McBride Council: 2025 budget, Community Forest governance, Pioneer Days
By Abigail Popple, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, RMG
McBride Council discussed the 2025 budget, Community Forest articles of incorporation and Pioneer Days support during its regular meeting on May 6th.
Mayor Gene Runtz called the meeting to order at 6:04 p.m. Councillors made two amendments to the agenda. First, they removed the night’s delegation – RCMP Corporal Kelly Barrie had been scheduled to present crime statistics and discuss traffic regulations, but was unable to attend. Second, they decided to discuss bylaws and policies first, because financial consultant Karen Stahl was not feeling well and Runtz wanted her to be able to go home early.
Then, councillors adopted the minutes of the April 22nd regular meeting. The minutes note that the April 22nd meeting had a brief recess for councillors to discuss a resolution related to the McBride Community Forest Corporation. Councillor Tina Bennett asked why the minutes do not say who called for the meeting to be recessed.
“We missed that, but nonetheless it happened,” said CAO Jeanette McDougall. She added that they have to record that the meeting was recessed in the minutes, even if they did not record who moved and seconded the resolution to recess.
Runtz said he was the one to call for a recess.
“I felt that the meeting had very quickly gone in the wrong direction,” he said. “I saw the CAO was upset. I said, ‘Just a moment,’ and went and had a discussion with you [McDougall], then came out and went ahead with the meeting.”
Councillor Joe Kolida said he remembered McDougall asking to speak with Runtz in her office, and that the recess should have been voted on.
“The recess wasn’t handled right. I don’t know if that’s my fault or not,” Runtz said. “It’s something that just came up, and I felt that that needed to happen to carry the meeting and not get things out of line.”
Council voted to approve the April 22nd minutes, with Kolida voting in opposition. Then, Council moved on to discuss bylaws and policies.
Five-Year Financial Plan
Municipalities must adopt a five-year financial plan – which includes the budget for the current fiscal year, as well as the four following years – each year by May 15th. The plan was available for public consultation over a 10-day period starting on April 25th, but the Village did not receive any feedback or questions, according to the staff report on the plan.
Council previously reviewed drafts of the five-year financial plan, and Stahl said she had made some minor changes to the budget since then. She said some numbers have been lowered slightly after comparing the budget with the Village’s most recent audited financial statements.
Bennett asked if there would be room in the budget to employ a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) or another senior-level staff member at the Village. McDougall said that would require a tax increase, or drawing from the Village’s accumulated surplus, which is already being used to install fencing around the cemetery.
“We wouldn’t want to increase our operating costs too much beyond [the cemetery]… that would be a further draw from the accumulated surplus,” she said. “We’re trying to keep the operational spending at the bare minimum level for next year.”
Stahl said this year’s three per cent tax increase allows the Village to keep up with inflated operational costs, and would not generate enough revenue to hire a CFO.
Kolida asked if the Village would be able to afford a CFO in case it needs one within the next six months. McDougall said she acts as the CFO, and the Village also employs an accountant. However, the Village could afford to hire a CFO if they eliminated the accountant position.
Bennett and Kolida thanked McDougall for her response.
Bennett said the McBride Legion had previously asked Council if the Village could support some of the Legion’s projects. She asked if there would be money in the budget to support the Legion.
McDougall said Legion support could be discussed in a future Committee of the Whole meeting, and that there are grants available for infrastructure projects such as improving Kolida Park.
Council gave first, second and third reading to the 2025-2029 Five-Year Financial Plan.
Tax Rates
Municipal tax rates must also be adopted before May 15th of each year. The tax rates bylaw was available for public consultation over a 10-day period starting on April 25th, and the Village did not receive any questions or feedback on the bylaw, according to the staff report submitted to Council.
Council gave first, second and third reading to the 2025 Property Tax Rates Bylaw.
Community Forest Amendments
The McBride Community Forest Corporation must receive Council approval before amending the articles which govern the corporation, because the Village of McBride is the sole shareholder of the corporation. The corporation asked to revise the articles to require a majority of the directors be present in order to approve a transaction of business. Additionally, the corporation asked to remove the article pertaining to the revocation of resolutions during meetings.
These amendments were previously discussed at the April 22nd meeting, when staff recommended seeking legal advice before approving the amendments. Legal counsel recommended amending the articles as requested. The legal advice also said the mayor can reconsider a motion within 30 days of it being voted on, so the April 22nd vote approving of the amendments could still be discussed by council during the May 6th meeting.
Council unanimously approved of the amendments.
Bennett asked why the mayor was allowed to initiate the reconsideration of a motion that had already been voted on. Runtz said he had asked for legal counsel on the amendments because he was confused, and after receiving clarification he wanted to discuss the amendments with Council again. Bennett asked to have a session with the Village’s lawyer to have the reconsideration procedure explained in more detail.
McDougall told Runtz the discussion period was meant to start before Council voted on the amendments.
“You just put it forward for reconsideration – that’s your authority as mayor,” McDougall said to Runtz. “I did run it by legal. We’ve already voted on this matter. Discussion was to be closed on this matter.”
Kolida and Bennett both said they would benefit from a meeting with a lawyer to learn more about how motions can be reconsidered. Runtz said staff could arrange a meeting, and McDougall offered to contact the lawyer.
Pioneer Days
Secretary of McBride Elks/Royal Purple Kathy Molendyk wrote a letter asking for Council support for Pioneer Days, an annual summer event being held from June 6th to the 8th this year. Molendyk asked for road barriers on Main Street, and said the organization will apply to host a beer garden and will place an outhouse by the beer garden. She also asked for the keys to the pavilion, in order to access electrical outlets during events. She requested that the Village trim the grass in the horseshoe pits and possibly add more sand, and asked if the infield at the ballpark would need more shale and leveling. She added that there will be horses at the Pioneer Days parade, but they will be kept off the grass and volunteers will clean up any horse manure that is left behind.
Council approved Molendyk’s request for support, contingent on receipt of insurance.
Kolida asked if there would be a way to provide a generator for the McBride Elks during Pioneer Days. McDougall said she would research it.
Councillor Bennett asked if there was another way to block off Main Street in case people miss the road signs the McBride Elks put up. McDougall said staff could contact the RCMP to ensure the roads are safe and orderly throughout Pioneer Days.
Council also approved the McBride Elks’ beer garden application, and moved to donate $250 to the organization to support Pioneer Days.
Housing Society Partnership
The McBride and District Housing Society is applying for seed funding from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation in order to purchase and develop property at 210 Horseshoe Lake Road. The application requires audited financial statements, but the Society cannot afford auditing costs by itself. As such, the Society requested entering a partnership with the Village and using the Village’s audited financial statements in the application.
The Village entered a similar partnership agreement with the Society in 2022, the first time the Society applied for seed funding, according to the staff report.
Kolida asked if the partnership agreement had been reviewed by a lawyer. McDougall said it has not been reviewed yet.
“Any change that would be made would be … the dollar amount and date, just the particulars,” she added. “If there’s any material changes – which we don’t expect – that would be brought back to council for review.”
Kolida asked if McDougall would be working with lawyers while making changes to the agreement, and she said she is in touch with lawyers and will consult them on any changes to the agreement.
In-Camera
Council proceeded to an in-camera session to discuss matters related to Section 90 (1) of the Community Charter:
(k) negotiations and related discussion respecting the proposed provision of a municipal service that are at their preliminary stage and that, in the view of the council, could reasonably be expected to harm the interests of the municipality if they were held in public.
Runtz adjourned the open session of council at 6:48 p.m.
