Minutes of the Regular Meeting of Council of the Rural Municipality of Mountain held Wednesday, April 9th, 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 with notice.
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: 2025/113
Moved By: Arnie Pedersen
Seconded By: Nestor Rizok
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Agenda for the April 9th, 2025 Regular Meeting of Council be adopted as presented.
For: 6 Against:
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
3. Matters Arising from Minutes
Resolution No: 2025/114
Moved By: Wilmer Malcolm
Seconded By: Nestor Rizok
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of Council held March 26th, 2025 be adopted as presented, all requirements having been complied with.
For: 6 Against:
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
4. By-Laws & Policies
4.1 Civic Addressing Changes/Complaints
Resolution No: 2025/115
Moved By: Wilmer Malcolm
Seconded By: Daniel Laychuk
WHEREAS concerns have been raised in regards to the civic addressing policy and subsequent new civic address for a business in Cowan;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council of the Rural Municipality of Mountain hereby approve an exception to the policy for the hamlet of Cowan.
For: 3 Against: 3
DEFEATED
4.2 Civic Addressing Changes
Resolution No: 2025/116
Moved By: Arnie Pedersen
Seconded By: Daniel Laychuk
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council of the Rural Municipality of Mountain hereby approve the purchase of standard house numbers for any addresses that have been adjusted to meet the criteria of the new Civic Address Policy.
For: 6 Against:
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
5. Financial
5.1 Ward Financial Statements: Review
5.2 March Bank Statement & Reconciliation
Resolution No: 2025/117
Moved By: Nestor Rizok
Seconded By: Wilmer Malcolm
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council of the Rural Municipality of Mountain hereby approve the Bank Reconciliation and Bank Statement for the month ending March 31st, 2025 as presented.
For: 6 Against:
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
5.3 Overdue Utility Accounts
Resolution No: 2025/118
Moved By: Nestor Rizok
Seconded By: Wilmer Malcolm
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the following unpaid utility accounts be added to the real property tax account of each account holder as per Schedule ‘A’ attached hereto.
For: 6 Against:
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
5.4 Accounts Payable
Resolution No: 2025/119
Moved By: Arnie Pedersen
Seconded By: Daniel Laychuk
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Cheque Nos. 20250213 to 20250246 be approved for payment in the amount of $78,665.94, including Council Indemnities in the amount of $5,196.33 as per By-Law 11/18 and Direct Deposit Payroll Numbers 261 to 279 in the amount of $8,771.75 as attached hereto as Schedule ‘A’;
AND FURTHER IT BE RESOLVED THAT the direct payment amount of $6,590.11 for Receiver General for March be hereby approved.
For: Against:
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6. Ward Reports & Work Orders
Resolution No: 2025/120
Moved By: Wilmer Malcolm
Seconded By: Daniel Laychuk
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council of the Rural Municipality of Mountain hereby approve Work Orders #17/2025 to #18/2025 attached hereto.
For: 6 Against:
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
7. Delegations/Petitions
8. Meeting Attendance and Reports
9. General Business
9.1 Pine River Fire Hall Project
Resolution No: 2025/121
Moved By: Wilmer Malcolm
Seconded By: Daniel Laychuk
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council of the Rural Municipality of Mountain hereby adjust the scope for the Pine River Fire Hall project to:
A stand alone building; and
All interior renovations for the existing building, with the exception of lighting, be placed on hold until the stand alone building is complete.
For: 6 Against:
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
9.2 Pesticide Application Amounts/Locations
TABLED
9.3 Subdivision Project: Road Purchase Application from Crown Lands
Resolution No: 2025/122
Moved By: Daniel Laychuk
Seconded By: Arnie Pedersen
WHEREAS the Municipality is interested in purchasing a portion of the SW 3-35-23W for completion of a plan of public road through that parcel plus the SE 4-35-23W;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council of the Rural Municipality of Mountain make a purchase request from Crown Lands for the portion of road on the SW 3-35-23W;
AND THAT the CAO be authorized to sign on behalf of the Municipality.
