Municipal Alberta
Waste To Fuel Plant Planned
EDMONTON -- An industrial-scale plant will turn municipal waste into ethanol at a cost of $60 million. (Canada Newswire)
Small-Town Strategic Planning: Municipally Excellent Practice
HARDISTY -- A course of study for the University of Alberta's Local Government Administration Certificate led to the creation of a strategic plan which engaged staff, councillors and the community at large. It's an excellent practice recently posted on MEnet, Alberta's Municipal Excellence Network. (www.menet.ab.ca)
Elected Officials' Courses Available
NISKU -- Registration is now open for various educational courses for elected officials by the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties. (AAMDC)
Interns Funded
EDMONTON -- Applications close Sept. 5 for municipalities to be eligible for grants to take on interns in municipal management and planning. (Government of Alberta)
Rink Needs Upgrade
BANFF -- An assessment of the current recreation centre found that it only needs to be repaired, not replaced. (Banff Crag and Canyon)
Public Toilets Considered
COCHRANE -- A city councillor wants to revisit constructing public washrooms to enhance attract more visitors and shoppers downtown. (Cochrane Times)
Director Quits
COLD LAKE -- No comment has been offered in the sudden resignation of the director of community services, only that it was a career opportunity. (Cold Lake Sun)
Plebiscite Debated
CROWSNEST PASS -- Council is divided over what to do with a recreation centre infested with mold and maintenance issues and debating whether a plebiscite would be held. (Crowsnest Pass Promoter)
Daycare Fees Established
DRAYTON VALLEY -- Town council opened up access to its daycare to county residents on a full cost-recovery basis. (Drayton Valley Western Review)
Deputy Fire Chief Hired
EDSON -- A deputy chief has been added to the fire department and will oversee the municipality's health and safety program. (Edson Leader)
Agricultural Disaster
FAIRVIEW -- A persistent drought has prompted Clear Hills County to declare an "agricultural economic disaster" to follow the lead of the County of Grande Prairie. (Fairview Post)
Annexation Strains Relations
FAIRVIEW -- The town and municipal district have different views on development intensification but the town promises to go ahead with annexation with or without the MD's cooperation. (Fairview Post)
Transit Use Declines
FORT SASKATCHEWAN -- A survey this year suggests use of the LRT to Edmonton is declining. (Fort Record)
Enforcement Positions Approved
GRANDE PRAIRIE -- The County of Grande Prairie approved the hiring of a bylaw enforcement officer, a Peace Officer and an RCMP enhanced police officer. (Daily Herald Tribune)
Aldermen Make Sacrifice
GRANDE PRAIRIE -- Alderman were split whether they should give up one evening a month to meet for information sessions with other municipalities and local organizations. (Daily Herald Tribune)
Town Promotes Block Parties
HINTON -- The town is encouraging residents to hold block parties and is handing out kits with tips and instructions to hold neighbourhood events. (Hinton Parklander)
Housing Money Sought
JASPER -- The town will make a pitch to get a provincial grant for a $4.6 million affordable housing project. (Jasper Booster)
Creek Diversion Stopped
LACOMBE -- The county's licence to divert water from a creek to a lake won't be reviewed until an environmental study is complete. (Lacombe Globe)
Upgrades Can't Wait
LACOMBE -- Much needed sewage capacity expansion can't wait for a regional system to be built, so the town is forced to spend $1.5 million on upgrades. (Lacombe Globe)
Mill Closure Hits Tax Revenue
DRAYTON VALLEY -- The town expects to take an immediate $900,000 hit on its tax revenues as a result of the closure of a sawmill. (Leduc Representative)
Stricter Airport Regulations Imposed
LLOYDMINSTER -- Additional responsibilities were foisted on the city's director of corporate affairs as a result of stricter regulations on small airports. (Lloydminster Meridian Booster)
Sentimental Loss In Arena Fire
MAYERTHORPE -- As well as the building being destroyed, records and sentimental items were lost in a fire that consumed the hockey arena last month. (Mayerthorpe Freelancer)
Town Buildings Reviewed
NANTON -- The town hall, library, recreation centres and works building received a failing grade in a review conducted by an architect. (Nanton News)
Rural Communities Need Planning
NAMPA -- Rural communities need long-term plans to meet challenges urbanized centres don't face. (Peace Country Sun)
Waste Collection Cuts Pondered
PINCHER CREEK -- The town's waste committee suggests that the four bag limit be reduced to three and that commercial cardboard collection be discontinued. (Pincher Creek Echo)
Little Response For Volunteers
PINCHER CREEK -- The town received only one application for appointment to a committee to develop guidelines on how to bestow honours on people in the community. (Pincher Creek Echo)
Taxes Prompt Dissolution Petition
THORHILD -- A man was so astounded with his tax bill that he started and submitted a petition asking that the province dissolve the village. (Redwater Tribune)
Town Uses CAO From County
REDWATER -- The town's CAO will be a county employee as part of a partnership agreement with Strathcona County. (Redwater Tribune)
Tax Clerk Becomes CAO
CHAMPION -- A tax roll clerk for the County of Vulcan was named the CAO for the Village of Champion. (Vulcan Advocate)
Fireworks Opinions Sought
WETASKIWIN -- The County of Wetaskiwin will poll residents on their thoughts about a bylaw to regulate fireworks. (Wetaskiwin Times)
No Idling City Vehicles
LETHBRIDGE -- City vehicles will not be allowed to idle for more than two minutes, except emergency vehicles, and councillors hope the practice will spread among residents. (Lethbridge Herald)
Near-Drowning Prompts Safety Audit
FORT MACLEOD -- An independent safety audit has been ordered for the community pool after an incident earlier this summer in which a young girl nearly drowned. (Lethbridge Herald)
"Just Another Weed"
LETHBRIDGE -- A city gardener came across a small crop of marijuana growing in a flower bed outside city hall. (Lethbridge Herald)
Land Purchased For Airport
MEDICINE HAT -- A community business will be closing next month and the City of Medicine Hat plans to purchase the land as inventory in preparation for expansions to the Medicine Hat Airport. (Medicine Hat News)
New Director Hired
LETHBRIDGE -- Michel Savard has been hired for the position of director of municipal services for the County of Lethbridge. (Sunny South News)
Rezoning For School Denied
DRUMHELLER -- Town council denied a rezoning application to accommodate a new school because some councillors don't think the plan is safe for children. (Drumheller Valley Times)
Convenience Key To Recycling
BANFF -- The town has rolled out new recycling bins and an automated sorter to make recycling more convenient for residents. (Rocky Mountain Outlook)
Escalating Costs Force Review
STETTLER -- Escalating construction costs of a joint administration building have forced the town and school division to look for cuts and financing options. (Stettler Independent)
Flood Relief Funds Sought
RED DEER -- The city will help residents get compensation for damage caused by flooding and hail. (Red Deer Advocate)
Agricultural Disaster
GRANDE PRAIRIE -- An extended drought has prompted the County of Grande Prairie to declare an agricultural disaster. (County of Grande Prairie)
Alberta Municipal Contact Info
To track down municipal officials in Alberta, MuniMall recommends starting with Municipal Profiles, a very current set of listings maintained by Alberta Municipal Affairs.
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Municipal Saskatchewan
Term Extension Pondered
REGINA -- The province is considering lengthening the terms of municipal councillors and school board officials. (Regina Leader-Post)
Child Porn Charge Laid
SASKATOON -- A city worker has been charged with accessing child pornography on his computer at work. (CBC)
Major Sewage Spill
SASKATOON -- As much as 60,000 cubic metres of raw sewage escaped from the treatment plant into the South Saskatchewan River during a heavy rain. (CBC)
Volunteer Blows Red Light
ESTEVAN -- A volunteer firefighter was fined $70 for going through a red light on the way to a call, prompting Premier Brad Wall to suggest changes in the law should be made. (CBC)
Bus Driver Shortage
SASKATOON -- The city has stepped up recruiting efforts and relaxed licence requirements to attract people to work in transit. (CBC)
Clerk Moves On
MOOSE JAW -- The city's clerk-solicitor took a post with the Saskatchewan Labour Relations Board. (Moose Jaw Times Herald)
150 Fund Lawsuit
MOOSE JAW -- Although there are only five Moose Jaw residents listed as Regina lawyer John Beke's clients, for the lawsuit aimed at forcing another multiplex referendum, the actual number of individuals funding the case totals 150. (Moose Jaw Times Herald)
High Turnover
MOOSE JAW -- A number of employees have left for other pastures and other administrative positions remain open. (Moose Jaw Times Herald)
Pols' Pay Garnisheed
PRINCE ALBERT -- Former and current councillors must return a portion of their pay as a result of overpayments. (Prince Albert Daily Herald)
RM Opposes Annexation
SWIFT CURRENT -- The city's proposed annexation plan is unreasonable, says rural municipality officials. (Southwest Booster)
Board Of Revision Training
REGINA -- Workshops will be held for municipal board of revision members in October. Pdf download, page 2. (Municipalities Today)
Saskatchewan Municipal Contact Info
To track down municipal officials in Saskatchewan, MuniMall recommends starting with the Municipal Directory System, maintained by Saskatchewan Municipal Affairs.
