Municipal Alberta
City Prepares For 10-Digits
EDMONTON -- Automated dialers, alarm systems and software have been modified in preparation for 10-digit telephone dialing which becomes effective Sept. 12. (City of Edmonton)
County Wins City's Appeal
EDMONTON -- The city has lost its year-long fight against a development plan for Strathcona County that includes proposals for a new urban centre that could eventually be home to 200,000 people. (Edmonton Journal)
Hands Tied Over Leaks
EDMONTON -- City councillors who leak confidential documents to the media are virtually immune from punishment, says a new city report that has frustrated Coun. Tony Caterina. (Edmonton Journal)
Water Supply Partnership: Municipally Excellent Practice
NOBLEFORD -- The completion of a state-of-the art water treatment plant allowed the opportunity to enter into a three-way agreement to also supply the Village of Barons and County of Lethbridge with potable water. It's an excellent practice posted on MEnet, Alberta's municipal excellence network. (www.menet.ab.ca)
Bathing Gear Policy Reformed
CALGARY -- Swimmers in city pools are allowed to wear clothing not normally associated with swimming, including items that reflect their culture, religion and modesty. (CBC)
Golf Club Expands
ST. PAUL -- The clubhouse at the municipally-owned golf course will be expanded with a $300,000 grant from the province. (Government of Alberta)
Visit To Korea Planned
AIRDRIE -- A delegation will head to Korea for a visit to a sister city. (Airdrie Echo)
Sign Bylaw Quashes Estate Sales
COCHRANE -- A company that does estate sales won't do business in the town after bylaw officers took down signs advertising events. (Cochrane Times)
Development Ideas Sought
COCHRANE -- Public input is being sought to provide recommendations on how to develop the site of the former town hall. (Cochrane Times)
Public Polled For Budget
COLD LAKE -- Residents will be surveyed to help determine budget priorities. (Cold Lake Sun)
City Provides Smoke Alarms
EDMONTON -- City firefighters are giving out and installing smoke alarms in some of Edmonton's older neighbourhoods. (Edmonton Examiner)
Daycare Seeks Funds
FAIRVIEW -- A child daycare centre wants a total of $2.4 million from the town and municipal district and a 99-year lease instead of 25 years. (Fairview Post)
Agricultural Disaster Declared
FAIRVIEW -- The MD of Fairview has followed suit with other municipalities in declaring an agricultural disaster as a result of a drought. (Fairview Post)
Fire Chief Retires
FORT SASKATCHEWAN -- The top firefighting position in the city will be vacant come October after Fire Chief Brian Parker announced his retirement earlier this month after 33 years working in the fire service. (Fort Record)
Street Naming Policy Being Drafted
FORT SASKATCHEWAN -- City council is drafting a street-naming policy that would restrict references to popular culture but emphasis local notables, community importance and historical significance. (Fort Record)
Dandelions Spared From Chemicals
GRANDE PRAIRIE -- The city will restrict its use of chemicals to control weeds. (Grande Prairie Daily Herald Tribune)
Strip Club Fees Unresolved
GRANDE PRAIRIE -- City councillors resolved not to decide to lower fees for strip club and entertainer licences and sent the recommendations back to committee. (Grande Prairie Daily Herald Tribune)
Omnibus Nuisance Bylaw
BLACKFALDS -- Town council's aim in drafting its first bylaw regulating nuisance was to make the town a better place to live. (Lacombe Globe)
FD To Charge For Car Fires
LLOYDMINSTER -- The fire department will charge local residents a $500 fee to extinguish a car fire as it has done for non-residents for a decade. (Lloydminister Meridian Booster)
Septic System Owners Billed
PINCHER CREEK -- The town will continue to bill for sewer services on properties with septic tank systems. (Pincher Creek Echo)
CAO Resigns
THORHILD -- Council accepted the resignation of the village's CAO who started in January and also works part-time for the Village of Clyde. (Redwater Tribune)
County Opts Out Of EMS
PARKLAND COUNTY -- The county has moved to opt out of the local ambulance authority, but not without concern for the level of service the province's new plan will provide. (Stony Plain Reporter)
Water Tower Historic
GLEICHEN -- The province has designated a 100-foot water tower built in 1911 as a historic resource. (Strathmore Standard)
Cleanup Order Upheld
VULCAN -- The county rejected an appeal of an order to demolish an uncompleted house and clean up the property four years after a building permit was issued. (Vulcan Advocate)
Horses Reined In
WETASKIWIN -- Horse are no longer allowed to run at large nor be ridden within the town. (Wetaskiwin Times Advertiser)
Sub-Prime Crisis Hits City
