Kamsack council sells Crowstand Centre

KAMSACK — The sale of Crowstand Centre and a discussion on the provincial government’s new Safe Public Spaces Act were among items to concern Kamsack town council at its regular meeting of Aug. 11.

Crowstand sold

Council approved the sale of the Crowstand Centre building to Tyson Beyko of the RM of Sliding Hills for a dollar. The building has been vacant since October 2023, after its fire suppression system had failed, thereby affecting the building, which had shifted.

Initial estimates to repair the structure, which had served the community as the Kamsack Union Hospital from 1950 to 1979, were about $5.5 million, or would have cost the community more than $500,000 to have it demolished, said Barry Hvidston, town administrator. Beyko indicated he intended to renovate the building to accommodate offices, businesses and meeting areas, much as it had been used prior it its closure.

Although councillors were concerned that a new owner might merely strip the building of materials of value, Beyko assured council he would be renovating it to return it to use as an office block, Hvidston said.

Safe Public Spaces Act

Council discussed the provincial government’s Safe Public Spaces Act, which is intended to promote “safety in public urban spaces by regulating the possession, transportation and storage of items that may be used as street weapons, such as knives, machetes or bear spray.

The Act prohibits persons from possessing street weapons in public urban spaces and allows police to seize and impound those weapons, according to information from the government.

Municipalities have the option of opting into the Act or not, said Mayor Beth Dix.

It is a tool for the RCMP to help fight crime, Hvidston added. Council members indicated they were interested in opting into the Act, but wanted further information before making the decision.

“By opting into the Act, municipalities and First Nations give police officers the ability to address street weapons through uniform provincial rules and offences,” the information said. “The Act also expressly provides that its rules do not override or interfere with any existing powers for municipalities or First Nations to address street weapons through their bylaws and laws. If a municipality or First Nation does not opt into the Act, the rules do not apply to that municipality or First Nation.”

Under the Act, a street weapon could be any of the following: knife (30 cm or larger); sword; machete, hatchet, axe, hammer, sledgehammer, body armour, explosive devices; hypodermic needles not used for legitimate medical purposes; fentanyl not used for legitimate medical purposes, methamphetamine; wildlife control products such as bear spray, or any other prescribed item.

Public urban spaces may include public buildings, parks, playgrounds, any land or building entered without consent of the owner, common areas of condominiums or apartments, unoccupied land or buildings, vehicles travelling through public spaces or any other prescribed place under the Act.

Support for Eaglestone flooring

After meeting with Nancy Brunt, chair of the Eaglestone Lodge board, who told council of a plan to have a portion of the flooring replaced in the building and asked for council’s support, council agreed to provide a letter of support and agreed to loan the board $20,000 if needed.

Bird problem

“We have to do something,” said Mayor Dix regarding council’s discussion on birds, particularly pigeons, crows and magpies that are making homes in downtown buildings, at the water tower and grain elevators.

“The dirt and mess they make is unacceptable,” she said.

“Our options are limited,” Hvidston said, explaining that shooting is not acceptable in the community, and poisoning is not allowed due to the possibility of secondary effects.

“So trapping them seems to be the only other method,” he said, adding that trapping would be most effective in winter.

Halloween street closure

Council read a letter from a resident on Banks Crescent who asked council to consider closing the street to vehicle traffic for Halloween, Dix said, explaining that the request was to close the street only to traffic, not to children going about trick or treating.

The resident said the vehicle traffic on the street that evening may be dangerous to the children, she said. Council is considering the request.