For: 6 Against:
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
9.4 Request to Purchase
Resolution No: 2025/123
Moved By: Arnie Pedersen
Seconded By: Wilmer Malcolm
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council of the Rural Municipality of Mountain hereby accept the offer to purchase Lots 6/7, Plan 1086; in Birch River, MB [Roll#300700.000 & 300701.000] from P. Spence in the amount of the reserve bid;
AND THAT the transfer be subject to the following conditions:
The Rural Municipality of Mountain is under no obligation to provide access to such parcels, now or upon future request;
The parcel is sold in the as is/where is condition.
For: 6 Against:
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
9.5 Purchase Transfer
Resolution No: 2025/124
Moved By: Daniel Laychuk
Seconded By: Wilmer Malcolm
WHEREAS the SE 24-32-21W (Roll#36400.000) 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 Mountain hereby authorize the transfer of the SE 24-32-21W to the leaseholder, subject to the following conditions:
That the Rural Municipality of Mountain is under no obligation to provide access to such parcels, now or upon future request; and
That the parcel is sold in the as is/where is condition;
AND THAT the CAO be authorized to sign on behalf of the Municipality.
For: 6 Against:
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
9.6 Purchase Transfer
Resolution No: 2025/125
Moved By: Daniel Laychuk
Seconded By: Nestor Rizok
WHEREAS the NW 4-32-19W (Roll#1200.000) 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 Mountain hereby authorize the transfer of NW 4-32-19W to the leaseholder, subject to the following conditions:
That the Rural Municipality of Mountain is under no obligation to provide access to such parcels, now or upon future request; and
That the parcel is sold in the as is/where is condition;
AND THAT the CAO be authorized to sign on behalf of the Municipality.
For: 6 Against:
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
9.7 SV Mutual Aid Agreement
Resolution No: 2025/126
Moved By: Arnie Pedersen
Seconded By: Nestor Rizok
WHEREAS Notice of Motion was presented at the March 26th, 2025 meeting to reconsider the decision of Council of Resolution Number 2025/033 and 2025/093 related to the Swan Valley Mutual Aid Agreement;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council of the Rural Municipality of Mountain hereby approve the new proposed agreement which specifically notes the following differences:
3.04 Mutual Aid will not be in effect should there be less than 5 members in attendance on scene of the incident within 60 minutes from the time of the initial home department page from 9-1-1 Communication Centre initiating the home department response. Mutual Aid will not be in effect if there is no initial response from the home department.
11.06 All parties to this Agreement shall once annually send a copy of their respective departments billable rates to all parties of the Agreement within the first 30 days of each calendar year or within 7 days of any amendment.
AND THAT the Reeve and CAO be authorized to sign on behalf of the Municipality.
For: 6 Against:
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
10. Communications
10.1 Intent to Designate Heritage Site
Resolution No: 2025/127
Moved By: Brad Wyatt
Seconded By: Nestor Rizok
WHEREAS a Notice of Intent to Designate a Hertiage site was issued by the Rural Municipality of Mountain in June 2000;
AND WHEREAS in October 2000 the Rural Municipality of Mountain passed Resolution No. 263/00 which recinded this heritage desination;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council of the Rural Municipality of Mountain issue a full discharge of the Notice of Intent to Designate Herigate Site for the former CN properties.
For: 6 Against:
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
10.2 Manitoba GRO Grant Program: Unsuccessful
10.3 LUD of Pine River Minutes: Review
10.4 2025 Property Cleanup Listing
Resolution No: 2025/128
Moved By: Wilmer Malcolm
Seconded By: Nestor Rizok
WHEREAS there has been a review of properties within the Rural Municipality of Mountain communities, and several were determined to be derelict or considered unsafe or unsightly;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council of the Rural Municipality of Mountain hereby finalize the 2025 Property Cleanup listing as per Schedule ‘A’ attached hereto;
AND THAT all private properties have a deadline of May 9th, 2025 to obtain compliance or municipal enforcement will be pursued.
For: 6 Against:
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
10.5 RCMP Report: Swan River Detachment
11. Adjournment
Resolution No: 2025/129
Moved By: Wilmer Malcolm
Seconded By: Nestor Rizok
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Regular Meeting of Council of the Rural Municipality of Mountain be adjourned to meet again on April 23rd, 2025.
Meeting adjourned at 12:15 p.m.
For: 6 Against:
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY