New Council Meeting Structure
Council held its first meeting of 2025 under the new structure outlined in Procedural Bylaw 718. Last year, Council voted to reduce the number of meetings to one per month and start the meetings at 6 pm instead of 7 pm. This change reduces costs and increases efficiencies. The next regular council meeting will be held on February 13, 2025.
Library Request
Council approved a request from the Berwyn Library to use the craft area for Cinema Sessions and Council allocated $200 towards the costs of a movie projector screen for the library. Council thanks the library staff for their ongoing dedication to providing activities for residents.
Resident Delegation
A resident attended the meeting to discuss snow removal on the walking path across from the railway property and the Village of Berwyn's image with the Councillors. Council expressed gratitude to the resident for their time and attendance.
Spring Municipal Leaders’ Caucus
Council authorized Mayor Nicole Johnson, CAO Jatin Saini, and three councillors to attend the Municipal Leaders’ Caucus and President’s Summit in Edmonton from March 5-7, 2025. This event will provide important opportunities to discuss municipal priorities, network with leaders, and advocate for Berwyn’s interests.
Public Works Update
Council reviewed the Public Works Report summarizing work performed over the past month, and noted challenges due to equipment issues, rapidly fluctuating temperatures/weather, and a small crew making snow removal and sanding roads difficult. Public Works encouraged residents to bring any concerns about Village operations or missed tasks to their attention by visiting the Public Works Shop or calling 780-625-7290. The Public Works foreman emphasized, “Communication is very important, and we will always try our best to address any concerns that arise.” Council commended Public Works for their hard work and care for the community while often working with limited time and resources.
2025-2027 Strategic Plan
Council reviewed the Village of Berwyn 2025 Strategic Plan, developed during a full-day planning session in November 2024 facilitated by Community Futures Peace Country. The Strategic Plan includes a SCOR analysis (Strengths, Challenges, Opportunities, and Risks), goals, initiatives, action items, and measurement metrics. The goals include: 1) Promote the Village of Berwyn to attract new residents and businesses, 2) Continue with recommendations from the Municipal Affairs Viability Review, 3) Identify and pursue regional collaboration and economic opportunities, 4) Engage residents through enhanced communication and consultation efforts, and 5) Build capacity within Public Works to address maintenance needs. The Strategic Plan will be posted at berwyn.ca in the coming weeks.
Happy New Year
Council extends its best wishes for a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2025 to all residents and supporters of the Village of Berwyn. Council looks forward to building on the positive momentum created in 2024 and making 2025 a year of growth and success for the Village residents and visitors.
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