Kamsack council addresses a variety of issues from crime to policies

KAMSACK — Improvements to Riverview Cemetery, an animal control bylaw that provides for the keeping of honeybees and chickens, a conversation with a representative of the RCMP and sign funding that has been diverted to a swimming pool enhancement were among items to concern Kamsack town council at its regular meeting of July 28.

Town council gave its endorsement to a proposal developed by its administration for an enhancement of Riverview Cemetery that includes the development of a new area for a series of 192-niche columbaria in a park-like setting with benches and a memorial wall.

The cement pad to hold the first columbarium may be poured either later this year or early next year and a call is going out to the community for donations for which tax receipts will be issued.

Council began its meeting with a conversation with Sgt. Taunya Kondratoff of the Kamsack RCMP detachment, who dealt with the priorities of council and the RCMP, said Barry Hvidston, administrator.

Kondratoff provided council with the latest two-month record of traffic statistics that revealed nothing out of the ordinary, Hvidston said. They discussed drunk driving, speeding, volunteerism and relationship building.

Council members agreed that they would do whatever was needed to assist the RCMP, while Kondratoff said the RCMP would endeavour to do what was required by the Town, he said. Discussing drug issues, Kondratoff indicated that the situation was worsening in the community for specific types of drugs, while other types of drugs that are providing problems in other communities are not prevalent in Kamsack.

There’s also lots of alcohol, said Mayor Beth Dix, who added that incidents of violence accompanying the drug and alcohol use seem to be increasing.

Hvidston told council that much of the work of administration over the last month has centred around catching up and reviewing policies, procedures and bylaws.

Affinity Credit Union had provided a grant of $7,500 for the repair of the lighted sign in the front yard of the Town Hall that contained the name of the credit union, but it has since been determined that the sign cannot be repaired due to outdated technology, Hvidston explained. About three times that amount would be needed for a new sign.

Because the credit union needs the funds spent this year, council asked if the money already donated could be diverted to purchase a slide for the Kamsack Swimming Pool. Affinity approved the diversion and a slide has been purchased.

Depending on when the slide arrives, it may be installed at the pool before the season closes at the beginning of September, he said, adding that the slide costs almost the same amount as what had been donated for the sign repair.

Council is still interested in obtaining a new electric sign for the Town Hall and that item will be discussed at next year’s budget deliberations, Dix said.

Council agreed to no longer contract out the job of rink manager and instead agreed to hire a person to work as the rink manager, Hvidston said. The job, which has been performed by a person on contract since the 1980s, will require a person with people skills as well as maintenance skills.

Council discovered that the upgrade to the municipality’s water crane located at the Fire Hall, which would have allowed payment by credit or debit cards rather than coins, has increased by $10,000, Dix explained. Council agreed to put the upgrade on the back burner until next year.

“We had expected the upgrade to cost about $14,000, but it has increased to $24,000,” she said.

Council authorized the administrator and assistant to attend the UMAAS (Urban Municipal Administrators Association of Saskatchewan) fall workshop in Melville on Oct. 2.

Council approved an application by Madison Shotenski, who is employed by the town’s public works department, to become a member of the Kamsack Volunteer Fire Department, Dix said.

Council approved a new Animal Control Bylaw, which, although regulations regarding cats and dogs are unchanged, provides for the keeping of bees and chickens within town limits.

Persons wanting to keep honeybees will need a beekeeping license and may only keep one active hive with six supers on one property, or two active hives with 12 supers on double lots, according to the bylaw. Honey beekeepers must adhere to the Apiaries Act and regulations and must obtain a Saskatchewan Premises Identification number. Hives must be on the rear of the property and may not be within three metres of any property line. A six-foot hedge or fence must be located between neighbouring property lines.

The hives must not be within 25 metres of any public space or school property, a water source must be provided within the backyard and owners must provide a standard of care to prevent disease and swarms, the bylaw states. Neighbours must be notified, owners must take a Saskatchewan Beekeeping Development Commission Introductory Course and hives must be made available for inspection when requested by the Animal Control Officer.

Approving an urban chicken program, the bylaw is intended for residents’ personal use only, for eggs only and not for commercial businesses.

Persons keeping chickens require a chicken license as well as a Saskatchewan Premises Identification number from the Province of Saskatchewan, the bylaw states. Chicken keepers must adhere to the Animal Production Act and must make a coop available for inspection.

Under the bylaw, a person must have no more than five hens and roosters are not allowed. Each hen must be provided with a minimum of four square feet of floor space and at least 10 square feet of covered outdoor enclosure. Each coop must have at least one nesting box and one perch. The hens must be enclosed within the yard and the coop must be at least three metres from the rear and sides of the lot, and must be located in the rear, not on the front or side. Coops cannot be more than two metres in height and cannot occupy a space larger than 99 square feet.

Hens must be kept in good health and the coops in good repair and with sanitary conditions. Construction must be such to ensure rodents and other animals do not use the facility and manure must be stored in a fully enclosed structure. Slaughtering and euthanizing of hens on the property will not be allowed, but if one dies, it must be removed and disposed of legally. Hens must not be kept in cages.

Persons not complying with the bylaw’s regulations may have their permit revoked and have their hens and/or henhouse be ordered to be removed by the bylaw enforcement officer at their own cost.