The Town of Bonnyville is putting in a request to Canada's Minster of Public Safety, Ralph Goodale, to ensure they continue to have the number of members they want.
Council passed the motion during their regular meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 12, after including the member in their 2019 budget deliberations.
In February 2018, council decided to move ahead with recruiting their own town peace officer to cover the duties previously done through an enhanced RCMP position. Since the contract for the enhanced position expires at the end of this month, the town is requesting the position to be replaced by a regular member.
"For this year, we're actually budgeting for 12 (members) and the hope is if you ask for an additional member to replace the previous enhanced position you might actually get closer to the magic number of 13," explained assistant CAO Bill Rogers.
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Council moving forward with 50 Ave. trail
Town administration presented council with three options to build a safe pedestrian walking space along 50 Ave. from the Bonnyville and District Centennial Centre to the 7-Eleven at the east end of town.
Council decided to move ahead with a paved trail constructed on the north-side of the street, and a crosswalk.
The project is budgeted at about $300,000, and will be covered by surplus or reallocating existing capital budget funds.
"I'm reluctant to pull out a surplus in the roads budget that we've got, because we have projects that are slated," Mayor Gene Sobolewski said, adding that the cost could be taken from projects in the capital budget that won't be completed in 2019.
Rogers noted the estimate didn't take into account the already existing sidewalk along the Centennial Centre.
"We wouldn't have to do that part because it's already paved. We're only talking about as far over as the Peter Kushnir Ball Park sign... We think it would come in at under $300,000 because we would shorten that last part," he explained.
The project will be completed in two parts, with gravel going down first followed by paving.
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Town to replace airport flight recorder
Council approved the purchase of a Westcan recording station for the Bonnyville Airport after the previous model broke earlier this year. It allows users to be tracked when they use the air traffic landing and tarmac parking area.
The cost of the unit comes in at $22,500, and will be taken out of the public works equipment replacement reserve.
The airport is currently using a temporary recorder as a short-term solution until the new unit arrives.
Contributions to local groups
The town voted in favour of making $250 contributions to Bonnyville Centralized High School's (BCHS) graduation and to the Bonnyville 4-H District Council.
Along with the donation, BCHS was informed to contact the Centennial Centre's board to assist with covering the rental fee for the Reid Field House where the ceremony will take place.
