The Council of the Town of Swan River met on Tuesday, February 18, 2025 at 7:00 pm in the Town Council Chambers with Deputy Mayor Moriaux presiding along with Councillors Bobick, Medwid, Powell, and, Whyte.
Absent with Permission: Mayor Jacobson, Councillor Boychuck
Also Present:
Interim CAO D. Harvey, CFO T. Gnida, Rec Dir. E. Clouson
Media: Jeremy Bergen, Star and Times
1. Call meeting to order
Deputy Mayor Moriaux called the meeting to order at 7:00pm.
2. Adoption of the Agenda
Resolution No: 2025-0064
Moved By: Tanya Powell
Seconded By: Don Bobick
RESOLVED that the agenda for the February 18, 2025 regular meeting of Council be adopted.
Carried
3. Confirmation of the minutes
Resolution No: 2025-0065
Moved By: Don Bobick
Seconded By: Duane Whyte
RESOLVED the minutes of the February 5, 2025 regular council meeting be approved.
Carried
4. Reception of Delegations and Hearings
4.1 Swan Valley Crisis Centre
5. Reception of Petitions
6. Communications
6.1 Municipal and Northern Relations Bulletin #2025-03
Resolution No: 2025-0066
Moved By: Tanya Powell
Seconded By: Don Bobick
RESOLVED THAT Municipal and Northern Relations Bulletin #2025-03 regarding Homeowners Affordability Tax Credit be received.
Carried
6.2 To receive building permit applications
Resolution No: 2025-0067
Moved By: Don Bobick
Seconded By: Duane Whyte
RESOLVED that Building Permits 1/25 and 2/25 with a total estimated value of $1,800 be received.
Carried
7. Reports
7.1 Handivan Report
Resolution No: 2025-0068
Moved By: Tanya Powell
Seconded By: Don Bobick
RESOLVED the January 2025 Swan River Handi-Transit Van Report be received.
Carried
7.2 Council and CAO Reports
8. New Business
8.1 Agreement for payment of tax arrears
Resolution No: 2025-0069
Moved By: Tanya Powell
Seconded By: Don Bobick
RESOLVED that Interim CAO Darren Harvey be authorized to sign the agreement for payment of tax arrears attached hereto as Schedule A.
Carried
8.2 RFQ 1908 – Demolition of 116 3rd Ave S
Resolution No: 2025-0070
Moved By: Duane Whyte
Seconded By: Tanya Powell
RESOLVED that the council award RFQ 1908 to Bordian Contracting Inc.
Carried
8.3 Town of Swan River Signing Officers
Resolution No: 2025-0071
Moved By: Duane Whyte
Seconded By: Tanya Powell
RESOLVED that effective March 3rd, 2025 the signing officers for the Town of Swan River be either Mayor Lance Jacobson or Deputy Mayor David Moriaux, and either Chief Administrative Officer William Tewnion or Chief Financial Officer Terence Gnida.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that cheque signing authority be approved for Councillor Don Bobick only in the absence of both Mayor Lance Jacobson and Deputy Mayor David Moriaux.
Carried
8.4 Appoint Signing Officers for Swan Valley Employment and Training Project
Resolution No: 2025-0072
Moved By: Tanya Powell
Seconded By: Don Bobick
RESOLVED that effective March 3rd, 2025 the signing officers for Swan Valley Employment and Training Project’s accounts at Swan Valley Credit Union be Sarah Sakal, William Tewnion, and Terence Gnida, and that two signatures or online approvals be required for all transactions.
Carried
8.5 Purple Day for Epilepsy Across Manitoba
Resolution No: 2025-0073
Moved By: Duane Whyte
Seconded By: Don Bobick
WHEREAS 1 in 10 people will experience a seizure in their lifetime, with over 23,000 people living with epilepsy/seizure disorder in Manitoba;
AND WHEREAS in 2012, the Government of Canada passed a law identifying March 26th as the officially recognized date for Epilepsy Awareness, Bill C-278, the Purple Day Act;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that March 26, 2025 be declared as Purple Day in the Town of Swan River.
Carried
8.6 SVETP Budget Amendment
Resolution No: 2025-0074
Moved By: Tanya Powell
Seconded By: Don Bobick
WHEREAS the Town of Swan River entered into an agreement with the Province of Manitoba as service provider for the Swan Valley Employment & Training Project for the year from July 1st, 2024 to June 30th 2025;
AND WHEREAS the Province of Manitoba and the Swan Valley Employment & Training Project are requesting some mid-contract wage adjustments;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED amending agreements for the employment training project be approved.
