Rural Review - June 2024

Cold Lake M.D. Park

KINOSOO RIDGE RESORT

Book The Ridge for your next event!

Event venue rentals starting at $250.

What we provide:

• Tables and chairs

• Tableware

• Audio and video equipment

Refrigerators

Catering

You can find out more about our venue at kinosoo.ca

@TheRidgeAtKR

PUBLIC SAFETY

Positive Ticketing program

Positive deeds deserve positive rewards — that is why the Municipal District of Bonnyville’s Public Safety Department is starting its Positive Ticketing program this summer.

Peace officers who patrol our community will be handing out Positive Tickets when they see youth doing something positive in the community. These tickets will be issued to youth for doing random acts of kindness to help people in the community, picking up litter, practicing good bike safety, and more. The Positive Ticket program creates positive interactions with law enforcement.

Kids “caught” in the act of doing something positive will get a sweet treat in return — a certificate for a free scoop of ice cream from the M.D.’s Visitor Information Centre in the Shaw House at Vezeau Beach on Moose Lake.

Keep an eye out for our officers and help make a positive impact on your community.

AGRICULTURAL SERVICES

Planting your seedlings

Spring is in the air and our residents are busy working in their yards planting flowers, trees, and tending to their gardens. Planting and caring for seedlings are a labour of love, but planting them properly will ensure your time and investment pays off. Here are a few planting tips:

Break Dormancy - If you bought bare root seedlings, soak the roots for 48 hours in water. If you bought plugs, there is no need to soak them. After planting, be patient and keep watering. It is important to note trees can take several weeks to start growing after you receive them.

Spacing - Spacing recommendations should be followed for the species of tree you are planting. You can find out more at bit.ly/ShelterbeltDesignGuideline

Planting the Seedlings - Tree planting shovels are small spades designed to efficiently plant plugs and bare root seedlings by creating a crevice in the ground rather than a hole. The figure below shows proper planting techniques:

Planting Timeline - Upon receiving your trees, plant them as soon as possible. If you are unable to plant them, store seedlings in a cool, dry place such as a garage or shop floor. Seedlings should be placed away from sunlight and heat. Water seedlings and make certain there is proper ventilation to prevent mould.

Watering - Newly planted seedlings should be watered, at a minimum, of once per week. During July and August when the weather is hotter, seedlings should be watered more frequently. Use your discretion when watering — if your annual flowerpots are dry, so are your seedlings. Consistent watering is very important for the first two years after planting. Seedlings are very fragile. If they get too dry, they can die once they are leafed out.

Weeding - Control weeds and other vegetation to prevent competition for water and nutrients. Mulch will keep weeds down and help conserve moisture.

Did you know the Ag Services Department assists landowners when identifying tree pests and diseases? If you detect irregularities in your shelterbelt trees, give us a call or stop by the office with a sample. We may need additional information such as site conditions, how old your shelterbelt is, and if there has been any spraying in the area.

Questions? Contact the Ag Services Department at 780-826-3951.

Direct shovel into the ground to a depth greater than the length of the seedling roots.

Use a circular motion to open up the ground. Two hands on the handle may be required.

Using the shovel to hold the soil back, place the seedling with care, ensuring the roots will be fully buried in the soil.

Using your hands or foot, pat the ground down firmly around the base of the seedling. Make sure the seedling will not come out when light tension is placed on the stem.

Water the area thoroughly after planting but avoid over saturating the soil.

WASTE SERVICES

Did you know the Municipal District of Bonnyville is a leader in waste management and recycling in Alberta?

Our successful waste and recycling programs are thanks to you — our residents and ratepayers. We thank you for your help in keeping our M.D. clean and our waste diversion programs leading edge.

Below you’ll find some tips for when you head to one of our six landfill or transfer stations. By following the advice below, we can continue to be a waste reduction leader.

Before you head to the landfill, transfer station, or bin site, sort your waste and recycling. All of our sites are set up so you can easily place your sorted waste and recycling where they belong. This helps to ensure our sites will last for generations to come.

Clean Wood Only piles are for trees, branches, and raw, untreated, and unpainted lumber.

All treated, painted, or laminated wood, as well as furniture, large plastics, and other bulky materials must be disposed of in the Class 3 Bulky Waste location. In order to maximize space, these materials will be shredded to help eliminate air space and increase compaction in our landfill cells.

Getting rid of something that may still have some life in it? Put it in the Freecycle Shed! Please make sure the items are in good shape and still usable. Broken and worn-out items should be disposed of or recycled.

If you are bringing a fridge or freezer, you must ensure it is empty. Rotten food left in units must be removed by the resident. Our attendants will ask you to open the door/lid to ensure it has been emptied before it can be dropped off at the recycling area.

Searching for a spare part in our metal pile? To ensure the safety of our residents, your feet must remain on the ground while you are looking for reusable material.

If you are disposing of old oil, please be prepared to unload your own oil and containers. Landfill operators have a lid remover tool for residents to remove the lids from five-gallon pails, but they cannot unload your oil and containers.

