The town council of Outlook met for a regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday night, December 13. Present was all of council; Donna Smith, Maureen Weiterman, Kyle McLeod, Maureen Applin, Floyd Childerhose and David Simonson, as well as Mayor Ross Derdall, Acting Administrator Laurie Lemon, and Recreation Director Jordy Jones. Absent was Superintendent of Municipal Operations, Randy Antoniuk.
A number of issues and topics were discussed, including the following highlights:
- Sgt. Mark Langager of the Outlook RCMP was present as a delegate, providing police statistics for the town in 2017. Langager said there were 477 calls in total for Outlook, seen as very average, and he’s happy with the RCMP’s clearance rate. He said the pipeline project this past summer and fall brought no additional crime, saying that workers were easy to deal with and brought no reported trouble. In the future, the RCMP is looking at more school-oriented initiatives, and council commended Langager and police for the work that they do in the community.
- Another pair of delegates, the McNichols, spoke to council about their bill pertaining to some pipe fixing that had been done on their property, feeling that they shouldn’t have to pay as much as is stated on the bill, but the town feels that the town/resident payment percentage ratio of a 60/40 split is fair.
- In regards to the new swimming pool, Preus Electric has donated all the materials for the electrical work, and it was said that the facility will be using an Acu-Tab chlorination system. Western Recreation is done with the project for the winter and will pick up work on it after the snow melts, perhaps a bit before. Everything seems to be going nicely with it, and council wants it to be 100% finished and completed before the doors are to be opened up.
- Council would like to see the town’s bylaw enforcement officer come to a meeting and speak with him regarding enforcement, ticket issuing and overall performance in his duties, and he may be present at the next meeting.
- The rink is set to be closed December 24, 25, 26 and January 1.
- Rec director Jones and Jill Lee are partnering on a town guide, as opposed to just the leisure guide normally done every year. The guide would provide people – particularly tourists and those newer to the area – with an overall picture of what the town of Outlook is about and everything it offers.
- There has been lots of activity in the bowling alley recently, a good sign for a facility that usually struggles, and league bowling is on track to start in January.
- Councillor Applin made a motion that was passed for a legal land survey to be done on property near the town landfill, with the town needing to confirm where their boundaries are.
- Council approved to forgive a water bill situation involving the Outlook Housing Authority.
- In regards to cellular service in Outlook, the town will inquire about the possibility of boosting cell reception in the Civic Centre and the rink.
- Stemming from a meeting with an engineering firm, the town may develop a “capital plan” that encompasses all their future projects, and a motion was passed to go ahead with the venture.
