The town council of Outlook met for a regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday night, June 26. 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, and Public Works Coordinator Bonnie Pshyk.
Absent was Superintendent of Municipal Operations Luke Lockhart and Recreation Director Jordy Jones.
A number of topics and items were discussed, including the following highlights.
Old Business/Business Arising from the Minutes
The topic of acquiring new promotional items for the Town of Outlook (shirts, hats, pins, pens, etc.) was tabled to the next council meeting.
A motion was made and carried to hold three readings of Bylaw 06/19 – A Bylaw to Repeal Bylaw 06-2009.
A motion was also made and carried to hold three readings of Bylaw 07/19 – A Bylaw to Provide for a Planning District Agreement.
A motion was made and carried to release $14,000 in funding to the Outlook & District Regional Park for this year. There was talk about possibly wanting to see what the park’s water usage might be, as well as wanting to discuss the park’s financials, but council had already previously committed to granting the funding. Council will likely want to study the park’s financial picture prior to granting any possible funding next year.
Council set a tentative date of July 18 to hold a meeting with a representative of Transport Canada.
There was discussion on the new design for the Town office, and a motion was made and carried to put the work out for tender.
Recreation
A motion was made and carried to purchase a computer system for the new swimming pool facility.
A motion was made and carried to accept the pool’s Cash Handing Policy Draft, and council noted that there will be no cash held on the premises after hours.
There have been complaints coming in about the state of the Outlook Civic Centre, notably the wall and ceiling covering that has begun to ‘brown’ in places. Council is fully aware of the issues, and the venue may be kept in their thoughts during budget discussions.
Public Works
A motion was made and carried to tender out janitorial work after it was known that the janitorial contract was set to conclude at the end of June.
New Business
Public Works Coordinator Pshyk was given Grant Signing Authority.
A motion was made and carried for the Delegation of Powers to Acting Administrator Rachel Sillers.
There were no major issues found with the Draft of the Town’s 2018 Financial Statement, and only some very minor changes were to be made. A motion was made and carried to accept the Draft.
A motion was made and carried to move forward with a Transition Review of Accounts that previous CAO Tina Douglas suggested after her exit from the role.
Council acknowledged the ‘Sask Love Project’, and information will be shared on the Town’s social media page to engage the public if they so choose. The project is the brainchild of Creative Publishing in Regina, and involves submitting a short story of 100 words or less about why you love Saskatchewan. The submissions will all be collected in a publication effectively called “The Sask Love Project”. The cost to submit a story is $5.00, and the community with the most submissions will not only be featured in the publication, but will also be the subject of its very own book highlighting “how amazing their Small Town Sask is.” More info is available at the following link: https://hereweinspire.ca/the-sask-love-project-1
Administrator & Rec Committee Reports
The Town is looking to set up interviews for the clerk position that had been advertised.
Quotes will be explored on getting a new internet and phone system installed in the Town offices, and it’s hopeful that both jobs will be done at the same time.
There was talk on the future of the kitchen at the Rec Plex. Past problems have left the Town concerned, but some information shared by Anita Kai, who worked in the rec facility in the community of Aberdeen, may help in getting the kitchen to start generating solid income.
Council moved to in-camera discussions after accepting the correspondence. The following items were on the in-camera agenda:
- Personnel
- Recreation Personnel
- Camp Outlook
- Landfill Proposals
- Lot 30, Block 5, Plan 68-S-24685 Legal
- Rudy Landing Legal
- Eco Legal
- Canada Day Legal
