The Council of the Town of Swan River met on Tuesday, August 19th, 2025, at 7:00 pm in the Town Council Chambers with Deputy Mayor Moriaux presiding along with Councilors Bobick, Powell, and Whyte.
Absent with notice: Mayor Jacobson
Also Present:
CAO W. Tewnion, CFO T. Gnida, Public Works Director D. Harvey
Delegations: RCMP S/Sgt. Steve Henson and Cst. Jacob Zucchiatti
Media: Jeremy Bergen, Star and Times
1. Call meeting to order
Deputy Mayor Moriaux called the meeting to order at 7:01pm.
2. Adoption of the Agenda
Resolution No: 2025-0348
Moved By: Tanya Powell
Seconded By: Duane Whyte
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the agenda for the August 19, 2025, regular meeting of Council be adopted.
Carried
3. Approval of the minutes
Resolution No: 2025-0349
Moved By: Don Bobick
Seconded By: Tanya Powell
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the minutes of the July 15, 2025, regular council meeting be approved.
Carried
4. Reception of Delegations and Hearings
4.1 RCMP S/Sgt. Steve Henson
Resolution No: 2025-0350
Moved By: Duane Whyte
Seconded By: Tanya Powell
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the information provided by RCMP S/Sgt. Steve Henson dated August 18, 2025 be received; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT RCMP S/Sgt. Steve Henson be invited to speak as a delegation.
Carried
5. Reception of Petitions
6. Communications
6.1 Email from S/Sgt. Henson, July 21, 2025 – E Bikes
Resolution No: 2025-0351
Moved By: Duane Whyte
Seconded By: Tanya Powell
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the email dated July 21, 2025, and accompanying guide from S/Sgt. Steve Henson in response to Councilor Whyte’s request for information regarding e-bike restrictions be received.
Carried
6.2 Email from Madeline Wieler, STARS Foundation, July 28, 2025 – STARS Missions
Resolution No: 2025-0352
Moved By: Duane Whyte
Seconded By: Don Bobick
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the email dated July 28, 2025, and the accompanying mission report from Madeline Wieler regarding the STARS Foundation activity in Manitoba be received.
Carried
6.3 Invitation – Swampy Cree Tribal Council – Climate Action Gathering
Resolution No: 2025-0353
Moved By: Duane Whyte
Seconded By: Tanya Powell
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the invitation dated August 12, 2025, from the Swampy Cree Tribal Council, regarding the SCTC Climate Action Gathering Workshop be received.
Carried
6.4 Letter and Booklet from the Honorable Lisa Naylor, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, January 16, 2025 – Multi-Year Infrastructure Investment Strategy
Resolution No: 2025-0354
Moved By: Don Bobick
Seconded By: Tanya Powell
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the letter dated January 16, 2025, and accompanying booklet from the Honorable Lisa Naylor, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure regarding the Multi-Year Infrastructure Investment Strategy be received.
Carried
7. Reports
7.1 Chief Administrative Officer’s Report
Resolution No: 2025-0355
Moved By: Duane Whyte
Seconded By: Don Bobick
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Chief Administrative Officer’s Report be received.
Carried
7.2 Director of Public Works Report
Resolution No: 2025-0356
Moved By: Don Bobick
Seconded By: Tanya Powell
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Director of Public Works’ report be received.
Carried
7.3 Handivan Report
Resolution No: 2025-0357
Moved By: Duane Whyte
Seconded By: Don Bobick
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the July 2025 Swan River Handi-Transit Van Report be received.
Carried
7.4 PMH – Needle Cleanup Log (October 8, 2024 – August 8, 2025)
Resolution No: 2025-0358
Moved By: Duane Whyte
Seconded By: Tanya Powell
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the log dated July 15, 2025, from Glenda Short, PMH, regarding Needle Cleanup be received.
Carried
7.5 RCMP Apr-Jun quarter invoice package
Resolution No: 2025-0359
Moved By: Duane Whyte
Seconded By: Don Bobick
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the RCMP Municipal Policing Service invoice package for the period of April 1 through June 30, 2025, be received.
Carried
7.6 To receive building and demolition permit applications
Resolution No: 2025-0360
Moved By: Duane Whyte
Seconded By: Don Bobick
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Building and Demolition Permits 25/25 through 33/25 with a total estimated value of $120,990 be received.
Carried
7.7 Council Reports
8. New Business
8.1 Receive Museum 2024 financial information
Resolution No: 2025-0361
Moved By: Don Bobick
Seconded By: Duane Whyte
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Swan Valley Historical Museum Inc. and the Harley House Swan Valley Historical Museum Inc. Compiled Financial Information for the Year Ended December 31st, 2024, be received.
Carried
8.2 Receive Airport Commission 2024 financial statements
Resolution No: 2025-0362
Moved By: Duane Whyte
Seconded By: Don Bobick
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Swan Valley Municipal Airport Commission audited Financial Statements for the Year Ended December 31, 2024, be received.
Carried
8.3 Receive Library 2024 financial statements
Resolution No: 2025-0363
Moved By: Tanya Powell
Seconded By: Don Bobick
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the North-West Regional Library audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024, be received.