LETHBRIDGE -- The City of Lethbridge may have to wait a decade if it hopes to recover all of the $30.3 million it has tied up in asset-backed commercial paper investments, says a local investor advocate. (Lethbridge Herald)
Water Tops Danyluk Meeting
TABER -- Water issues dominated a meeting between Municipal Affairs Minister Ray Danyluk and about 40 municipalities as part of his consultation tour. (Taber Times)
Proposed Curfew Meets Approval
PONOKA -- Residents seem to approve a proposed night-time curfew for youths. (Ponoka News)
Full-Time Status Suggested
RED DEER -- A councillor says it may be time to elect a full-time councillor to keep up with job. (Red Deer Advocate)
Development Report Sent Back
CANMORE -- Council sent a development company's sustainability report back to the author to fill in blanks on the environmental and social impact. (Rocky Mountain Outlook)
Pitch Made For Water Money
CARSTAIRS -- Municipal representatives from across the region made a pitch to the minister of infrastructure to fund a portion of a $35-million water expansion. (Mountain View Gazette)
Plan To Be Digested
KANANASKIS -- Approval of a land use model was postponed by the Calgary Regional Partnership to give municipalities a chance to digest it. (Rocky View Weekly)
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
City Wards Being Remapped
SASKATOON -- Saskatoon's growth in the east is forcing a rejigging of civic electoral boundaries that could see two more wards straddling the river. (Star Phoenix)
Librarian Jailed for Fraud
SASKATOON -- The former librarian of the Wheatland Regional Library was sentenced to two years less a day in jail after pleading guilty to a large book-buying fraud. (CBC)
Apartment Licences Examined
REGINA -- A city committee is studying licensing rental properties. (CBC)
Referendum Rejected
MOOSE JAW -- A judge has ruled there is no need to hold a second referendum on the proposed construction of a sports complex. (Moose Jaw Times Herald)
Two Top Hires Made
MOOSE JAW -- A new city clerk/solicitor and personnel director were hired. (Moose Jaw Times-Herald)
City Sued Over Parking Lot
PRINCE ALBERT -- A bar owner has sued the city, claiming it won't allow him to use a vacant lot he cleared for parking. (Prince Albert Daily Herald)
Nightclub Report Sought
PRINCE ALBERT -- City council wants a report from police on the impact nightclubs have on public safety. (Prince Albert Daily Herald)
Disaster Assistance Sought
MEADOW LAKE -- Part of the clean up after a deluge caused sewer backups included an application for disaster assistance. (Meadow Lake Progress)
Works Chief Hired
MELFORT -- A new director of public works was hired from Belleville, ON. (Melfort Journal)
City Expands Boundary
ESTEVAN -- The city has acquired 350 acres of land from the Rural Municipality of Estevan. (Estevan Mercury)
Golf Course Offer Withdrawn
YORKTON -- Council dallied with an offer to purchase the municipal golf course, but the offer was withdrawn, prompting councillors to wonder if it should seriously look at divesting itself of the course. (Yorkton This Week)
FD To Charge For Car Fires
LLOYDMINSTER -- The fire department will charge local residents a $500 fee to extinguish a car fire as it has done for non-residents for a decade. (Lloydminster Meridian Booster)
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
Drivers Narrowly Ratify Contract
WINNIPEG -- Transit drivers voted 57 per cent in favour of a new contract with a controversial matter referred to an arbitrator. (CBC)
Hospitalized Man's Property Cleared
ETHELBERT -- The village cleared a man's property of truckloads of scrap metal while he was in the hospital. (Winnipeg Free Press)
Sportsplex Sod Turned
PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE -- Sod was turned for the construction of a $36-million indoor sports complex with pool, twin rinks, fitness centre and two-lane walking track. (Winnipeg Free Press)
Permit Not Renewed
GIMLI -- RM council turned down an application for a building permit that had expired because it didn't want to allow a conditional use this time. (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
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
Surplus Goes To Municipalities
OTTAWA -- The provincial government announced an additional $1.1 billion for municipal infrastructure projects from its $1.7 billion budget surplus. (Canada Newswire)
Money Not Sustainable
NORTH BAY -- Mayor Vic Fedeli said the one-time funding for infrastructure projects isn't the sustainable money municipalities are looking for. (North Bay Nugget)
Paternal Band-Aid
TORONTO -- Ontario cities are now doomed to fiscal ruin -- locked in a paternal relationship that forever binds them to their masters, the provincial government. (Toronto Star)
CAO Appointed
