Municipal Alberta
Martin Woos Muni Sector
FORT McMURRAY -- What do you get when you put hundreds of municipal officials in close proximity to a host of politicians promising everything from the moon to nothing at all? (Fort McMurray Today)
. . . And Mayors Eat It Up
ST. ALBERT -- St. Albert Mayor Richard Plain has returned from a meeting of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) buoyed with the hope the federal government is finally listening. (St. Albert Gazette)
Hissing Match
REDCLIFF -- A licensing bylaw would be the cat's meow for some Redcliff residents, but not worth hissing at for others. (40 Mile County Commentator)
RV Parking A Problem
STRATHMORE -- Residents who are new to Strathmore may not be aware that the Town has special bylaws concerning the parking of recreational vehicles on streets and in yards. (Strathmore Standard)
Satellite Technology Eyed
VULCAN -- In the near future Vulcan County emergency vehicles may be guided by using satellite tracking systems. (Vulcan Advocate)
City, M.D. At Odds
AIRDRIE -- A polite yet heated discussion about the political process for funding requests took place at M.D. of Rocky View council chambers. (Airdrie Echo)
Hoteliers Hot
BANFF -- The Banff Hotel Motel Association says the Town of Banff should have approached the organization before recommending a hotel surcharge to the province. (Banff Crag & Canyon)
Town, MD Cut Deal
CALGARY -- Not only will the new annexation deal reached by the Town of Cochrane and the Municipal District of Rocky View allow Cochrane 3,475 acres more room to stretch its legs, but it has also brought the two municipalities closer together. (Rocky View Times)
Survey Underway on Con Candidates
DIDSBURY -- Mountain View County Council will say no to the survey question "Does your municipality agree that candidates in local government elections should be required to publicly disclose any prior federal convictions as part of the nomination process?" posed to them by the AAMD&C. (Didsbury Review)
Two-Horse Race
STRATHMORE -- Wheatland County will soon elect a new County Councillor. (Drumheller Mail)
Couple Demands Compensation
ECKVILLE -- Arthur and Edith Thomas have filed a formal complaint with the Town of Eckville when a routine excavation revealed a huge quantity of garbage and rubble buried on their property. (Eckville Echo)
Assessment Appeals Get Pricier
LACOMBE -- Owners of apartment buildings and commercial properties in Lacombe may have to dig a lot deeper into their pockets to appeal their property tax assessments this year. (Lacombe Globe)
Sour On Sundre
DIDSBURY -- Mountain View County (MVC) Council expressed strong disappointment in Sundre's Town Council in their refusal to continue financial support for an extra clerical position at their local RCMP. (Olds Albertan)
Uncomfortable With Corporate Review
EDSON -- Some members of Yellowhead County council are still uncomfortable with some of the recommendations in the corporate review. (Edson Leader)
Mounties, Bylaw Now Bike Mates
FORT SASKATCHEWAN -- Local RCMP and Bylaw officers are teaming up to bulk up the bicycle unit. (Fort Saskatchewan Record)
About Face On Fireworks
EDMONTON -- After getting a blast from the public, members of city council now say they will find the money for fireworks on Canada Day. (Edmonton Journal)
County Scores Summer Games
SHERWOOD PARK -- The Honourable Gene Zwozdesky surprised Strathcona County's 2007 Western Canada Summer Games Bid Committee by announcing that Strathcona County had been chosen to host the Games. (Strathcona County Press Release hosted on MuniMall)
Taxi Fees Triple
BONNYVILLE -- It will now be more difficult for out-of-town taxi companies to poach business from Bonnyville-based companies.( Bonnyville Nouvelle)
Revenue Up $750G
SANGUDO -- Lac Ste. Anne County will draw in more revenues from taxpayers this fiscal year, pulling in approximately $750,000 in additional funds. (Mayerthorpe Freelancer)
Beautification A Beast
PEACE RIVER -- Impending changes to riverfront property requirements are back on the drawing board while Peace River council wrestles with how to clean up appearances without clipping the wings of retail business. (Peace River Record Gazette)
Boozing, Panhandling Pondered
ST. PAUL -- Revitalizing St. Paul's downtown core could soon have a more human element as the town and local police work together to curb panhandling and intoxicated people loitering on streets and alleys. ( St. Paul Journal)
Municipal Saskatchewan
Mountie Radio Makes Municipal Waves
REGINA -- Towns and cities are expected to foot the bill for an expected $47 million expense over ten years to replace the RCMP radio system in Saskatchewan, and many are feeling rooked. (CBC Saskatchewan)
Golf Ball Battle Over
REGINA -- The ongoing court battle between the City of Regina and Lakeview Gardens over errant golf balls from the Lakeview par 3 course has ended in a draw. (Leader-Post)
Tough On Nuisance
WHITEWOOD -- Whitewood town council has several plans and initiatives in place to keep the community looking tidy. (Whitewood Herald)
Trash System Called Foul
PRINCE ALBERT -- Bring back rear-lane garbage collection, say many who attended a meeting on the issue Monday night. (Prince Albert Daily Herald)
Two More Eye Mayor's Chair
SASKATOON-- Two more high-profile Saskatonians are leaning toward running for mayor this fall, putting more heat on incumbent Jim Maddin and fashioning the tightest race in decades. (StarPhoenix)
Municipal Manitoba
Taxes Rise
SNOW LAKE -- A rise in insurance, recreation maintenance, and wage and benefit costs will trigger an increase in taxes for Snow Lake residents. (Underground Press)
Unresolved Issues Piling Up
BRANDON -- Brandon city council's to do list is getting longer but Mayor Dave Burgess isn't concerned - for now. (Brandon Sun)
If You Build It, Will They Come?
