Municipal District of Bonnyville

The Municipal District of Bonnyville is aware of the announcement made yesterday about the possible, limited return of strychnine in an effort to control a gopher infestation in prairie provinces. At this time, we do not have any additional information or details on how the program will work. Our Agricultural Services Department is in contact with other rural municipalities around the province, which are also awaiting news. Once we have details on how the program will work and when/if the product will become available, we will post updates here and to our website. Thanks for your patience.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Ardmore Water Fill Station is closed, effective immediately (March 30, 2026). All bulk water users are being directed to the Fort Kent Water Fill Station. Currently, there is no reopening date available. We will post updates on this page as they become available. We thank you for your patience during this time.

Read the Highlights from the March 24, 2026 Regular Meeting of Council at bit.ly/Highlights0324… This week's meeting featured the First Reading for the 2026 Tax Rate bylaw, approval of a bridge project, and more. Watch a recording of the meeting at bit.ly/MDBvilleYouTube

The Regular Meeting of Council for March 24, 2026 has been adjourned.

Council has gone into Closed Session.

Council is now giving reports on the conferences, meetings, and other events they’ve attended since the last Regular Meeting of Council.

Council has accepted a package of correspondence as information.

Council has approved an amendment to Policy No. 1.003 Councillor Meeting Attendance Policy. The amendment will allow members to attend events when the associated costs are already within budget without seeking Council approval. Any events requiring additional funding will still have to get Council approval.

Council has given First Reading to Bylaw No. 1932 the 2026 Tax Rate bylaw. This will set the tax rates for 2026. If adopted as presented, it would see the increase in the Farmland tax rate, from 5.0 to 8.0. While there hasn’t been a change to the residential tax rate, an increase in assessment value will see residential taxes increase. To illustrate how an increase will affect residential taxes, Administration offered the following example: a residential property assessed at $500,000 will see an increase of 4.17 per cent, or $57.12. The bylaw will come back to the April 14, 2026 Regular Meeting of Council with updated information on provincial requisitions.

Council has given First Reading to Bylaw No. 1931 Amending Local Improvement Tax Bylaw. This bylaw would amend the existing bylaw, which imposes a local improvement tax for properties in Ardmore and Fort Kent connected to the water system. Two properties have been consolidated, which requires an update to the levy. This year, it will be $275.35, which is an increase of 87 cents over 2025. This is the final year of the tax levy.

Council has given First Reading to Bylaw No. 1929 – the Tax Installment Payment Plan Bylaw. If adopted, this new bylaw will allow for an additional payment option for paying property taxes in 2026. This year, the deadline for payment of M.D. property taxes has been moved to June 30, 2026. In order for taxpayers to adjust to the new deadline, they will be able to sign up for the M.D.’s tax installment payment plan until June 30, which will see their taxes divided into six monthly payments without penalty.

Council has given First Reading to Bylaw No. 1930 Road Closure and Sale Bylaw. This bylaw, if passed, will allow the M.D. to close the road and dispose of it through a direct sale at fair market value. The 4.65 acres would be consolidated into an adjacent property and will not affect access to any neighbouring property or utility corridors.

Council is back in session and starting off with a discussion about Bylaw No. 1930 Road Closure and Sale Bylaw.

Council is taking a break.

Council has approved an unbudgeted expenditure of $1.6 million to construct a single-lane replacement bridge on Township Road 593A. The bridge project is estimated at $1.675 million and will utilize $75,000 that was previously budgeted. The project will be funded through the Bridge Reserve.

Council has approved updates to the capital plans for the M.D. of Bonnyville Regional Airport. The upgrades will make the airport more compliant, enhance security, reduce the risk of runway excursions, and more. The projects will be funded by re-allocating funds previously dedicated to specific projects into a generalized project budget.

Council has approved the addition of $150,000 to the Agricultural Services 2026 Operating Budget. The additional funding will cover the costs of cleaning up blown down trees and woody debris from municipal ditches and rights-of-way caused by the January 2026 windstorm. The expense will be funded from the Cashflow Reserve.

Council has approved an increase in budget for the Veterinary Services Inc. (VSI) program. The Agricultural Services Board reviewed the 2026 Budget and projected costs for the upcoming season and recommended the budget be increased by $27,200, for a total of $163,700. The VSI program supports local producers and contributes to improved animal health through subsidies for professional veterinary services.

Council is back in open session.

Council has gone into closed session.