Saskatchewan city mayors met last week to discuss common issues.
Leading the list was assessment, offered Yorkton Mayor Bob Maloney. He said the timing of property assessment in the province is a concern for the mayors.
"Four years can lead to big skews," he said, adding they have seen "issues on either side of the assessment."
As a result the mayors are suggesting "SAMA go to a two-year cycle," said Maloney, adding they are not sure the provincial assessment agency has the capacity to do that, but that it should be something worked toward.
"We think that would help eliminate some of the bumps in the road," he said.
Recycling was also on the agenda.
"In Yorkton we're way ahead of the curve when it comes to this stuff," said Maloney. He explained with access to some federal dollars and the city's size the city has a good program in place, whereas cities such as Regina and Saskatoon are just looking into it. "Of course it's a much bigger process for them."
Maloney said the two issues with recycling are ultimately how to keep costs low enough to be reasonably affordable, and to "make sure we're recycling because there's a good end use (for the materials)."
Maloney said the city mayors also talked about the need for "regional collaboration and planning." He added there are often issues between cities and neighbouring rural municipalities which need to be overcome to allow for a better long term future vision.
"Yorkton is not the only city that has had issues over things like annexation," said Maloney, adding Regina and Saskatoon have had similar situations arise.
Maloney said both sides need to look beyond single situation issues.
"It all comes down to regional planning, planning for the future," he said. "Planning and coordination is important, so cities and RMs need to come to the table."
Maloney said planning will work better if both sides "work together".
And then there is the issue of city infrastructure.
"The deficit in infrastructure is big," said Maloney.
To get a better idea just how large the need is, the City Mayors have commissioned a study, which Maloney said will be coming forth soon.
Locally, Yorkton is looking to invest more in infrastructure renewal, the proposed 2014 calling for a dollar figure near double that invested seven years ago. Maloney said he expected "it will need to double again," and long before another seven years pass.
