The Council of the Town of Swan River met on Tuesday, April 1st, 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, Councilor Medwid
Also Present:
CAO W. Tewnion, CFO T. Gnida, Rec Dir. E. Clouson
Attendees for Variance Hearing:
Adam Maksuta
Delegations: RCMP Staff Sergeant Steve Henson – unable to attend
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: 2025-0132
Moved By: Tanya Powell
Seconded By: Don Bobick
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the agenda for the April 1, 2025, regular meeting of Council be adopted.
Carried
3. Confirmation of the minutes
Resolution No: 2025-0133
Moved By: Duane Whyte
Seconded By: Don Bobick
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the minutes of the March 18, 2025, Regular Meeting of Council be approved.
Carried
4. Reception of Delegations and Hearings
4.1 Open Public Hearing- Variance 01.2025 – St. Columba’s Church
Resolution No: 2025-0134
Moved By: Duane Whyte
Seconded By: Don Bobick
BE IT RESOLVED THAT this Regular Meeting be closed and the public hearing on Variance Order 1.2025 be opened.
Carried
4.2 Close Public Hearing – Variance 1.2025
Resolution No: 2025-0135
Moved By: Duane Whyte
Seconded By: Tanya Powell
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Public Hearing be adjourned and the Regular Meeting be re-opened.
Carried
4.3 Variance 1.2025 – St. Columba’s Church
Resolution No: 2025-0136
Moved By: Duane Whyte
Seconded By: Tanya Powell
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Variance Order 1.2025 for St. Columba’s Church be approved.
Carried
4.4 RCMP – Staff Sargeant Henson – to be rescheduled
5. Reception of Petitions
6. Communications
6.1 Letter from Hon. Glen Simard (Municipal Relations) re Funding
Resolution No: 2025-0137
Moved By: Tanya Powell
Seconded By: Don Bobick
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the letter from Honourable Glen Simard dated March 20, 2025, be received.
Carried
6.2 Manitoba Education – Education Support Levy
Resolution No: 2025-0138
Moved By: Tanya Powell
Seconded By: Duane Whyte
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the letter from Manitoba Education and Early Childhood Learning dated March 15, 2025, and the Notice of Tax Requirements 2025 from Swan Valley School Division be received.
Carried
6.3 Email from Manitoba Forestry – Invasive Species Awareness Week
Resolution No: 2025-0139
Moved By: Tanya Powell
Seconded By: Duane Whyte
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the email from Manitoba Forestry regarding Invasive Species Awareness Week be received.
Carried
6.4 Letters from Nelson Chess
Resolution No: 2025-0140
Moved By: Don Bobick
Seconded By: Tanya Powell
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the letters from Nelson Chess dated March 17, 2025, and March 25, 2025, regarding the paving of Spruce Street be received.
Carried
6.5 To receive building permit applications
Resolution No: 2025-0141
Moved By: Don Bobick
Seconded By: Tanya Powell
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Building Permits 3/25 and 4/25 with a total estimated value of $52,000 be received.
Carried
6.6 Letter from Brent Scales
Resolution No: 2025-0142
Moved By: Don Bobick
Seconded By: Duane Whyte
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the letter from Brent Scales dated March 23, 2025, regarding parking be received.
Carried
7. Reports
7.1 Other Reports
7.2 Council and CAO Reports
8. New Business
8.1 FCM Annual Conference and Trade Show (Ottawa)
Resolution No: 2025-0143
Moved By: Duane Whyte
Seconded By: Don Bobick
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Mayor Jacobson and Deputy Mayor Moriaux be authorized to attend Federation of Canadian Municipalities Annual Conference and Trade Show 2025 held in Ottawa, Ontario from May 29, 2025, to June 1, 2025.
Carried
8.2 Regular Meeting Date Change
Resolution No: 2025-0144
Moved By: Tanya Powell
Seconded By: Don Bobick
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the April 15th, 2025, Regular Meeting of Council be rescheduled to take place April 22nd, 2025, at 7:00pm in Council Chambers.
Carried
8.3 Policy 01/2025 – Treaty Land Acknowledgment
Moved By: Tanya Powell
Seconded By: Duane Whyte
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Policy 01/2025 being a Policy of the Town of Swan River to facilitate consistent use of a Treaty Land Acknowledgment be approved.
Tabled
Bobick: Motion to table to next regular meeting. Whyte: Seconded. Vote Result: Carried.
8.4 Councilor Leave of Absence
Resolution No: 2025-0145
Moved By: Don Bobick
Seconded By: Duane Whyte
BE IT RESOLVED that Councilor Corinna Medwid of The Town of Swan River be excused and be granted a leave of absence from her duties and obligations as Councillor effective immediately to a maximum of six months.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all Councilor indemnities be suspended while on leave until Councillor Medwid resumes her duties as Councilor.
Carried
9. Unfinished Business
10. Accounts
10.1 Appointment of TAXervice Inc. and Tax Sale Managers
Resolution No: 2025-0146
Moved By: Tanya Powell
Seconded By: Don Bobick
BE IT RESOLVED THAT pursuant to Town of Swan River By-Law No. 5/2008, TAXervice Inc. be appointed to manage property tax arrears recovery for the Town of Swan River; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT pursuant to Town of Swan River By-Law No. 5/2008, the following individuals be appointed Tax Sale Managers for the Town of Swan River:
a) Donna Zinkiew, Vice President of TAXervice Inc.; or
b) Tyler Burnside, Associate of TAXervice Inc.
Carried
10.2 2025 North-West Regional Library Payment
Resolution No: 2025-0147
Moved By: Don Bobick
Seconded By: Tanya Powell
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the 2025 North-West Regional Library levy in the amount of $102,538.30 be approved for payment once the Audited Financial Statements for the Year Ended December 31, 2024, have been received.
Carried
10.3 To receive payroll accounts
Resolution No: 2025-0148
Moved By: Tanya Powell
Seconded By: Don Bobick
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Payroll Account Cheques No. P5547 to No. P5549 and Direct Deposit Payments totaling $112,108.63 as listed on Schedule A be received.
Carried
10.4 To approve Direct Deposit Payments
Resolution No: 2025-0149
Moved By: Duane Whyte
Seconded By: Don Bobick
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Direct Deposit Payments totaling $710.00 as listed on Schedule A and $16,260.89 as listed on Schedule B be hereby approved for payment.
Carried
10.4.1 To approve General Account Cheques
Resolution No: 2025-0150
Moved By: Don Bobick
Seconded By: Tanya Powell
BE IT RESOLVED THAT General Account Cheques No. 32626 to No. 32693 totaling $121,440.71 as listed on Schedule A be approved for payment (excluding Cheque No. 32639 voided as was printed in error).
Carried
11. By-Laws
11.1 First Reading – Bylaw 6/2025 to Establish an Accommodation Tax Reserve Fund
Resolution No: 2025-0151
Moved By: Tanya Powell
Seconded By: Duane Whyte
RESOLVED that By-Law 6/2025, being a by-law to establish an Accommodation Tax Reserve Fund, be read a first time.
Carried
12. Notice of Motion
13. Member Privilege
14. In Camera
Resolution No: 2025-0152
Moved By: Duane Whyte
Seconded By: Don Bobick
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: 2025-0153
Moved By: Don Bobick
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
17. Adjournment
Resolution No: 2025-0154
Moved By: Tanya Powell
Seconded By: Duane Whyte
BE IT RESOLVED THAT this regular meeting of Council now adjourn at 8:25 pm.
Carried