The town council of Outlook met for a regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday night, July 24. Present was all of council; Donna Smith, Kevin Grotheim, Kyle McLeod, Maureen Applin, Floyd Childerhose, and David Simonson, as well as Mayor Ross Derdall, Acting Administrator Rachel Sillers, Superintendent of Municipal Operations Luke Lockhart, and Public Works Coordinator Bonnie Pshyk.
Absent was Recreation Director Jordy Jones.
A number of topics and items were discussed, including the following highlights.
Old Business/Busing Arising from the Minutes
There was no update on the purchase of Town of Outlook promotional items, but there may be by the next council meeting.
Council moved to in-camera to discuss a transportation personnel matter.
Recreation
Council passed a draft of the invitations that will be going out for the grand opening of the Van Raay & Community Swimming Pool. A motion was made and carried to utilize ad mail for their distribution, meaning they’ll be inserted into mailboxes. Council also discussed inviting MLA’s and possibly an MP to the event, as well as issuing special invites to those with the Pool Fundraising Committee.
A motion was made and carried to accept the resignation letter of Linda Schroeder from the Outlook bowling alley, as well as to advertise the position.
A motion was made and carried to issue a refund for swimming lessons to an individual.
Public Works
There were nine bids received for the Town’s sale of an old Ford 3910 tractor that was said to be good mainly for parts. A motion was made and carried to accept the highest bid in the amount of $3000.00. There was another higher bid of $3500.00, but the bidder had hoped that the tractor was capable of running.
Council will further explore and research before passing an agreement related to access to the lagoon, and the topic was tabled to the next meeting.
An offer of $200.00 was carried and accepted for an old condenser at the rink.
Town crews had been busy preparing for the arrival of the judges with Communities in Bloom, which was slated for Tuesday, July 30.
Speeding Issue
The topic of speeding within town limits came up after a suggestion had been received about possibly installing speed bumps on 1st Avenue. Council recognized the troublesome issues related to speeding, particularly on McKenzie Street North when it becomes a grid road leaving town limits. The discussion also spotlighted drivers who are speeding when coming into and leaving Outlook. Council elected to put up more traffic signs for now while they explore with SGI the possibility of installing cameras.
Town Budget
Council passed the Capital & Operating Budget for the Town of Outlook. The 79-page document was described as “fairly ambitious” by Councillor Applin. Mayor Derdall noted that there will be a public meeting set in the near future to discuss it with ratepayers, reminding council of the promise that was made to town residents back in January at a previous public meeting to hold another one after the budget had been approved and passed.
New Business
Council moved to send a letter to respectfully decline an invitation related to administration services from the Resort Village of Coteau Beach.
A motion was made and carried to enact Bylaw 08-19 – A Bylaw to Establish Tax Incentives and Penalties after three readings. With the 2019 tax notices at the Outlook post office the day after this council meeting, the bylaw extends the 5% discount for payment to the end of August, said to be a fair move to ratepayers.
A motion was made and carried to accept the lone submission for the janitorial contract that had been issued. The contract went to AY Cleaning and begins on August 1.
General
Complaints had been received regarding the Outlook Civic Centre from a wedding party that had booked the venue, including the kitchen faucets spraying water onto people. Council moved to issue a 50% refund, and also discussed how more diligence should be paid to the conditions of the venue prior to future rentals.
A motion was made and carried to move the next council meeting to August 21 due to a scheduling conflict for Public Works Coordinator Bonnie Pshyk and Acting Administrator Rachel Sillers.
Auditors will be in Outlook on Thursday, August 1 to begin the transitional review of financials that council agreed to at a previous meeting.
Council moved to in-camera discussions after accepting the correspondence. The following items made up the in-camera agenda:
- Legal – Rudy Landing
- Legal – Eco Engineering
- Personnel – Administration
- Public Work Planning Report
- Land – Slope Stability
- Land – Lots 14-17, Block 60, Plan G358
- Land – Camp Outlook
