The Council of the Town of Swan River met on Tuesday, June 20, 2023 at 7:30 pm in the Town Council Chambers with Mayor Jacobson presiding along with Deputy Mayor Moriaux, and Councillors Boychuk, Powell, Bobick, Medwid, and Whyte.
Absent with Permission: Councillor Whyte left the meeting at 8:00 pm.
Also Present:
CAO D. Poole, CFO T. Gnida, Public Works Dir D. Harvey, Fire Chief D. Fedorchuk.
Delegation Attendees:
Media: Jeremy Bergen, Star and Times
1. Call meeting to order
Mayor Jacobson called the meeting to order at 7:30 pm.
2. Adoption of the Agenda
Resolution No: 2023-0270
Moved By: Corinna Medwid
Seconded By: Tanya Powell
RESOLVED that the agenda for the June 20, 2023 regular meeting of Council be adopted.
Carried
3. Confirmation of the minutes
Resolution No: 2023-0271
Moved By: Tracy Boychuk
Seconded By: Tanya Powell
RESOLVED the minutes of the June 6, 2023 regular council meeting be approved.
Carried
4. Reception of Delegations and Hearings
4.1 Terence Gnida, CFO and Bruce Hardie, CPA re 2022 draft Canada community building fund annual expenditure report
5. Reception of Petitions
6. Communications
6.1 Audit engagement letter
Resolution No: 2023-0272
Moved By: Corinna Medwid
Seconded By: Tracy Boychuk
RESOLVED that the 2022 audit engagement letter dated June 6, 2023 from PKHC Chartered Professional Accountants be received.
Carried
6.2 Audit planning letter
Resolution No: 2023-0273
Moved By: Corinna Medwid
Seconded By: Tanya Powell
RESOLVED that the 2022 audit planning letter dated June 6, 2023 from PKHC Chartered Professional Accountants be received.
Carried
7. Reports of Committees
7.1 Director of Public Works Report
Resolution No: 2023-0274
Moved By: David Moriaux
Seconded By: Tracy Boychuk
RESOLVED the Director of Public Works report be received.
Carried
7.2 Protective Services Report – 2023 May
Resolution No: 2023-0275
Moved By: Corinna Medwid
Seconded By: Duane Whyte
RESOLVED that the Protective Services for May 2023 report be received.
Carried
7.3 Other Reports
7.4 Council and CAO Reports
8. New Business
8.1 Committee Appointments
Resolution No: 2023-0276
Moved By: Corinna Medwid
Seconded By: Tanya Powell
Resolved that Mayor Lance Jacobson, Councillors Don Bobick, Tracy Boychuk, Corrina Medwid, and CAO Derek Poole be appointed to the Arena Contribution Agreement Committee.
Carried
8.2 Abuse and Molestation Policy
Resolution No: 2023-0277
Moved By: Corinna Medwid
Seconded By: Don Bobick
RESOLVED that the amended Town of Swan River Abuse and Molestation Policy be approved.
Carried
8.3 Designated Representative – Abuse & Molestation Policy
Resolution No: 2023-0278
Moved By: Corinna Medwid
Seconded By: Tracy Boychuk
RESOLVED that the Chief Administrative Officer be designated as the representative to receive reports of abuse and molestation in accordance with the Town of Swan River Abuse and Molestation Policy.
Carried
8.4 Demolition of 124 5th Ave South
Resolution No: 2023-0279
Moved By: Corinna Medwid
Seconded By: David Moriaux
Resolved that Halverson Hauling be awarded the contract for the demolition of the property at 124 5th Avenue South, roll #026000.000 known as Conrad Apartments and that costs shall not exceed the bid price of $70,000.00.
Carried
8.5 To receive SV Planning District 2022 financial statements
Resolution No: 2023-0280
Moved By: Corinna Medwid
Seconded By: Tracy Boychuk
RESOLVED that the Swan Valley Planning District audited Financial Statements for the Year Ended December 31, 2022 be received.
