The Council of the Town of Swan River met on Tuesday, August 1st, 2023 at 7:00 pm in the Town Council Chambers with Mayor Jacobson presiding along with Deputy Mayor Moriaux and Councillors Bobick, Medwid, Powell, and Whyte.
Absent with Permission: Councillor Boychuk
Also Present:
CAO D. Poole, CFO T. Gnida, 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 7:00 pm.
2. Adoption of the Agenda
Resolution No: 2023-0324
Moved By: Corinna Medwid
Seconded By: Tanya Powell
RESOLVED that the agenda for the August 1, 2023 regular meeting of Council be adopted.
Carried
3. Confirmation of the minutes
Resolution No: 2023-0325
Moved By: Don Bobick
Seconded By: Corinna Medwid
RESOLVED the minutes of the July 4, 2023 regular council meeting be approved.
Carried
4. Reception of Delegations and Hearings
4.1 Terence Gnida, CFO and PKHC CPAs re 2022 draft audited consolidated financial statements
5. Reception of Petitions
6. Communications
6.1 Email from Laura Tyler – Community and Building Codes
Resolution No: 2023-0326
Moved By: Corinna Medwid
Seconded By: David Moriaux
RESOLVED that the email regarding the Province of Manitoba’s proposal for building codes from Laura Tyler be received.
Carried
Deputy Mayor Moriaux: motion to reconsider this motion
6.1.1 To receive building permit applications
Moved By: Don Bobick
Seconded By: Corinna Medwid
RESOLVED that Building and Demolition Permits 34/23 through 40/23 with a total estimated value of $2,140,831.00 be received.
Defeated
7. Reports
7.1 Director of Public Works Report – Lagoon Update
Resolution No: 2023-0327
Moved By: Corinna Medwid
Seconded By: David Moriaux
RESOLVED that the Swan River Lagoon project scope change funding agreement be signed with Water Services Board for $150,000 with the Town of Swan River funding 50% ($75,000) and the Water Services Board funding 50% ($75,000).
Carried
7.2 Protective Services Report – 2023 June
Resolution No: 2023-0328
Moved By: Corinna Medwid
Seconded By: David Moriaux
RESOLVED that the Protective Services report for June of 2023 be received.
Carried
7.3 Handivan Report
Resolution No: 2023-0329
Moved By: Corinna Medwid
Seconded By: Tanya Powell
RESOLVED the June 2023 Swan River Handi-Transit Van Report be received.
Carried
7.4 Council and CAO Reports
8. New Business
8.1 To receive Swan Lake Watershed District 2023 audited financial statements
Resolution No: 2023-0330
Moved By: Duane Whyte
Seconded By: Corinna Medwid
RESOLVED that the Swan Lake Watershed District audited Financial Statements for the Year Ended March 31st, 2023 be received.
Carried
8.2 Travel Policy
Resolution No: 2023-0331
Moved By: Corinna Medwid
Seconded By: David Moriaux
RESOLVED that the amended Town of Swan River Travel Policy be approved.
Carried
8.3 Agreement Amendment – Provincial SVETP & Work Crew
Resolution No: 2023-0332
Moved By: Corinna Medwid
Seconded By: Tanya Powell
RESOLVED the CAO sign the amending agreements for 3rd party service as set out in the attached amending Employment Training Project agreement schedule A, and the amending Work Crew agreement Schedule B.
Carried
8.4 To authorize signing agreement with Canada for RCMP retroactive costs financing
Resolution No: 2023-0333
Moved By: Corinna Medwid
Seconded By: Don Bobick
RESOLVED that the Chief Administrative Officer be authorized to sign the agreement with the Government of Canada on financing arrangements for retroactive payroll costs for Royal Canadian Mounted Police members.
Carried
9. Unfinished Business
10. Accounts
10.1 To approve accounts
Resolution No: 2023-0334
Moved By: Corinna Medwid
Seconded By: Tanya Powell
RESOLVED the accounts as follows be hereby approved for payment:
1. General Account Cheques No. 30482 to No. 30584 totaling $356,708.61 as listed on Schedule A.
2. Payroll Account Cheques No. 5334 to No. 5336 totaling $17,896.88 as listed on Schedule B.
3. Payroll Account Cheques No. 5333 and No. 5337 to No. 5341 totaling $117,958.39 as listed on Schedule C.
4. Payroll Account Cheques No. 5342 to No. 5345 totaling $113,354.50 as listed on Schedule D.
5. Direct Deposit Payments totaling $745.00 as listed on Schedule E.
6. Direct Deposit Payments totaling $256,009.79 as listed on Schedule F.
Carried
10.2 To approve the Draft 2022 Consolidated Financial Statements
Resolution No: 2023-0335
Moved By: Corinna Medwid
Seconded By: Tanya Powell
RESOLVED that the Town of Swan River’s draft Consolidated Financial Statements for the Year Ended December 31, 2022 be approved and the Independent Auditor’s Report thereon be received.