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Municipal Manitoba
Civilian Police Body Urged
WINNIPEG -- A civilian-led police commission with the power to investigate claims of police abuse is vital for city police to bridge a growing level of distrust among many members of the public they're sworn to protect, former Winnipeg mayor Glen Murray said Monday. (Winnipeg Free Press)
Consolidation Pondered
WINNIPEG -- Winnipeg's top civil servant is looking at dissolving Mayor Sam Katz's policy office as part of a plan to place most of city hall's brain power under a single roof. (Winnipeg Free Press)
Union, Drivers At Odds
WINNIPEG -- A ratification vote will be held over a contract deal that some drivers say doesn't address issues they want resolved. (Winnipeg Free Press)
Social Needs Studied
PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE -- A research team from the Institute of Urban Studies at the University of Winnipeg will begin its focus groups with residents and social service organizations in September and October to gather feedback on what improvements they would like to see for the city. (Portage Daily Graphic)
Ratepayers Blast Councillors
DUNNOTTAR -- At the midway point of its four-year term, the latest edition of Dunnottar council got an earful last Saturday afternoon, as 30 people gathered for the annual general meeting of the Dunnottar Rate Payers Association. (Interlake Spectator)
Manitoba Municipal Contact Info
To track down municipal officials in Manitoba, MuniMall recommends starting with Manitoba Municipal Profiles, maintained by Manitoba's Department of Intergovernmental Affairs.
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Municipal North
Civilian Police Body Urged
WINNIPEG -- A civilian-led police commission with the power to investigate claims of police abuse is vital for city police to bridge a growing level of distrust among many members of the public they're sworn to protect, former Winnipeg mayor Glen Murray said Monday. (Winnipeg Free Press)
Consolidation Pondered
WINNIPEG -- Winnipeg's top civil servant is looking at dissolving Mayor Sam Katz's policy office as part of a plan to place most of city hall's brain power under a single roof. (Winnipeg Free Press)
Union, Drivers At Odds
WINNIPEG -- A ratification vote will be held over a contract deal that some drivers say doesn't address issues they want resolved. (Winnipeg Free Press)
Social Needs Studied
PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE -- A research team from the Institute of Urban Studies at the University of Winnipeg will begin its focus groups with residents and social service organizations in September and October to gather feedback on what improvements they would like to see for the city. (Portage Daily Graphic)
Ratepayers Blast Councillors
DUNNOTTAR -- At the midway point of its four-year term, the latest edition of Dunnottar council got an earful last Saturday afternoon, as 30 people gathered for the annual general meeting of the Dunnottar Rate Payers Association. (Interlake Spectator)
Municipal North Contact Info
To track down municipal officials in the Northwest Territories, MuniMall recommends starting with the MACA Community Database, maintained by the NWT's Municipal and Community Affairs. For Yukon contacts, try Yukon Community Profiles. Best contact listing by far in Nunavut is the Nunavut Association of Municipalities Communities Directory.
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Municipal Ontario
Ex-Director Exonerated, Sues
TORONTO -- A former public works director intends to press forward with lawsuits against the City of Kawartha Lakes, a TV station and a newspaper after a judge discharged corruption charges against Wayne Hancock. (Canada Newswire)
County Fined In Death
SARNIA -- The County of Lambton pleaded guilty and was fined $135,000 in the Ontario Court of Justice, July 7, 2008, in connection with the death of a county worker. (Canada Newswire)
Unsafe Cyclists Targeted
TORONTO -- After a month of trying to educate careless users of the city's pathways, bylaw crews will spend the rest of the summer cracking down on those who pedal too fast, refuse to ring bike bells or hog the winding network of trails. (Toronto Sun)
Recycling Revenue Scavenged
TORONTO -- The city wants to make sure it doesn't lose significant revenue to private scrap collectors. (Toronto Sun)
Firefighter Dies On Scene
TORONTO -- A day after a firefighter died following the devastating propane explosion Sunday, colleagues and strangers alike gathered to remember District Chief Robert Leek. (Toronto Sun)
Eight-Hour Blackout Planned
CALEDON -- The town is one of many that have accepted another "lights out" challenge issued by the City of Woodstock, but this time for eight hours. (Caledon Enterprise)
Security Beefed Up
BELLEVILLE -- Security cameras, glass walls and silent alarms are becoming common in municipal buildings. (Belleville Intelligencer)
Contract Costs Soaring
SUDBURY -- Low bids on a number of projects exceeded expectations by a large margin. (Sudbury Star)
Planner Turnover
ORILLIA -- The city saw its fourth planning director in five years leave the post. (Orillia Packet and Times)
City Sued In HIV Case
HAMILTON -- The City of Hamilton is being sued by a woman with HIV who claims officials used her as "bait" to catch a man now facing murder charges for allegedly spreading the deadly virus. (Globe and Mail)
Blame Traded In Explosion
TORONTO -- The mayor and the provincial safety regulator traded blame for authorizing a propane company -- the scene of explosions and massive fire -- to operate so close to private residences. (Globe and Mail)