GILBERT PLAINS -- Over the past year the Gilbert Plains Economic Development board has been focusing its attention on establishing a new hotel in Gilbert Plains. Second story down. (Grandview Exponent)
Liquor Ballot Could Be Lengthy
WINKLER-- Residents will be passing judgment on expanded liquor service in Winkler this fall but they won't know until the end of June how many questions they will see on the ballot. (Winkler Times)
Excess Garbage Fee
SELKIRK -- People living in Selkirk now have a user fee for picking up excess garbage. (CBC Manitoba)
RM Plays Hardball
STE. ANNE -- The RM of Ste. Anne Council is hoping that if they turn Greenland Road into a "no truck route", the RM of Tache will come to the table and discuss upgrading the road this summer. (Dawson Trail Dispatch)
Municipal North
Chamber Motion Takes A Beating
IQALUIT, NU -- Iqaluit city council defeated a motion to establish a one-window community economic development agency. (Nunatsiaq News)
Emergency Lessons Learned
WHITEHORSE, YK -- The city's emergency planning team has learned a few lessons over the past year as it's conducted three exercises to look at how well it responds to crises. (Whitehorse Star Daily)
Municipal Ontario
Sewage Rap Sticks
DRYDEN -- The City of Dryden will pay a penalty of $8,000, plus 25 per cent surcharge under the Provincial Offences Act, for failing to submit a report of its sewage works on time to the Ministry of the Environment. (The Dryden Observer)
Tank Plan Implemented
MARATHON -- Failing to remove underground fuel tanks puts Marathon's drinking water at risk and could put property owners in the unenviable position of paying for the cleanup of oil spills. (Chronicle-Journal)
Reeve To Wear Two Hats
EMO -- Local provincial PC candidate Cathe Hoszowski announced this week that the vacancy left by her former campaign manager has been filled by a "seasoned politician" -- Emo Reeve Russ Fortier. (Fort Frances Times Online)
Improved Access Eyed
SIOUX LOOKOUT-- New provincial legislation requires municipalities to make their facilities accessible to the disabled, and Sioux Lookout institutions are now c0ntemplating changes. (Sioux Lookout Bulletin)
Scofflaws Beware
SUDBURY -- A program that has helped the City of Greater Sudbury collect more than $400,000 in unpaid provincial fines has been extended for a year. (Sudbury Star)
Gloves Off In Amalgamation Fight
NEW LISKEARD -- Dymond Township council has activated the process which will see the Tri-Town amalgamation the subject of a legal battle which could take a long period of time. (Temiskaming Speaker)
Idle Thoughts
HUNTSVILLE -- Council debated a truck-idling policy, which would put an end to the idling of trucks in urban Huntsville after a certain period of time, possibly 3 minutes. (Huntsville Forester)
Taxes Up, But Rate Unchanged
ATHENS -- While the tax rate will stay the same this year, many Athens township residents will see their tax bills climb due to hikes in assessment. (Brockville Recorder & Times Online)
New Cop Shop Moves To Design Stage
KINGSTON -- A proposed $30-million police station and municipal operations centre in central Kingston is moving to the planning and design stage. (Kingston This Week)
Caution On Hog Barns
OTTAWA -- Ottawa's health watchdog says the process of reforming Ontario's drinking water system following the Walkerton tragedy is not far enough along to allow a large pig operation close to the village of Sarsfield. (Ottawa Citizen)
Info Service On Hold
PETERBOROUGH -- A $2.6-million plan to modernize customer service at city hall is on hold today after a city councillor complained it was too expensive and included unnecessary costs such as the hiring of a media relations officer. (Peterborough Examiner)
City Email Poses FOIP Quandry
KAWARTHA LAKES -- How city staff and councillors will handle electronic communication in the future will have to be decided by council, the city's clerk said. (Lindsay Daily Post)
Gas Tax Not The Answer: Manley
