On Monday, November 23rd Mayor Johnston called the regularly scheduled Churchbridge council meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. with a quorum present and a welcome to the public and press.
Councillor Rob Gosselin started the meeting with a presentation about the walking and bike path that he has spearheaded into development. Gosselin showed the rest of the council pictures of the path to demonstrate the path is well utilized and enjoyed. Gosselin carried on to explain his vision of the path and what he would like to have developed next. Gosselin reviewed where he has found funding and sponsorship in the past and where he plans to utilize sponsorship by giving them special places of acknowledgement along the path.
Moving on, the council reviewed the agenda prior to Councillor N. Thies making a motion to accept the agenda as amended; motion carried.
The minutes of the regular meeting held October 19th and the special meeting held November 19th were reviewed before Councillor R.Thies made a motion to accept; the motion carried.
Reports
Councillor R. Thies gave a report about the East Central Highway Transportation Advisory and added the Assiniboine Watershed meeting was cancelled.
Next, Administrator Renea Peridaen gave her report. Councillors R. Thies and N Thies declared a conflict of interest and left the meeting. Paridaen continued discussing the Cedar Crescent development. Some residents have asked about extending some of the lots, there have been three residents interested in development in this new area. A back alley was discussed and it was mentioned a back alley is required for safety purposes. Councillor Antosh-Cusitar made a motion to look into the back alley. Councillor Vaughan raised the concern that he is unable to vote with lack of financial impart information and the resolution was tabled. Councillors R. Thies and N. Thies then returned to the meeting,
Paridaen carried on, discussing the drainage in town to update the council. The R.M. of Churchbridge was asked to put in a culvert drain stop in and Mayor Johnston will attend an RM of Churchbridge Council meeting to discuss it further with them.
With the reverse osmosis (RO) system, a lot has happened. Half the permit cost was paid at an amount of $5500. ECM, the building contractor, has started pouring cement for the RO plant. A $2000 grant was obtained from Mosaic for painting to replace murals around town with the 5-year plans. Paridaen made the suggestion to hold a “Christmas colouring contest”. Council liked the idea. Yorkton Regional Library will be holding a meeting on December 14 and there will be an additional 25% levy to cover the library if the City of Yorkton backs out of the Parkland Library agreement; this will cost Churchbridge approximately $3000 higher than the $12,051.20 the town paid last year.
Municipalities of Saskatchewan were discussed and Mayor Johnston volunteered to attend the virtual meeting.
The big blue bike has been moved to the rest area on the east side of town and it requires repair.
The Four-Town Journal sent the town a request to advertise in the Christmas edition. Councillor R. Thies made a motion to advertise in the Four-Town Journal Christmas edition. There will be a Bylaw to allow the Churchbridge Fire Department to have derelict vehicles behind the fire hall for training purposes. The landfill update was discussed with an approximate cost of $130,000 to create a compost area at the landfill. There was an audit done on the town on Friday, November 20th
The Foreman’s Report was read by Administrator Peridaen as Foreman Poppenhiem was attending schooling to challenge the Level 2 Treatment Plant Operator certificate. The RO plant build has been started. There have been some signs put in the sign corridor. Additional landfill signs have been installed. Phase one and two of the walking & bike path has been completed. The town’s equipment has been winterized. The forced air system needs fixing and replacing. The 20/21 proposed paving plan was created. The lagoon was discharged. Water main flushing was completed. During November, one town employee resigned. Bredenbury has allowed their treatment plant operator to cover if Foreman Poppenhiem is unavailable. Councillor Gosselin made a motion to accept the reports which was carried.
Old Business
For the Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan grant, there has been approximately $13,000 of the $53,540.00 received for this grant which has already been handed out. Councillor Vaughan made a motion that there be a $10,000 cap on the administration to pay and above that it needs council approval; motion carried. Council would like to somehow inform the public of this grant and its availability and requirements.
COVID-19 protocols were discussed and it is proposed to close the town office to visitors for a month by Administrator Pearidine to ensure the safety of the administration staff. After a lengthy discussion, Mayor Johnston made the motion to have the office remain open with strict COVID-19 protocol being followed; motion carried.
Administrator Paridaen next showed the council a photo about a fence that is a concern. One fence may obstruct the view leaving the back alley; it was moved by Councillor Vaughan to send a letter to the owner of the fence to fix the fence so it doesn’t touch the building beside the fence; motion opposed. Councillor R.Thies made a motion to get the two parties to try and fix the issues before the town will step in; motion carried.
Composting at the transfer was discussed next and there were 3 options proposed.
Correspondence
The council reviewed the correspondence, there has been a request for an outdoor rink. Following a short discussion, Councillor N.Thies made a motion to allow the outdoor rink; motion carried with Councillor Vaughan opposing.
There has been a request for a designated semi parking area. Two residents have requested a place to park their semi-trucks and trailers, and the information will be forwarded to the Economic Development Committee.
Other correspondence included a report from Sgt. Ryan Frost of the RCMP, SUMA Group Benefits Coverage, Minister of Government Relations, and also the SARM/SUMA name change. Mayor Johnston made and retracted a motion to support the name change of SUMA to Municipalities of Saskatchewan. Councillor R. Thies made a motion to file the correspondence which was carried.
Accounts
The list of accounts for approval was reviewed. After a short discussion Councillor, R. Thies made a motion to accept them; the motion carried.
The October financial statement and bank reconciliations were reviewed by the council. Councillor R. Thies made a motion to accept which was carried.
New Business
2021 Council Dates Approval was next to be discussed. Councillor Gosselin made a motion to accept the dates discussed prior; motion carried.
Municipal Revenue Sharing was discussed. N. Thies made a motion to accept the agreement which was carried.
There has been a request for authorization by the Saskatchewan Municipal Board (SMB). This is to allow the town to be able to borrow the necessary funding. Councillor R. Thies made a motion to send the authorization to the SMB to enable the town the ability to borrow money; motion carried.
Councillor R. Thies made a motion to have the first reading of the Borrowing Bylaw 2020-014; motion carried.
Councillor Gosselin made a motion for the second reading which was carried.
The Maintenance of Buildings contract was next discussed. MC Mechanical had a 1-year contract. Councillor N. Thies made a motion to tender out the contract; motion carried.
Town shirts and name tags were discussed next. Usually council is supplied with a town shirt and name tag. Mayor Johnston doesn’t feel ratepayers should be buying shirts. Mayor Johnston made a motion to purchase name tags for council members and staff which was carried.
Council Procedures Bylaw 2020-015 required its first reading. Councillor Vaughan made a motion to be provided with the first reading of Bylaw 2020-015; motion carried.
Standing Committee Appointments were reviewed. Mayor Johnston had sent out an email prior to all council members requesting their preferences. Councillor N. Thies made a motion to accept the recommended committees; motion carried.
A motion was made by Councillor Antosh-Cusitar that “Lyn” be the Strategic Planning Facilitator. Councillor Vaughan was opposed to the motion and it was carried.
Utility arrears to the tax roll were discussed next. There are several utilities that haven’t been paid for nine months. R. Thies made a motion to accept which was carried.
Tax Adjustment - TR 116 was next on the agenda. Due to an administrative error, there needs to be a resolution by the council to remove the penalty; motion carried. Councillor Vaughan made a motion to go ahead with the tax adjustment.
A line of credit renewal was discussed and Councillor Vaughan made a motion to keep the line of credit as it is and to renew the agreement; motion carried.
Council moved in-camera to discuss staff hiring, employee contracts and Strategic Planning.
