Minutes of the Regular Meeting of Council of the Rural Municipality of Mountain held Wednesday, March 26th, 2025 at the Rural Municipality of Mountain Council chambers in Birch River, MB.


Members Present:
Reeve: Keith Behrmann
Councillors: Wilmer Malcolm, Dan Laychuk, Nestor Rizok, Arnie Pedersen and Brad Wyatt.
Councillor Mosiondz was absent.
CAO Paige Driscoll was present and acted as secretary.

1. Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. by Reeve Keith Behrmann, quorum being present.

2. Adoption of Agenda

Resolution No: 2025/095
Moved By: Nestor Rizok
Seconded By: Daniel Laychuk
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Agenda for the March 26th, 2025 Regular Meeting of Council be adopted as presented.
For: 5 Against:
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

3. Matters Arising from Minutes

Resolution No: 2025/096
Moved By: Arnie Pedersen
Seconded By: Brad Wyatt
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of Council held March 12th, 2025 be adopted as presented, all requirements having been complied with.
For: 5 Against:
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

4. By-Laws & Policies

5. Financial

Councillor Malcolm joined the meeting.

5.1 Ward Financial Statements: Review

5.2 Accounts Payable

Resolution No: 2025/097
Moved By: Arnie Pedersen
Seconded By: Wilmer Malcolm
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Cheque Nos. 20250188 to 20250212 be approved for payment in the amount of $22,771.04 and Direct Deposit Payroll in the amount of $8,768.35 as attached hereto as Schedule ‘A’.
For: 6 Against:
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

6. 2025 Budget Review

6.1 Cowan Community Centre Well Renovations
TABLED

6.2 2025 Proposed Financial Plan

Resolution No: 2025/098
Moved By: Wilmer Malcolm
Seconded By: Brad Wyatt
BE IT RESOLVED THAT By-Law No. 01/2025, being a By-Law to provide for the 2025 Financial Plan and budget for the Rural Municipality of Mountain, be given first reading.
For: 6 Against:
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

6.3 2025 Financial Plan Tax Impact: Review

7. WARD REPORTS & Work Orders

7.1 In Camera

Resolution No: 2025/099
Moved By: Arnie Pedersen
Seconded By: Daniel Laychuk
WHEREAS Section 152(3) of The Municipal Act and Section 8.8 of the By-Law No. 01/16 authorize Council to close a meeting to the public to discuss certain matters;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council of the Rural Municipality of Mountain meet as a Committee to discuss contract negotiations.
For: 6 Against:
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

7.2 Out of In Camera

Resolution No: 2025/100
Moved By: Wilmer Malcolm
Seconded By: Arnie Pedersen
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the meeting of the Committee of the Whole be adjourned, and that the Regular Meeting of Council of the Rural Municipality of Mountain be re-opened to the public.
For: 6 Against:
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

7.3 Work Orders

Resolution No: 2025/101
Moved By: Wilmer Malcolm
Seconded By: Nestor Rizok
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council of the Rural Municipality of Mountain hereby approve work orders #14/2025 to #16/2025 attached hereto.
For: 6 Against:
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

8. Delegations/Petitions

8.1 11:00 a.m. Barry Walker, Farm & Sky Tech Ltd.

8.1.1 Pesticide Permit Application

Resolution No: 2025/102
Moved By: Daniel Laychuk
Seconded By: Wilmer Malcolm
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council of the Rural Municipality of Mountain hereby authorize the CAO to make application for a Provincial Pesticide Use Permit.
For: 6 Against:
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

8.2 12:30 P.M. Emergency Coordinator – Review of Emergency Plan

9. Meeting Attendance and Reports

10. General Business

10.1 Drainage Applications

Resolution No: 2025/103
Moved By: Daniel Laychuk
Seconded By: Nestor Rizok
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council of the Rural Municipality of Mountain hereby approve the Application for Licence to Construct Water Control Works for the Project Named: Kim Acovich Rd on the SE 14-32-21W;
AND THAT the CAO be authorized to submit such an application through the Water Licencing Portal.
For: 6 Against:
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

10.2 Drainage Applications

Resolution No: 2025/104
Moved By: Nestor Rizok
Seconded By: Daniel Laychuk
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council of the Rural Municipality of Mountain hereby approve the Application for Licence to Construct Water Control Works for the Project on SE 27-32-21W and NE 22-32-21W;
AND THAT the CAO be authorized to submit such an application through the Water Licencing Portal.
For: 6 Against:
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

10.3 Applications to Lease: SW 24-33-23W

Resolution No: 2025/105
Moved By: Wilmer Malcolm
Seconded By: Nestor Rizok
WHEREAS the Rural Municipality of Mountain owns and has offered the SW 24-33-23W for lease, and applications have been received and reviewed in accordance with the Lease Agreement Policy of the Municipality;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council of the Rural Municipality of Mountain hereby authorize the lease agreement with R. Larocque with all lease terms and conditions as per Schedule ‘A’ attached hereto;
AND THAT the Reeve and CAO be authorized to sign on behalf of the Municipality.
For: 6 Against:
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

