Town council supported a proposed community garden initiative and provided permission to construct the garden on the old Arrow Restaurant location at its regular meeting held on April 23.
Taxation rates were approved for 2018 at 9 mils, up from 8 in 2017. This represents a tax increase for the second year in a row, due to the provincial government budget, said Mayor Nancy Brunt.
“We are committed to be as responsible as possible with tax dollars, and we are working with a tight budget this year,” she said. “We have kept the increase as low as possible.”
The Commercial Factor for taxation in 2018 was reduced from 1.25 in 2017 to 1.20 in 2018. The residential mill rate factor is 0.8, and agriculture is 1.0. The base tax for agriculture and commercial is $625; residential is $825, and the local improvement levy remains at $310.
Council approved a monthly increase of $5 on the environmental fee, effective May 1. “The town has been losing money on garbage collection, so the fee had to be raised in an attempt to balance the cost,” said Brunt.
The recommendation of the Fire Chief was accepted by council, approving the appointment of Cameron Rozema and Darrell Lomenda to the Kamsack Volunteer Fire Department.
Council approved the request from Minor Ball to hold practices in the Broda Sportsplex.
Effective immediately, the town approved a motion which introduced a policy on the Broda Sportsplex Arena rental requiring a signed waiver, absolving the town of all responsibility and liability, associated with the event being held; no additional requirements for the event organizers to provide security or qualified servers will be necessary.
The speed bumps are to be installed at the same locations as last year in front of the schools, with the exception that the south speed bump on Dixon Avenue will be moved slightly further north, closer to the entrance into the teacher’s parking lot.
Council extended a thank you to all the staff who helped make the retirement/volunteer appreciation night such a success.
A request from 1007070 BC Limited (Kamsack Mall) to write off the accumulated interest and charges associated with tax arrears on its property located at 427 First Street was denied.
Grass cutting fees for 2018 remain the same at $100 per lot for the season, and those who are cutting grass as a business (more than 10 lots) will be required to purchase a business licence.
Council accepted the draft audited financial statement and instructed the administrator to advise Collins Barrow to produce the final statements for signature.
Three readings were given and a motion was carried to amend a zoning bylaw to restrict the placement of storage containers.
Brunt was to attend the SUMA Sector meeting in Regina on May 9 and 10.