Household Hazardous Waste – household chemicals are accepted at all M.D. landfills. Once the jugs/containers are empty, they should be bagged and disposed of with your household waste.

Paint – all paint cans, whether containing paint material or empty, should be placed in the paint recycling tote to ensure our compliance with Alberta Recycling’s Stewardship Program.

Electronics – almost any residential item or toy that uses a battery or has a cord is now accepted for recycling in the electronics program and doesn’t have to be tossed out anymore! Please bring those items in and we can have them recycled!

Last year, the M.D. sent 7,537,926 pounds of household waste to the household waste site in Thorhild County, while we diverted over 1.4 million pounds of recyclable materials.

Let’s keep sorting and recycling to keep our M.D. clean!

2024 BY THE NUMBERS

Assessment $400,000

• Approx. 1350 sq. ft.

• Built more than 10 years ago, but less than 20 years ago

• Two-acre lot

• Double car garage

• Basement fully developed, same quality as the main level

Total 2024 Tax & Assessment Notice Amount: $2,174

2024 Municipal Property Tax Revenues

Not Including Ward 6 North

Revenues (Order in Council 121/2021)

Revenues from 2024 Tax Rate Bylaw, breakdown by assessment:

M.D. of Bonnyville

M.D. ROADS (Construction, Maintenance, Snow Removal)

INFRASTRUCTURE (Garbage, Water, Sewer, Waste Water)

M.D. CAMPGROUNDS

M.D. PARKS (Trails, Playgrounds)

M.D. ADMINISTRATION

PROPERTY TAXES (Municipal Portion)

BYLAW ENFORCEMENT

M.D. REGIONAL AIRPORT

KINOSOO RIDGE

MUNICIPAL LAND STEWARSHIP

SCHOOLS HOSPITALS SOCIAL

WATERBODIES (Fish Bearing)

SCHOOL TAXES (Collected by Municipality for Province)

SHERIFFS

PROVINCIAL INCOME TAX

WATERBODIES

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

Dispelling three common disaster myths

Disasters and emergencies are often surrounded by myths that can hinder response initiatives. Here we will be debunking three common disaster myths to help you prepare for emergencies and disasters and to help keep you and your family safe.

Myth 1: It won’t happen to me

This belief can lead you to not being prepared. Disasters can occur at any time and can affect anyone.

Knowing the risks within the M.D., being ready with an emergency plan and disaster kit, while staying informed can greatly reduce the risk. Visit the M.D.’s Emergency Management website at bit.ly/EmergencyManagement. Here you will find information on how to prepare for emergencies and disasters and how build your very own emergency plan.

Myth 2: I read it on online, so it must be true

Social media can be useful for getting updates during disasters and emergencies, but it’s also full of misinformation. It’s important to source information from reliable sources like government agencies or trusted news outlets before acting on it. Being critical and questioning what you read online is crucial. Be sure to ask yourself – is this a trustworthy source? Is this the most current information?

The M.D.’s Voyent Alert! system is one way we share credible and up-to-date information on emergent happenings in the M.D. Scan the QR code to learn how to download the app and create an account.

You can find a list of verified sources of information on the left.

Myth 3: People panic during emergencies and disasters

Contrary to what you see in movies and television shows, panic isn’t the norm during emergencies or disasters.

Research indicates most people exhibit calm, cooperative behaviour when faced with crises. Instead of panicking, communities often come together to assist and support one another, highlighting resilience in the face of adversity.

By debunking these myths, we can improve our preparedness and response to emergencies and disasters. Knowledge and awareness are keys to staying safe.

Alberta Emergency Alert (AEA)

Alberta Wildfire

md.bonnyville.ab.ca

Voyent Alert!

Official M.D. of Bonnyville channels: @MDBonnyville

Find out more about each M.D. park at bit.ly/MDCamping, call 780-826-2245, or scan the QR code below.

Let’s camp!

Visit letscamp.ca to book your summer getaway at the following M.D. parks:

Chickenhill Lake – 30-amp power

Cold Lake – 30-amp power and non-power tent sites

Crane Lake East and West – 30-amp power

Ethel Lake – non-power

French Bay on Cold Lake – non-power

Minnie Lake East and West – 30-amp power

Muriel Lake – 30-amp power, non-power, seasonal, and group sites available

Pelican Point on Moose Lake – non-power, group sites, and OHVfriendly sites available

Vezeau Beach on Moose Lake – full-service, seasonal sites available Wolf Lake – non-power

Follow us on social media for weekly campsite availabilities throughout the camping season.

@MDBonnyville

Wolf Lake M.D. Park

OF NOTE...

Upcoming Council meetings

With summer just around the corner, there are a few changes to the Council Meeting schedule.

Typically, Regular Meetings of Council are held the second and fourth Tuesday of every month, while Committee of the Whole meetings are held the third Tuesday of every month.