THUNDER BAY -- The new CAO, Tim Commisso, has returned to his roots in returning to his hometown and where he got his start in municipal government. (Thunder Bay Chronicle Journal)
Railway Track Consolidation Sought
WINDSOR -- The city's railway issues committee has completed a study on a proposed $313-million project that would eliminate two-thirds of the railroad tracks in Windsor. (Windsor Star)
Citizen McGuinty Urges Sewer Fix
OTTAWA -- Dalton McGuinty, a resident of Ottawa, urged the city use its share of additional infrastructure money to fix the sewers. (Ottawa Citizen)
Township Interviews For Councillor
ORILLIA -- The township council will appoint someone to fill the seat left vacant by the death of councillor, but not before they interview new prospects. (Orillia Packet and Times)
Local Choice Prompts Protest
CHATHAM -- The low bidder for photocopying services was snubbed in favour of a local business. (Chatham Daily News)
Hotel Tax Ready For Launch
NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE -- Niagara-on-the-Lake is planning to launch the first phase of its destination marketing fee by the end of the year, says the executive director of the Niagara- on-the-Lake Chamber of Commerce. (Niagara Falls Review)
Gas Capture Planned
SAULT STE. MARIE -- The city will seek funding to design and construct a landfill gas collection system which it hopes can generate electricity. (Sault Star)
Home Workers May Save Money
HAMILTON -- A city councillor suggests a number of employees can work at home to save over head costs, especially energy. (Hamilton Spectator)
RFP For Incinerator Issued
OSHAWA -- Durham Region's controversial debate over garbage disposal is moving one step closer to incineration. (Toronto Star)
Small Water Works Assistance
TORONTO -- Small water utilities can now apply for assistance to help offset the costs of operating public drinking water systems. (Canada Newswire)
Clerk Fired, Reasons Unknown
NIPISSING -- After seven years on the job, the township's clerk was terminated with no reason released. (Almaguin News)
New Position Created
POWASSAN -- Town council created a new position of community development coordinator to work in the areas of recreation and economic development. (Almaguin News)
Development Fee Hikes Urged
BRACEBRIDGE -- A new bylaw could see Muskoka's development charges nearly doubled for those looking to build new residential structures, and increased almost 10 times for non-residential developments. (Bracebridge Examiner)
Pols Eye More Casino Money
OTTAWA -- At least two city councillors want a larger cut from provincially-run casino operations in their community. (Ottawa Sun)
CAO Retires
NIAGARA FALLS -- CAO John MacDonald will leave the city to join a national church organization. (Niagara Falls Review)
Town Cancels Electricity Contracts
PARRY SOUND -- The town has cancelled two electricity purchase agreements with Direct Energy, at a cost of $201,000 for breaching the contracts. (Parry Sound North Star)
Crane Topples
BURLINGTON -- The Ontario Ministry of Labour has slapped eight work orders against the general contractor and a subcontractor building the city's $8.5-million 'S'-shaped Brant Street pier after a 40-ton mobile crane toppled over on the problem-plagued waterfront showpiece. (Burlington Post)
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
Pols Want Casino Money
MONCTON, NB -- After approving subdivision plan for a casino, some councillors said the provincial government should provide the city with funding to cover the costs of extra policing and meeting social needs the facility will create. (CBC)
City Okays Waterfront Sale
SAINT JOHN, NB -- City council approved the sale of waterfront land for a new headquarter project for Irving Oil Ltd. (CBC)
Options Eyed To Shut Strip Club
MONCTON, NB -- A city committee has been meeting behind closed doors with lawyers and RCMP officers to control a strip club across the street from a high school. (CBC)
Hotel Moves Forward
ST. JOHN'S, NL -- A council accepted a scaled-down proposal for a controversial downtown hotel. (CBC)
Erosion Threatens Homes
SOURIS, PE -- Ocean erosion is threatening homes and a sewer main. (CBC)
Smoke-Free Zones Expanded
SUMMERSIDE, PE -- Non-smoking areas have been expanded to include parks, baseball and soccer fields and the parking lot at Credit Union Place. (CBC)
Bylaw Enforcement Lacks Power
CHARLOTTETOWN, PE -- Mayor Clifford Lee hopes the province will amend the Municipalities Act to give bylaw officers the authority to have property orders implemented. (CBC)
Pols Get Health Plan
STRATFORD, PE -- Councillors voted themselves to receive health coverage under the municipality's employee plan. (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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