City Named In Suits
TORONTO -- At least four class-action lawsuits were filed against various agencies including the City of Toronto in the aftermath of a giant propane explosion that rocked a residential neighbourhood. (Toronto Star)
MuniCard Violates Privacy
VAUGHAN -- Ontario's information and privacy commissioner has chastised the City of Vaughan for violating privacy laws by using addresses gleaned from the tax rolls to promote a credit card that allows residents to apply points toward their tax bill. (Toronto Star)
Fire Department In Limbo
PRINCE -- Two firefighters withdrew their offers to serve as chief and deputy, plunging the township back into limbo. (Sault Star)
Safety Milestone
PRINCE EDWARD -- County employees achieved a zero lost-time injuries milestone. (Belleville Intelligencer)
Ethanol Remains Forbidden
BARRIE -- No plans are being made to change the list of products prohibited on industrial property to allow an ethanol plant to be established. (Barrie Examiner)
Drivers Raise Safety Issues
BELLEVILLE -- Bus drivers have raised safety concerns over setting up a system to verbally announce bus stops. (Belleville Intelligencer)
Aqueduct Stone Recycled
WELLAND -- Large stones excavated from an old aqueduct are being placed in various locations around the city as part of a gateway theme for major streets. (Welland Tribune)
City Steps Cautiously Toward P3
CORNWALL -- The city hopes to find four proposals for a public-private partnership to build and operated a $25-million sports complex. (Cornwall Standard Freeholder)
Green Fleet On Way
KINGSTON -- Smaller vehicles, hybrids and bio-diesel burning buses will replace the current municipal fleet to reduce the 9.3 million kilograms of greenhouse gases that are produced. (Kingston Whig Standard)
Mayor Cleared Of Conflict
KINGSTON -- A judge dismissed an application by a former city councillor that alleged the mayor violated the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act. (Kingston Whig Standard)
Communications Manager Sought
CAYUGA -- Haldimand County will hire a communications manager for $86,000. (Dunnville Chronicle)
Five Municipalities Charged
PEMBROKE -- The five municipalities that make up the Ottawa Valley Waste Recovery Centre have been charged by the Ministry of Labour in relation to an undisclosed accident because the centre itself is not run by a single corporate entity. (Daily Observer)
Councillors Pledged Cycle Safety
ST. CATHARINES -- Six members of council and one engineering department staffer accepted an invitation from cycling advocates to experience first-hand the hazards of the city on two wheels. (St. Catharines Standard)
Ontario Municipal Contact Info
To track down municipal officials in this province, MuniMall recommends starting with Community Profiles, maintained by Ontario Economic Development.
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Municipal Atlantic
Harbourfront Land Sale Weighed
SAINT JOHN, NB -- City council is weighing the merits of selling port facilities for Irving Oil Ltd.'s new business headquarters. (CBC)
Homeless Shelter Opposed
BATHURST, NB -- City council voted with residents and turned down an application to establish a homeless shelter. (CBC)
Auditor Canned
ST. JOHN'S, NL -- Tempers flared over comments in the press about the firing of the city's internal auditor. (CBC)
Corrosive Water Probed
HAPPY VALLEY-GOOSE BAY, NL -- A resident in Happy Valley-Goose Bay has brought forward new concerns about the town's drinking water, blaming the water for corroding parts of his hot water tank. (CBC)
Floods Damage Roads
GAMBO, NL -- Things are slowly returning to normal in the central Newfoundland community of Gambo after a flood seriously damaged roads and property. (CBC)
Rats Infest Landfill
FOGO ISLAND, NL -- A growing pile of garbage at a landfill will be trucked off the island to control an infestation of rats. (CBC)
Smoking Banned In Housing Units
ST. JOHN'S, NL -- New rules require tenants of municipal non-profit housing units to refrain from smoking. (CBC)
Water Projects Funded
TRURO, NS -- Several drinking water projects will receive a portion of $8.7 million funding in federal-provincial infrastructure grants. (CBC)
"Finless Browns" Gone
HALIFAX, NS -- The city's harbour is now open for swimming thanks to a $333 million sewage treatment plant. (CBC)
Municipal Atlantic Contact Info
To track down municipal officials in Prince Edward Island, MuniMall recommends starting with the PEI Municipalities web page maintained by InfoPEI. For Nova Scotia officials, try Municipal Contacts from Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations. For contacts in Newfoundland and Labrador, check out the Municipal Directory on this province's Municipal and provincial Affairs website. The List of New Brunswick Municipalities provides contact info for cities, towns, and villages in that province, as well as the names of elected officials.
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Current Events
The Next 30 Days:
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Association of Municipalities of Ontario Annual Conference
Ottawa, ON -- Aug. 24-27, 2008
More Events on MuniMall
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Getting Wired
Online Questionnaires
SHERWOOD PARK -- The development of an environmental sustainability framework is among three planning activities that Strathcona County is inviting residents to provide comment through online questionnaires. (Strathcona County)
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