Carried
8.6 Northwest Roundup & Exhibition – Significant Community Event
Resolution No: 2023-0281
Moved By: Don Bobick
Seconded By: Tracy Boychuk
RESOLVED that the Northwest Roundup & Exhibition being held July 27-30, 2023 in the Town of Swan River be declared a Significant Community Event.
Carried
8.7 To receive North-West Regional Library 2022 financial statements
Resolution No: 2023-0282
Moved By: Corinna Medwid
Seconded By: Tracy Boychuk
RESOLVED that the North-West Regional Library audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2022 be received.
Carried
8.8 To approve payment of the 2023 North-West Regional Library levy
Resolution No: 2023-0283
Moved By: Corinna Medwid
Seconded By: Tanya Powell
WHEREAS the Town of Swan River 2023 Financial Plan included a contribution to the North-West Regional Library in the amount of $98,142.30 as was included in the budget attached to an email dated April 10, 2023;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED the amount of $98,142.30, less advances in funding already paid totaling $20,000.00, be paid to the North-West Regional Library as the Town of Swan River’s contribution for the 2023 fiscal year.
Carried
8.9 Approve EMO Portal Access Agreement
Resolution No: 2023-0284
Moved By: Corinna Medwid
Seconded By: David Moriaux
RESOLVED the Chief Administrative Officer sign the access agreement between the Town of Swan River and the Province of Manitoba in order to share information to support situational awareness, emergency preparedness, response, decision-making, and analysis.
Carried
9. Unfinished Business
9.1 Crime Prevention Reserve
Moved By: Corinna Medwid
Seconded By: Don Bobick
RESOLVED the Town of Swan River support and fund the Swan Valley Chamber of Commerce Community Safety Watch Program as per the attached proposal.
Defeated
10. Accounts
10.1 To approve accounts
Resolution No: 2023-0285
Moved By: Corinna Medwid
Seconded By: Tracy Boychuk
RESOLVED the accounts as follows be hereby approved for payment:
1. General Account Cheques No. 30385 to No. 30431 totaling $200,423.65 as listed on Schedule A.
2. Payroll Account Cheques No. 5324 to No. 5328 totaling $122,155.46 as listed on Schedule B.
3. Direct Deposit Payments totaling $16,891.93 as listed on Schedule C.
Carried
10.2 To approve 2022 draft Canada Community Building Fund Annual Expenditure Report
Resolution No: 2023-0286
Moved By: Corinna Medwid
Seconded By: Tanya Powell
RESOLVED that the draft audited Canada Community Building Fund Annual Expenditure Report for the Year Ended December 31st, 2022 be approved and the Independent Auditor’s Report thereon be received.
Carried
10.3 To add unpaid utility accounts to taxes
Resolution No: 2023-0287
Moved By: Tracy Boychuk
Seconded By: Corinna Medwid
RESOLVED THAT the following unpaid utility accounts be added to the corresponding property tax rolls and notice be sent to each property owner detailing the amount being added to the taxes and advising that interest will accrue on said amount in the same manner as for unpaid property taxes effective July 1st, 2023:
Utility Account Amount Tax Roll Number
20940000.15 $61.71 0109000.000
21810000.03 $98.87 0121600.000
23970000.01 $457.90 0253000.000
33720020.02 $561.03 0141500.000
Total $1,179.51
Carried
10.4 To use Fire Truck Replacement Reserve for additional firefighting equipment
Resolution No: 2023-0288
Moved By: Corinna Medwid
Seconded By: David Moriaux
WHEREAS Town of Swan River By-Law 19/2022 provided for the expenditure and borrowing of funds for the replacement of Swan River Fire Department Pumper 1 with all required equipment as a local improvement;
AND WHEREAS Town Council resolved at its meeting held February 21st, 2023 that “the Town of Swan River purchase a 2024 Acres VORTEX series Pumper Emergency Vehicle on a Freightliner M2-106 series chassis Fire Truck, including required equipment along with optional equipment as per Schedule A, from Acres Industries Inc. for the amount of $807,778.18 plus applicable taxes,” of which $72,649.02 plus applicable taxes was for needed firefighting equipment;
AND WHEREAS Town Council wishes to use funds from the Fire Truck Replacement Reserve to purchase the needed firefighting equipment and the Reserve has sufficient balance for such;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that $72,649.02 plus applicable taxes be transferred from the Fire Truck Replacement Reserve Fund to the General Operating Fund once the firefighting equipment has been purchased.