Due to scheduling conflicts, the following meetings will be cancelled:

Regular Meeting of Council

– August 13, 2024

Committee of the Whole

– June 18, 2024 – July 16, 2024 – August 20, 2024

Regular Meetings of Council and Committee of the Whole meetings start at 9 a.m. in Council Chambers and are open to the public. You can find the meeting schedule, agenda packages, and minutes at bit.ly/MDBvilleAgendas

We want to hear from you!

A survey about the M.D.’s Land Use Bylaw Review & Update project is now live.

Find out more and submit feedback about the M.D.’s Land Use Bylaw Review & Update by visiting bit.ly/MDBvilleLUB

Here you will find an introduction to the review and update project, links to the current Land Use Bylaw, educational information about the planning document hierarchy, and a link to a short survey to submit feedback.

Please note - the survey deadline is June 21, 2024.

Attention M.D. property owners

The M.D.’s 2024 Assessment and Tax Notices have officially hit mailboxes.

Notices were mailed out at the beginning of June. If you haven’t received notices for all of the property you own by the end of the month, please contact the M.D.’s Tax Department at 780-826-3171.

This year’s tax deadline is September 15, 2024.

Do you want to know more about taxes in the M.D. of Bonnyville? You can find out how your tax bill breaks down on Pages 8 and 9 of this newsletter.

PRODUCED AND PRINTED BY THE MUNICIPAL DISTRICT OF BONNYVILLE NO. 87

4905 - 50 Avenue Bag 1010

Bonnyville, Alberta T9N 2J7

CONTACT US:

Main Administration

780-826-3171

Public Safety/Bylaw Concerns 780-812-3332

24-Hour Concern Line 780-812-5000

FIND US ONLINE

web - md.bonnyville.ab.ca email - info@md.bonnyville.ab.ca

Sign up for a digital copy of the Rural Review at md.bonnyville.ab.ca.

COPYRIGHT - The articles, logos, and photos in this publication are the copyright of the Municipal District of Bonnyville No. 87 and may not be reproduced without consent.

WARD 1

Josh Crick

jcrick@md.bonnyville.ab.ca

780-545-5961 WARD 2

Darcy Skarsen

dskarsen@md.bonnyville.ab.ca 780-201-3478 WARD 3

Mike Krywiak

mkrywiak@md.bonnyville.ab.ca 780-573-6093 WARD 4

Don Slipchuk

dslipchuk@md.bonnyville.ab.ca 780-545-8443 WARD 5

Dana Swigart

dswigart@md.bonnyville.ab.ca 780-573-9095 WARD 6

Ben Fadeyiw

bfadeyiw@md.bonnyville.ab.ca 780-826-1462

MESSAGE FROM THE REEVE

bkalinski@md.bonnyville.ab.ca 780-573-6082

Is it just me, or has the first half of 2024 flown by? It’s hard to believe we’re already in June and looking into summer.

The best part of that is all of the summer fun we have to look forward to. Our M.D. campgrounds are open, the Aerial Adventure Park at Kinosoo Ridge Resort is ready to climb, and the Visitor Information and Interpretive Centre at the Shaw House is serving up ice cream for those warm summer days.

Speaking of ice cream, did you know our Peace Officers are now handing out Positive Tickets to youth in the M.D.? If members of our Public Safety

NOTES FROM THE CAO

Al Hoggan

ahoggan@md.bonnyville.ab.ca

780-826-3171

When it rains it pours… and then it rains some more. What a blessing to receive the much-needed moisture throughout the province. This rain will surely help sustain the region and the province for many weeks to come.

The recent rains have allowed the M.D. to have a reduced fire hazard and with that, a much-reduced risk of local fires. Most fires in the region (and there were not that many) are well under control/ contained if not completely out. Many thanks to our volunteer firefighters and all our First Responders for being there when we needed them.

On the other side of things, the rains have caused some issues with our local gravel roads. As the frost is still in the ground in some areas, the rain soaking into the roads has caused some rough patches and some potholing. M.D. crews

Department “catch” youth doing good in the community, they’ll be given a Positive Ticket to redeem for an ice cream at Shaw House. You can find out more on Page 4 of this newsletter.

Keep up to date on events happening this summer at md.bonnyville.ab.ca or by following us on Facebook or Instagram @MDBonnyville.

I hope you take the time to enjoy the beauty, wonder, and the many blessings the Municipal District of Bonnyville has to offer with your friends and family.

are actively out and about addressing the issues. Should you, in your travels, spot a road issue, please call 780-8125000. This telephone number is a direct line to our concerns list and your concern will be addressed rapidly.

The Cherry Grove Fire Hall

groundbreaking ceremony took place a few weeks ago. We at the M.D. are excited about the new fire hall and for the positive impact that it will have on everyone in the area.

Our M.D. campgrounds are now open, the docks are in, and we were pleased to install a new dock at Chickenhill Lake.

Enjoy the upcoming summer months and be safe in all your travels.

Barry Kalinski