Carried
10.3 To adopt the June 2023 financial statements
Resolution No: 2023-0336
Moved By: Corinna Medwid
Seconded By: Duane Whyte
RESOLVED the Financial Statements for the Six Months Ending June 30th, 2023 be adopted as received.
Carried
10.4 To set reserve bid for tax sale auction
Resolution No: 2023-0337
Moved By: Corinna Medwid
Seconded By: Don Bobick
WHEREAS Section 365(2) of The Municipal Act provides that Council may in any year designate the immediately preceding year, or any earlier year, as the year for which properties, the taxes in respect of which are in arrears for the year, must be offered for sale by auction to recover the tax arrears and costs;
AND WHEREAS Section 372 of The Municipal Act provides that a municipality may set any terms or conditions for the sale of a property to be sold for taxes, and may set a reserve bid in the amount of the tax arrears and costs in respect of the property;
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Town of Swan River place a reserve bid on each property included in the 2023 Tax Sale in the amount of tax arrears and costs owing in respect of the property.
Carried
10.5 To approve assessment alterations
Resolution No: 2023-0338
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 July 11, 2023 be made to the 2023 Property and Business Tax Rolls, with the resulting increases totaling $917.04 and the resulting reductions totaling $1,197.08.
Carried
11. By-Laws
11.1 Second Reading – 07/2023 – Indemnity Bylaw
Resolution No: 2023-0339
Moved By: Don Bobick
Seconded By: Corinna Medwid
RESOLVED that By-Law No. 07/2023 being a By-Law of the Town of Swan River authorizing the payment of remuneration to members of Council be read a second time.
Carried
11.2 First Reading 9/2023 Grants Bylaw
Resolution No: 2023-0340
Moved By: Corinna Medwid
Seconded By: Duane Whyte
RESOLVED that By-Law No. 09/2023 being a By-Law of the Town of Swan River to regulate the process of giving out grants be read a first time.
Carried
12. Notice of Motion
13. In Camera
Resolution No: 2023-0341
Moved By: Don Bobick
Seconded By: Corinna Medwid
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:
– Demolition RFQ – 5th Ave & 6th Ave
– Testlabs request for funding- RRWC lawsuit
– Legacy Committee Contribution Agreement update
Carried
14. Out of Camera
Resolution No: 2023-0342
Moved By: Corinna Medwid
Seconded By: Don Bobick
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
15.1 Demolition of structure at 346 6th Avenue South roll # 122300.000
Moved By: Corinna Medwid
Seconded By: David Moriaux
Resolved that the owner(s) of the property noted as 346 6th Avenue South roll # 122300.000 having failed to abide by an order given by the Town of Swan River under 5/2021 The Fire Prevention and Emergency Services Bylaw section 67, Council does approve of the demolition of the fire damaged structure and Adams Contracting Inc be awarded the contract for the demolition of the property at 346 6th Avenue South, roll # 122300.000 and that costs shall not exceed the bids price of $12000.00. On the condition that the Town of Swan River perform an asbestos inventory prior to work commencement.
Tabled
Motion to table: Jacobson, seconded: Bobick. Vote in favor 4-2
15.2 Demolition of Structure at 325 5th Avenue South roll # 90200.000
Resolution No: 2023-0343
Moved By: Corinna Medwid
Seconded By: Tanya Powell
Resolved that the owner(s) of the property noted as 325 5th Avenue South roll # 90200.00 having failed to abide by an order given by the Town of Swan River under 5/2021 The Fire Prevention and Emergency Services Bylaw section 67, Council does approve of the demolition of the fire damaged structure and Bordian Contracting Inc be awarded the contract for the demolition of the property at 325 5th Avenue South, roll # 90200.000 and that costs shall not exceed the quoted price of $7350.00. On the condition that the Town of Swan River perform an asbestos inventory prior to work commencement.
Carried
15.3 Testlabs – Request for additional funding
Resolution No: 2023-0344
Moved By: Corinna Medwid
Seconded By: David Moriaux
RESOLVED the CAO approve the request for additional funding from Testlabs International Ltd. in regard to material specification review for the Swan Valley Credit Union Aquatics Center metallurgic study in the amount of $5,354.00
Carried
16. Member Privilege
17. Adjournment
Resolution No: 2023-0345
Moved By: Corinna Medwid
Seconded By: Tanya Powell
RESOLVED that this regular meeting of Council now adjourn at 9:40pm.
Carried