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Mayor and Councillors meet via video-conference

Last Updated Jul 15, 2020 at 1:11 am MDT

IMAGE. RMWB Council votes to reconvene its meeting in public via Zoom videoconference on July 14, 2020. Supplied by the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo.

RMWB Council met via Microsoft Teams videoconference on July 14, 2020.

They voted to hold another Special Council Meeting in two weeks to discuss options around flood mitigation.

Mayor and Councillors voted unanimously in support of sending an advocacy letter in support of funding applications by the Wood Buffalo Economic Development Corporation.

The letter will go to the Government of Alberta and the Western Economic Diversification group with the federal government.

RELATED: Topical issues to re-emerge at RMWB Council meeting

Rotary Club of Fort McMurray presented to Council applying for a one-time ask of $2.7-million to finish the RotaryLinks golf course.

The club estimated over five million dollars in return over the next 10 years.

If approved, incoming President Paul Spring said extending the nine-hole course to 18 could begin next month.

Councillor Mike Allen introduced a motion for capital funding to complete the golf course.

RMWB Council voted 10 – 1 in favour of the motion.

The administration will also examine the donation policy and return with a report at a later date.

Reconciliation

Mayor and Councillors unanimously approved a motion to send a letter of support for the Fort McKay First Nation (FMFN).

The Nation’s companies own 11 parcels of land in the town, and they are in the final processes of its Addition-to-Reserve application.

FMFN received conditional approval from Indigenous Services Canada.

RMWB Council also approved a motion to complete the sale of five parcels of land in Janvier to the Métis Nation of Alberta Local Council #218 of Chard.

The Municipality will sell the land at a nominal rate.

The total book value of the parcels is $6500, while its appraised value is $57,000.

Marshall House

RMWB Council unanimously voted in favour of a Community Capital Grant application from the Centre of Hope’s Non-Profit Society.

The amended motion provides $127,171 toward improving leaseholds at Marshall House.

The society updated that amount from the original $116,733 ask shortly before Council.

Mayor and Councillors also supported a $40,000 grant from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) to the Society.

The money comes from the FCM Community Response Fund for Vulnerable Populations.

The funds will aid in providing dedicated space for physical distancing at Marshall House.

RMWB Council debated a technical review of the 2020 Overland Flood Considerations and will reconvene on July 28, 2020.