Carried
8.4 Rail Safety Week 2025
Resolution No: 2025-0364
Moved By: Tanya Powell
Seconded By: Duane Whyte
WHEREAS Rail Safety Week is to be held across Canada from September 15 to 21, 2025;
WHEREAS, 261 railway crossing and trespassing incidents occurred in Canada in 2024;
resulting in 68 avoidable fatalities and 58 avoidable serious injuries;
WHEREAS, educating and informing the public about rail safety (reminding the public that railway rights-of-way are private property, enhancing public awareness of the dangers associated with highway rail grade crossings, ensuring pedestrians and motorists are looking and listening while near railways, and obeying established traffic laws) will reduce the number of avoidable fatalities and injuries cause by incidents involving trains and citizens; and
WHEREAS Operation Lifesaver is a public/private partnership whose aim is to work with the public, rail industry, governments, indigenous communities, police services, media and others to raise rail safety awareness;
WHEREAS CN and Operation Lifesaver have requested City Council adopt this resolution in support of its ongoing efforts to raise awareness, save lives and prevent injuries in communities, including our municipality;
BE IT RESOLVED that the Town of Swan River support national Rail Safety Week be held from September 15 to 21, 2025.
Carried
8.5 Appointment – Northwest Regional Welcoming Communities
Resolution No: 2025-0365
Moved By: Don Bobick
Seconded By: Tanya Powell
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Councilor Duane Whyte be appointed as a representative for the Northwest Regional Welcoming Communities Partnership.
Carried
9. Unfinished Business
10. Accounts
10.1 Approve payment of Watershed District Levy
Resolution No: 2025-0366
Moved By: Duane Whyte
Seconded By: Don Bobick
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Swan Lake Watershed District 2025-26 Annual Levy for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026, in the amount of $13,698.22 be approved for payment.
Carried
10.2 Add unpaid accounts to taxes
Resolution No: 2025-0367
Moved By: Tanya Powell
Seconded By: Don Bobick
WHEREAS the Town of Swan River used municipal equipment, materials and labour to carry out private works on private property under The Municipal Act clause 250(2)(e), and set the fees and charges for the works under clause 252(1)(a) of The Act; and
WHEREAS sufficient time has been allowed for payment of such outstanding amounts as listed on the attached Schedule “A” totaling $76,968.45;
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; and
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 September 1st, 2025.
Carried
10.3 To receive accounts
Resolution No: 2025-0368
Moved By: Don Bobick
Seconded By: Tanya Powell
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the following accounts be received:
1. Payroll Account Cheques No. P5578 to No. P5580 and Direct Deposit Payments totaling $137,944.29 as listed on Schedule A
2. Payroll Account Cheques No. P5581 to No. P5583 and Direct Deposit Payments totaling $136,215.86 as listed on Schedule B
3. Direct Deposit Payments totaling $112,048.97 as listed on Schedule C.
Carried
10.4 To approve accounts
Resolution No: 2025-0369
Moved By: Don Bobick
Seconded By: Duane Whyte
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the following accounts be approved for payment:
1. General Account Cheques No. 33081 to No. 33169 totaling $641,672.40 as listed on Schedule A (cheques 33081 and 33101 voided)
2. Direct Deposit Payments totaling $84,108.59 as listed on Schedule B
3. Direct Deposit Payments totaling $760.00 as listed on Schedule C
Carried
11. Bylaws
11.1 Second reading of By-Law 7/2025
Resolution No: 2025-0370
Moved By: Don Bobick
Seconded By: Duane Whyte
BE IT RESOLVED THAT By-Law No. 7/2025, being a by-law of the Town of Swan River to establish a rate for the collection of residential waste and recycling material as a special service for the Town of Swan River for 2025, be read a second time.
Carried
11.2 Third reading of By-Law 7/2025
Resolution No: 2025-0371
Moved By: Duane Whyte
Seconded By: Tanya Powell
BE IT RESOLVED THAT By-Law No. 7/2025, being a by-law of the Town of Swan River to establish a rate for the collection of residential waste and recycling material as a special service for the Town of Swan River for 2025, be read a third time and passed.
Carried Unanimously
11.3 Second Reading of Bylaw 14/2025 Incentive Program
Moved By: Duane Whyte
Seconded By: Don Bobick
BE IT RESOLVED THAT By-Law No. 14/2025 being a By-Law of the Town of Swan River to establish a financial assistance program as an incentive for development be read a second time.
Defeated
11.4 First reading of bylaw 16/2025
Resolution No: 2025-0372
Moved By: Don Bobick
Seconded By: Tanya Powell
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Bylaw No. 16/2025, being a Bylaw of the Town of Swan River to amend By-Law No. 10/2025, be read a first time.
Carried
12. Notice of Motion
13. Member Privilege
14. In Camera
Resolution No: 2025-0373
Moved By: Don Bobick
Seconded By: Tanya Powell
BE IT 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 Human Resources – Personnel
15. Out of Camera
Resolution No: 2025-0374
Moved By: Duane Whyte
Seconded By: Tanya Powell
BE IT 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
Resolution No: 2025-0375
Moved By: Duane Whyte
Seconded By: Don Bobick
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council agrees in principle with the proposed CBA subject to review of the final document.
Carried
17. Adjournment
Resolution No: 2025-0376
Moved By: Don Bobick
Seconded By: Tanya Powell
BE IT RESOLVED THAT this regular meeting of Council now adjourn at 9:21 pm.
Carried