10.4 Purchase Transfer

Resolution No: 2025/106
Moved By: Wilmer Malcolm
Seconded By: Arnie Pedersen
WHEREAS the Pt. SW 12-33-23W (Roll number 149400.000 & 149450.000) is an LGD Vested Crown Administered lease lands that was recently transferred to the Municipality;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council of the Rural Municipality of Mountian hereby authorize the transfer of the Pt. SW 12-33-23W to the leaseholder;
AND THAT the CAO be authorized to sign on behalf of the municipality.
For: 6 Against:
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

10.5 Pine River Fire Hall Tenders: Update on Project

10.6 Mountain North Gravel Contract

Resolution No: 2025/107
Moved By: Arnie Pedersen
Seconded By: Brad Wyatt
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council of the Rural Municipality of Mountain hereby approve the contract with Campbell Construction Inc. for the Mountain North gravel contract with specifications and conditions as per Schedule ‘A’ attached hereto.
AND THAT the pit location be the Birch River Crown Pit specified in the original tenders.
For: 6 Against:
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

10.7 Property Cleanup List: Pine River areas
TABLED

10.8 Destruction of Records

Resolution No: 2025/108
Moved By: Nestor Rizok
Seconded By: Daniel Laychuk
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council of the Rural Municipality of Mountain hereby authorize the CAO to destroy Municipal Documents under the Manitoba Regulation No. 53/97 as per Schedule ‘A’ attached hereto.
For: 6 Against:
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

10.9 Swan Valley Mutual Aid Agreement

I, Reeve Behrmann of the Rural Municipality of Mountain hereby make Notice of Motion to reconsider Resolution Number 2025/033 and 2025/093 in relation to the proposed Swan Valley Mutual Aid Agreement. .

11. Communications

11.1 TAXervice Designate

Resolution No: 2025/109
Moved By: Arnie Pedersen
Seconded By: Nestor Rizok
BE IT RESOLVED THAT pursuant to By-Law No. 03/08 of the Rural Municipality of Mountain, TAXervice Inc. be appointed to manage property tax arrears recovery for the Rural Municipality of Mountain;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT pursuant to By-Law No. 03/08 of the Rural Municipality of Mountain, the following individuals be appointed Tax Sale Managers for the Rural Municipality of Mountain:
Donna Zinkiew, Vice President of TAXervice Inc., OR
Tyler Burnside, Associate of TAXervice Inc.
For: 6 Against:
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

11.2 Community Foundation Week
Resolution No: 2025/110
Moved By: Arnie Pedersen
Seconded By: Brad Wyatt
WHEREAS The Community Foundation of Swan Valley is a charitable organization that is focused on the creation of permanent endowment funds; and
WHEREAS The Community Foundation’s goals include the promotion of philanthropy in the Swan Valley, sustaining permanently endowed funds, fulfilling community needs, and providing community leadership; and
WHEREAS The Community Foundation promotes the development of children, youth and seniors’ programs, promotes the arts, cultural and heritage activities, and promotes the enhancement of the environment; and
WHEREAS The Community Foundation supports health, wellness, sports and recreation as well as other community activities and facilities; and
WHEREAS The Community Foundation is a vehicle for donors to contribute their cash, trusts, bequests or real property to create permanent endowments that will build and improve our Swan Valley community;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Council of the Rural Municipality of Mountain hereby proclaim April 21-April 27, 2025 as Community Foundation of Swan Valley Awareness Week.
For: 6 Against:
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

11.3 Arsenic Concentrations in Drinking Water

Resolution No: 2025/111
Moved By: Wilmer Malcolm
Seconded By: Nestor Rizok
WHEREAS the municipality has been made aware that the Canadian Drinking Water Quality Standards are open for consultation, specifically in relation to arsenic, which is proposed to be reduced by 1/2 the current allowable limit;
AND WHEREAS reductions of this caliber should be proposed and reviewed with all municipalities through the Office of Drinking Water in a formal manner, especially those water systems that may be affected by this adjustment;
AND WHEREAS many water systems would be affected by this change and have no Federal or Provincial funding required to upgrade their treatment systems;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council of the Rural Municipality of Mountain hereby make submission to the Canadian Drinking Water Quality Standards to object to the reduction of the arsenic standard.
For: 6 Against:
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

12. Adjournment

Resolution No: 2025/112
Moved By: Wilmer Malcolm
Seconded By: Arnie Pedersen
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Regular Meeting of Council of the Rural Municipality of Mountain be adjourned to meet again on April 9th, 2025.
Meeting adjourned at 12:14 p.m.
For: 6 Against:
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY