Arm River Rural Municipality No. 252

Key discussions during the meeting included the acceptance of the agenda with an amendment to add Council Indemnity under New Business. A conflict of interest was declared by a Councillor regarding specific agenda items involving immediate family members. The Council approved correspondence, including acknowledgments of new rates for Municipal Road Maintenance and reports from the Davidson Library and Health Trust Foundation. Financial approvals covered Accounts Paid, Statement of Financial Activities, and Employee Payroll Summary for November 2025, as well as the Accounts Payable and Employee Payroll Summary for December 2025. The Council authorized signing engagement documents for the 2025 Audit and approved a $2.00/hour raise for two employees effective January 1, 2026. A tender for a 1974 JD401B Tractor was defeated. Authorization was granted for Riverbend Co-op to install satellite tally on fuel tanks at their cost. Compensation for burrow pits related to the RIRG Meridian Project was set at $1,250.00 per acre. Reports from the Fire Board and Girvin Cemetery meetings were accepted. A wage increase of $1.00 per hour for the clerk, effective January 1, 2026, was established after rescinding a previous resolution. Drainage networks E5-2277 and E5-2278 were reviewed and approved for merging into E5-2278. The Council approved a proposed Residential Subdivision (Parcel A) with no conditions and authorized reinvesting a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC). Concerns regarding a private property line dispute were reviewed, with the RM declining involvement. Finally, the 2025 Council Indemnity and Supervision was approved.

The agenda for the meeting includes several key items: a delegation concerning Sourcewell equipment and GPS tracking; review of communications such as the December 2025 Davidson Fire Dept. Meeting Minutes and SARM correspondence; reports on administration including December 2025 Financial Statements, Accounts Paid, Employee Payroll, and the December 2025 Bank Reconciliation. Annual appointments are scheduled, covering items like Fidelity Bonds, Library Representative indemnity, Fuel Tenders for 2026, and Delegate appointments for the SARM Convention. Public works business involves addressing the Kochendorfer Well heating tape. Unfinished business includes discussing the RIRG Application and Culvert Markers. New business features setting Gravel Extraction License Fee Bylaw No. 01/2026, CPR Recertification, and PME training.

The council meeting addressed several administrative and procedural items for the upcoming year. Key actions included adopting the agenda, authorizing registration for an Industrial Vegetation Applicator Course, approving the successful completion of an employee's three-month probation, and appointing a Deputy Reeve for the year. Financial authorizations covered borrowing up to $500,000.00 for operating expenses and setting annual wages and fees for the Administrator and Office Clerk, effective January 1, 2026. Committee appointments were made for Public Works, Road Committee, and various external boards. The council set custom work rates for motor grader and tractor use, appointed auditors and solicitors for 2026, established annual indemnity rates for council members, and approved the payment of outstanding accounts payable. Furthermore, Bylaw No. 02/2025 to amend the Council Procedure Bylaw was read three times and adopted. The council also approved purchasing culvert markers, accepted the SARM Midterm Convention Report, directed administration to apply for RIRG funding extensions and new intake funding for the Girvin Grid West Project, and appointed entities to manage the Board of Revision and Development Appeals Board processes for 2026. Finally, resolutions were passed regarding the Municipal Revenue Sharing Grant eligibility, gravel loss allowance, snow plow club coverage, and authorizing a payment grant to the Davidson Palliser Library.

The council meeting addressed several topics including road conditions, farming practices, and seasonal employee layoffs. The council discussed the RIRG Meridian project, authorized the purchase of a GL Budget Extension program, and instructed a notice be sent to ratepayers regarding farming practices affecting road conditions. A layoff date for seasonal employees was established. The council authorized fall mowing, accepted the Fire Board report, and approved the purchase of a used Sea Can. Reeve Obrigewitsch and Councillor Schmidt were approved to attend the SARM Mid-term convention, with the Reeve as the voting delegate. Councillor McNabb was authorized to investigate clay availability for the Girvin Grid RIRG project and to act as project supervisor. The council addressed the list of land in arrears, authorized contact with a job candidate, and approved sending a letter to ratepayers regarding permit requirements. Finally, the council declined tenders for the sale of a JD tractor and swing arm, planning to retender in Spring 2026.

The council discussed and addressed several key items, including an approach application, deferring discussion on removing rocks within the municipal road allowance, and contracting a seasonal mower operator. They reviewed a resume, authorized the Deputy Reeve and Administrator to sign Road Maintenance Agreements, and discussed mowing practices. Employee absences were addressed, and Councillor Williams was authorized to investigate an electronic tasks list. The council directed administration to notify new ratepayers of the RM Web Site and its information, authorized purchasing a seacan for the RM Office location, and approved two Development Permits, directing further actions for approval and ratepayer notification.