BRANTFORD -- Finance Minister John Manley says that allowing municipalities to collect a share of the federal gas tax is the wrong approach to solving their infrastructure problems. (Brantford Expositor)
Official Plan Unveiled
ELORA -- The proposed municipal official plan document for the Township of Centre Wellington was revealed at a public meeting. (Fergus-Elora News Express)
Mayor Stepping Down
RIPLEY -- After almost 14 years in municipal politics as Lucknow reeve and warden of Bruce County, Huron-Kinloss mayor Stuart Reavie is calling it quits. Fourth story down. (Kincardine Independent News)
'Standing Water' Runs Into Problem
LEAMINGTON -- Is a bylaw on standing water enforceable, and if it is, how are other municipalities doing so? (Leamington Post)
Zero Increase
PETROLIA -- Enniskillen Township mayor Arnold Syer said he believes his municipality's budget is the only one in Lambton County this year that truly represents a zero increase in taxation. Fourth story down. (Petrolia Topic)
Staff Hit The Bricks
CHESLEY -- Arran Elderslie workers walked off the job Friday afternoon following failed contract negotiations May 28. (Shoreline Beacon)
Council Cautious On Walkerton Water
WALKERTON -- Brockton council won't be acting on a recommendation to use the current well field for Walkerton's long-term water supply anytime soon, if ever. (Herald - Times)
Hot Stuff
OAKVILLE -- Halton will issue heat alerts every summer, after a hot weather response system was ratified by Regional Council last week. (haltonsearch.com)
Referendum Backlash
ORILLIA -- Orillia city councillors pounced on a proposal by the governing Progressive Conservatives that would require municipalities to hold referendums to increase local taxes. (Orillia Packet and Times)
Noise Barriers Unsafe
NEWMARKET -- Aging, rusting sound barriers built 15 or 20 years ago on regional roads could pose a risk to homeowners, said a York Region consulting engineer. (yorkregion.com)
Rec Director Gone
PORT PERRY -- Jay Todd has stepped down from his position as the director of Scugog Township's parks and recreation department. (Port Perry Star)
City Slow-Down
PICKERING -- More 40 km/h speed restrictions are coming to a street near you. (durhamregion.com)
Municipal Atlantic
Transit May Get Another Shot
CHARLOTTETOWN, PE -- The city of Charlottetown is trying again for a public transit system and the man who was behind the first failed attempt is talking to city officials once more. (CBC - Prince Edward Island)
Wellness Centre Goes To Tender
SUMMERSIDE, PE -- The City of Summerside has called for tenders on the first work package for the planned wellness centre. (Journal-Pioneer)
Casino Question Raised
MONCTON, NB -- A Moncton city councillor wants all three provincial party leaders to state their position on gambling casinos before Monday's general election. (CBC - New Brunswick)
Facing Up To Flood Problems
STELLARTON, NS -- Stellarton is hiring a consultant to examine flood problems in the Valley Woods area. (New Glasgow Evening News)
EMO Suspect
PINEHURST, NS -- During the March flooding that killed two people, the municipality's emergency preparedness plan was never initiated, and residents want to know why. (Lighthouse Publishing)
Costly Firefighting Proposal
TRURO -- Colchester County is considering spending nearly $1 million to increase the water supply for firefighting purposes at the municipality's balefill facility. (Truro Daily News)
Grappling With Graffiti
HALIFAX, NS -- Armed with a high-pressure hose, Mayor Peter Kelly began the job of erasing spray-painted scrawls from a brick wall on the Halifax Common, officially kicking off the second phase of the municipality's war on illegal artwork. (Daily News)
Towns Tired
GANDER, NF -- The towns of Gander and Grand Falls-Windsor want something done about mounting piles of used tires. (CBC - Newfoundland & Labrador)
Getting Wired
Fibre Optic Network Closer
TIMMINS, ON -- Under the Smart Community Initiative, the city has determined that a high bandwidth fibre optic project for voice and video data is feasible and would cost $1.8M. (Timmins Times)
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