw 19/2024 (Indemnity Bylaw)
Resolution No: 2024-0642
Moved By: David Moriaux
Seconded By: Don Bobick
RESOLVED that By-Law No. 19/2024 being a By-Law of the Town of Swan River to authorizing the payment of remuneration to members of Council be read a first time.
Carried
12. Notice of Motion
13. Member Privilege
14. In Camera
Resolution No: 2024-0643
Moved By: Don Bobick
Seconded By: Tanya Powell
RESOLVED that, pursuant to Section 152(3) of the Municipal Act, Council go into Committee and close the meeting to the public. Items to be discussed:
– Pool Lawsuit
Carried
14.1 Legal
15. Out of Camera
Resolution No: 2024-0644
Moved By: Don Bobick
Seconded By: David Moriaux
RESOLVED that pursuant to Sections 152(4) of the Municipal Act this meeting be reopened to the public.
Carried
16. Items Arising out of Camera
17. Adjournment
Resolution No: 2024-0645
Moved By: David Moriaux
Seconded By: Tracy Boychuk
RESOLVED that this regular meeting of Council now adjourn at 8:52 pm.
Carried