The town council of Outlook met for a regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday night, September 23. 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 Office Clerk Crystal Fisher.
The meeting was broadcast on the Town’s Facebook page. However, multiple video and audio hiccups during the live broadcast caused some of the discussion to be missed.
A number of topics and items were discussed, including the following highlights.
After approving and adopting the minutes of previous meetings, council entered into in-camera discussions for approximately 45 minutes with a delegation, Daniel Gray of Urban Systems.
Bylaw
Discussion was held on Bylaw No. 26(2020) – Code of Ethics Bylaw. Two readings were held and carried, and the third reading is expected to be held at the next meeting. Councillor Grotheim wanted the public to have time to read it through before it was officially carried.
Communications
Bourassa and Associates are closing their office in Outlook, of which their location was in the town offices building. They’ve made arrangements to vacate the space by the end of October. Council was disappointed to see the business go, but it was said that Bourassa didn’t want to take away from any other business in town.
Councillor Applin touched on the AGM held by WaterWolf the night before, which was said to have a fair attendance via online meeting capabilities.
A motion was made and carried to honor a request for a trade show event to take place at the Civic Centre on October 17.
Reports
Acting Administrator Report
Drawings are near completion for the renovations to be done to the Civic Centre, after which council will go over the specs once they’re in.
Fire Hall
The possibility of holding a special meeting with Walker Projects regarding the fire hall construction project was brought up by Mayor Derdall, and Councillor Smith noted that it should be broadcast on Facebook. Ross said that perhaps the size and cost of it could be adjusted, but he hoped that people would be onboard with the project in general.
Mayor Derdall commented that his enthusiasm for the project had diminished based on reports that there is negative feedback in the public surrounding the costs and the scope of the new fire hall. Derdall noted that if the Town listened to all the negative feedback and went by the wishes of those who may be opposed to the project, then “it’ll never happen.”
Councillor Grotheim noted that he has had numerous people comment to him about the project and added that if those people all seem to have the same perspective on it, then their arguments must “hold weight”.
Unfinished Business
Crystal has reached out to places regarding cleaning, detailing and sanitizing the Town’s Handi-Van bus. She watched a cleaning and sanitizing of a school bus and seemed impressed with the process. Going forward, there will need to be Covid-centric protocols for riders, including such a specific cleaning process. Councillor Childerhose felt that the driver of the bus could be tasked with cleaning, noting the modest size of the vehicle and the fact that the driver would know exactly where people are sitting.
On the topic of the Wheatland library and the perceived issues between the Sun West School Division and the Town, Sun West was disappointed to hear that the library’s staff didn’t feel welcome. It was never that they didn’t want Wheatland in the school, and if there’s an option to make things work, they want to explore it. Rachel had a good conversation with Bryan Smith of Sun West, and it was said that any miscommunication or misinformation surrounding this situation may have been due to poor communication on both ends. There may be an opportunity to mend that relationship, which council would like to see. Mayor Derdall did mention that he’s asked time and time again to attend a Sun West board meeting, a request of which from his perspective had fallen on deaf ears.
Council agreed to explore a meeting with Sun West for the near future.
A motion was made and carried to accept a lease agreement with ICDC.
New Business
On the topic of booking agreements for the Jim Kook Rec Plex, Councillor Applin wasn’t satisfied with the draft’s contents, and wondered about including guidelines related to Covid as well as something pertaining to a possible damage deposit. She felt the agreement document “wasn’t very professionally done” and that there should be more provisions included to protect the building, notably from any potential damages. Rachel noted that they could include a sort of “checklist” to look out for, but Councillor McLeod wondered if they were tacking on too much for their employees to do, which Councillor Grotheim echoed. Councillor Childerhose noted that such a practice would be more feasible to do at the Civic Centre, especially after the upcoming renovations.
Council then entered into in-camera discussion, which included matters related to land, legal and personnel.