Carried
8.7 Snow Removal Policy
Resolution No: 2025-0075
Moved By: Duane Whyte
Seconded By: Don Bobick
RESOLVED that the Snow Removal Policy dated February 14, 2025 be approved.
Carried
9. Unfinished Business
10. Accounts
10.1 To approve accounts
Resolution No: 2025-0076
Moved By: Don Bobick
Seconded By: Tanya Powell
RESOLVED the accounts as follows be hereby approved for payment:
1. General Account Cheques No. 32514 to No. 32562 totaling $196,749.22 as listed on Schedule A.
2. Payroll Account Cheques No. P5533 to No. P5536 and Direct Deposit Payments totaling $106,765.30 as listed on Schedule B
3. Direct Deposit Payments totaling $1,220.91 as listed on Schedule C.
Carried
11. By-Laws
11.1 Third Reading – Bylaw 19/2024 – Indemnity Bylaw
Resolution No: 2025-0077
Moved By: Don Bobick
Seconded By: Tanya Powell
RESOLVED that By-Law No. 19/2024 being a By-Law of the Town of Swan River to establish indemnities for Council be read a third time and passed.
Don Bobick – yes
Tracy Boychuk – absent
Lance Jacobson – absent
Corinna Medwid – absent
David Moriaux – absent
Tanya Powell – absent
Duane Whyte – absent
Carried Unanimously
11.2 Third Reading – Bylaw 02/2025 – Amendment to Various Bylaws (Enforcement)
Moved By: Duane Whyte
Seconded By: Tanya Powell
RESOLVED that By-Law No. 02/2025 being a By-Law of the Town of Swan River to amend various bylaws with regards to our enforcement activities be read a third time and passed.
Don Bobick – no
Tracy Boychuk – absent
Lance Jacobson – absent
Corinna Medwid – no
David Moriaux – yes
Tanya Powell- no
Duane Whyte – yes
Defeated
11.3 Third Reading – Bylaw 3/2025 – Organizational
Resolution No: 2025-0078
Moved By: Duane Whyte
Seconded By: Don Bobick
RESOLVED that By-Law No. 03/2025 being a By-Law of the Town of Swan River to establish the organizational structure of Council be read a third time and passed.
Don Bobick – yes
Tracy Boychuk – absent
Lance Jacobson – absent
Corinna Medwid – yes
David Moriaux – yes
Tanya Powell – yes
Duane Whyte – yes
Carried Unanimously
11.4 Third Reading – Bylaw 04/2025 Procedures
Resolution No: 2025-0079
Moved By: Duane Whyte
Seconded By: Tanya Powell
RESOLVED that By-Law No. 04/2025 being a By-Law of the Town of Swan River to establish the procedures for Council be read a third time as amended and passed.
Don Bobick – yes
Tracy Boychuk – absent
Lance Jacobson – absent
Corinna Medwid – no
David Moriaux – yes
Tanya Powell – yes
Duane Whyte – yes
Carried
Powell: Motion to make amendment to resolution by changing the Bylaw 04/2025 to “as amended.” Bobick: Seconded Vote Result: Carried
12. Notice of Motion
13. Member Privilege
14. In Camera
Resolution No: 2025-0080
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.
Carried
14.1 Arena Project
15. Out of Camera
Resolution No: 2025-0081
Moved By: Don Bobick
Seconded By: Tanya Powell
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
16.1 Arena Project
Resolution No: 2025-0082
Moved By: Don Bobick
Seconded By: Duane Whyte
WHEREAS the Corporation of The Town of Swan River is committed to ensuring its procurement decisions are fair, open and transparent.
AND WHEREAS purchases made by the Town of Swan River should reflect best value for the taxpayer, and protect the Corporation’s financial interests.
AND WHEREAS The Town of Swan River has previously engaged Johnson Controls Inc. in the Centennial Arena retrofit project and most recently the proposed new arena project grant submission to the GICB grant from the Federal Government.
AND WHEREAS Johnson Controls Inc. has offered to advocate and promote a public private partnership between the municipality, local first nations and the Federal Government to advance the project funding amount.
AND WHEREAS should the public private partnership and funding application be successful to fund the arena project, Johnson Controls Inc may be awarded project components covered by their Canoe Procurement contract and in accordance with the New West Partnership Trade Agreement.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that The Town of Swan River sign a letter of intent with Johnson Controls Inc. with terms and conditions agreeable to both parties.
Carried
17. Adjournment
Resolution No: 2025-0083
Moved By: Don Bobick
Seconded By: Duane Whyte
RESOLVED that this regular meeting of Council now adjourn at 9:00 pm.
Carried