Carried
10.5 To adopt the May 2023 financial statements
Resolution No: 2023-0289
Moved By: Corinna Medwid
Seconded By: David Moriaux
RESOLVED the Financial Statements for the Five Months Ending May 31st, 2023 be adopted as received.
Carried
10.6 To approve assessment alterations
Resolution No: 2023-0290
Moved By: Corinna Medwid
Seconded By: Tanya Powell
WHEREAS Section 326 of The Municipal Act provides that a municipality may impose supplementary taxes, and Subsections 300(6) and 300(6.1) provide 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 made by Manitoba Assessment Services on January 23, March 3, April 21, May 15 and June 12, 2023 be made to the 2023 Property and Business Tax Rolls, with the resulting increases totaling $44,650.07 and the resulting reductions totaling $5,332.72.
Carried
10.7 To approve contribution to medical recruitment and retention fund
Resolution No: 2023-0291
Moved By: David Moriaux
Seconded By: Tracy Boychuk
RESOLVED that the 2023 annual contribution to the Swan Valley Health Facilities Foundation Inc. for the Fund for the Recruitment and Retention of Medical Professionals, calculated at $16.00 per capita and amounting to $64,784.00, be approved for payment.
Carried
10.8 To approve annual grant to Association for Community Living
Moved By: Tracy Boychuk
Seconded By: Don Bobick
RESOLVED that the annual grant of $1,000.00 to the Swan Valley Association for Community Living, included in the 2023 Financial Plan, be approved for payment.
Defeated
10.9 To approve annual grant to SV Historical Museum
Moved By: Corinna Medwid
Seconded By: Tanya Powell
RESOLVED that the annual grant of $4,000.00 to the Swan Valley Historical Museum, included in the 2023 Financial Plan, be approved for payment.
Tabled
11. By-Laws
11.1 Second Reading – By-Law 5/2023 – Procedure Bylaw
Resolution No: 2023-0292
Moved By: Corinna Medwid
Seconded By: Don Bobick
RESOLVED that By-Law No. 5/2023 being a By-Law of the Town of Swan River to describe the Town of Swan River council procedures be read a second time.
Carried
11.2 Third Reading – By-Law 5/2023 – Procedure Bylaw Amendment
Resolution No: 2023-0293
Moved By: Corinna Medwid
Seconded By: Don Bobick
RESOLVED that By-Law No. 5/2023 being a By-Law of the Town of Swan River to set the Town of Swan River council procedures be read a third time and passed.
Don Bobick – yes
Tracy Boychuk – yes
Lance Jacobson – yes
Corinna Medwid – yes
David Moriaux – yes
Tanya Powell -yes
Duane Whyte – absent
Carried
12. Notice of Motion
“I Councillor Corinna Medwid give notice of my intention to reconsider at the July 4th, 2023 Regular Meeting the resolution: RESOLVED that the annual grant of $1,000.00 to the Swan Valley Association for Community Living, included in the 2023 Financial Plan, be approved for payment.”
13. In Camera
Moved By: Corinna Medwid
Seconded By: Tracy Boychuk
RESOLVED that, pursuant to Section 152(3) of the Municipal Act, Council go into Committee and close the meeting to the public.
-Birchwood Cemetery
Carried
14. Out of Camera
Moved By: Corinna Medwid
Seconded By: Tracy Boychuk
RESOLVED that pursuant to Sections 152(4) of the Municipal Act this meeting be reopened to the public.
Carried
15. Items Arising out of Camera
16. Adjournment
Moved By: Don Bobick
Seconded By: Corinna Medwid
RESOLVED that this regular meeting of Council now adjourn at 9:25 pm.
Carried