Council clips - Oct 24
- Details
- Published on Friday, October 24, 2014
By Sheila Runions
The Rivers Banner
RM of Blanshard, Oct. 14: Information was received from Water Stewardship indicating the department could not license additional culverts on the Oak River unless an agreement was made with downstream landowners.
Preliminary pricing suggests the initial budget for the municipal shop is a little low for a 4,800 square-foot building. A Christmas appreciation supper will be held Sunday, Dec. 14 at Oak River Inn. A sewer line had to be replaced along Hwy. 24 due to a collapse of the line; this expenditure was not anticipated; partial funding may be available from Manitoba Water Services Board (MWSB); council requested financial assistance to complete the sewer line replacement. Oak River Utility incurred an operating deficit in 2013 due to the outstanding debt at the water treatment plant; the deficit was incurred over the past 14 years. Council is considering passing a bylaw to borrow money to pay off the existing debt over the next 20 years; council requests approval from Public Utilities Board to recover the 2013 deficit by issuing a 20-year debenture to repay the money on a per parcel basis. Operating costs, combined with low water sales at Oak River treatment plant, have resulted in a plant deficit increasing each year; council will draft a local improvement plan to outline the debt incurred with MWSB which includes the costs, properties and taxpayers affect, and the method and rate for calculating the tax to repay the outstanding debt. Notice of motion was received from Reeve Brent Fortune to rescind Resolution #105/14 which allows a penalty of one per cent per month be added to all unpaid taxes as at Nov. 1.
Finances: Oak River Memorial Hall Committee was granted $1,000 from VLT funds; Cardale Rink Association was granted $5,000 from VLT funds for repairs and maintenance of Cardale arena/sports grounds; Oak River Community Association was granted $5,000 from VLT funds for repairs and maintenance of Oak River arena/sports grounds. Blanshard Community Development Corporation was granted $25,000. Minister of Finance was paid $3,222.42 as Blanshard’s contribution to Family Services and Consumer Affairs. Of three tenders received council accepted that from Clint Moffat & Sons to load, haul and stockpile gravel from McIntyre Pit to a road allowance in Blanshard for $37,000. Of three tenders were received council accepted that from Clint Moffat & Sons to place geo-textile and haul and place rip rap along the road sides of Road 79N between 128W and 129W for $12.20 per cubic yard (rip-rap) and $1.10 per square meter (geo-textile). Shane Bates was hired as the part-time waste management supervisor for $14.16 per hour with a three month probation period. Bills have been received from contractors to repair damage done to roads due to the excessive June rains and for gravelling; council agreed to pay Gill Farms Ltd. $63,556.25; John Stewart $1,627.50; Lamb’s Construction$10,724.90; Gregory Sand & Gravel $8,560.32. Accounts of $39,530.55 and unpaid invoices of $67,469.97 were passed for payment. The next meeting is Oct. 28 at 9 a.m.
