Local organizations will be asked to share information on homelessness in the area to create a better understanding of the issue in Bonnyville.
Following a special meeting on Monday, May 27, Town of Bonnyville administration will get to work putting together a report outlining local homelessness and the services available to those living without a roof over their head.
Coun. Chad Colbourne initiated the discussion during their Feb. 12 meeting, sparking council's interest in learning more.
"We do have a number of homeless people within the community and area," noted Coun. Brian McEvoy. "We need to quantify it, because right now, it's anecdotal. If we can quantify that, working in partnership with the Bonnyville Friendship Centre, then we would have the information as a council to do something moving forward in the future."
Mayor Gene Sobolewski suggested looking at the social struggles associated with homelessness.
"There's a number of organizations in Bonnyville and Cold Lake that I think we can draw on to tackle the issue of homelessness, and the other surrounding issues that go with it," he expressed.
The Bonnyville Friendship Centre, Bonnyville and District FCSS, and the Dove Centre were recommended for administration to reach out to for more information as they create the report.
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Town supports MD styrofoam recycling project
Council is on board with the MD of Bonnyville's styrofoam recycling initiative.
CAO Mark Power noted there are still some unknowns surrounding the project, and advised council to request more information before including it in their 2020 budget deliberations.
In a letter to the town, MD Reeve Greg Sawchuk said the municipality is currently in discussions with the Peace Regional Waste Commission and the County of Lac La Biche about the potential purchase of a mobile styrofoam recycling trailer.
McEvoy believes the program is a great idea.
"Currently, (styrofoam) messes up our plastic recycling because people think it's plastic and throw it in the plastic recycling. It has to be sorted out," he expressed.
Currently, the town doesn't have a styrofoam recycling program in place. Instead, it's transported to the waste transfer station.
According to administration, in order for Bonnyville to implement a system, they would need to develop a bulk storage area to contain the styrofoam until they could access the proposed mobile recycling trailer.
After gathering more information, the town will bring the project back for discussion.
