The Outlook has obtained the adopted minutes of several recent meetings held by the town council of Outlook, including three Committee of the Whole meetings held respectively on March 11 and 23, as well as the March 26 regular council meeting.
The following are highlighted motions and informational points that were made at those meetings, including any motions made after council exited in-camera discussions, which are closed to the public.
NOTE: Certain points may include information related to events or happenings scheduled before the measures put in place due to COVID-19, but we believe it is still important to publish in order for residents & taxpayers to gain as much information as possible.
Committee of the Whole Meeting – March 11 at 1:00 PM
Present: Mayor Ross Derdall, Councillors Maureen Applin, Floyd Childerhose, Kevin Grotheim, Kyle McLeod, Donna Smith
Staff: Huguette Lutz, Chief Administrative Officer
Bonnie Pshyk, Public Works Manager
Other: Darrell Rinas and Kristen Gray of Associated Engineering
Purpose of the meeting was the discuss and finalize the ICIP grant application.
- The raw water intake would be constructed using a coffer dam, but a geotech investigation needs to be done to determine the sand/soil base in the river. Horizontal direction drilling is an option which will be investigated after the geotechnical study is done. It is proposed that the intake pipe be constructed of High Density Polypropylene, and there will need to be an air burst system to clean out the screen.
- Because of low water levels, we will be further out in the river (NHC’s recommendation) where the water is deeper. This requires further investigation because the proposed location is near the Skytrail bridge, which could pose a danger to contractors working under the bridge.
- There needs to be further study of other potential methods. The grant funders would likely allow the scope of the project to change if necessary.
- The grant application will be filed as Conceptual Design with Class D (because of the amount of contingency in the application).
- There is not enough information at this point to begin to apply for permits. That will be done once grant approval is received.
- There was discussion regarding the possibility of infiltration wells; this would change the type of water treatment needed, and would require more maintenance. The other concern is the slip plain.
- Partners would be asked to share in the cost: West Side Pipeline would cost share in the intake costs only; East Side Pipeline and Rudy Landing would share in the total cost.
With regard to the lagoon, engineers are looking at submerged activated growth reactor (SAGR) system, and different options for the cell liner. They want to investigate the source of the clay currently in the liner, and they will prepare a more detailed report. This will be helpful when the Town applies for the Parallel Growth plan.
Committee of the Whole Meeting – March 11 at 2:45 PM
Present: Mayor Ross Derdall, Councillors Maureen Applin, Floyd Childerhose, Kevin Grotheim, Kyle McLeod, Donna Smith
Staff: Huguette Lutz, Chief Administrative Officer
Bonnie Pshyk, Public Works Manager
Other: Arlin Simonson, of Western Sales
Purpose of the meeting was to discuss Lidar Mapping.
Mr. Simonson showed examples of various areas of town which have been mapped using lidar. This could be useful to provide to the engineers for drainage planning and land development.
Cost is $6.00 per acre, minimum of 1 acre; a quarter section would cost $720.00.
Committee of the Whole Meeting – March 23 at 1:00 PM
Present: Mayor Ross Derdall, Councillors: Maureen Applin, Floyd Childerhose, Kevin Grotheim, Kyle McLeod
Staff: Huguette Lutz, Chief Administrative Officer
Purpose of the meeting was to begin the review of the proposed 2020 budget, as well as discuss procedures to deal with the Covid 19 pandemic.
Covid 19 Procedures:
- Public Works Staff
o Two week rotation at Water Treatment Plant for Luke, Kelton, Merv
o Isolation of staff as much as possible, with cell phone check in regularly when working alone
o Luke to prepare a list of tasks, in priority order, for workers to complete
- Office Staff
o Continue office closed to the public
o Continue working as we have been
- Recreation
o Pay staff until the end of the month; Andrew and Megan laid off
o Kitchen staff laid off; two to work at cleaning the kitchen, then laid off
o Jessie to work at painting the bleachers; Martin to be laid off
- Fire Department
o Ask fire chief to prepare a plan of operations during this pandemic
- Council Meetings
o Meet in court room – space for distancing
o Any member of council who wishes to meet electronically can do so; they are to bring in their i-Pads to have Zoom application installed
- Utility Billings
o For the billing at the end of March, we will give a grace period until the end of May for those unable to pay.
- Tax Levy
o Set discount period until the end of August – CAO to check the bylaw from 2019 to see if it needs to be amended.
o If necessary, look at outstanding amounts on a case-by-case basis.
- Health Region has asked to use the civic center as a testing site – I gave them permission to do so. Council agreed that the Rec Plex would not be suitable at this time.
Budget 2020:
Revenues:
- Change Fire Protection Agreements from $30,200 to $25,000 (5,200)
- Change Waste Disposal Ground Load Fees from $40,000 to $45,000 +5,000
- Remove Recycling Per Capita Fee (6,500)
Net Reduction in Revenue (6,700)
Expenses:
- Increase Council Indemnity (Committee) from $30,000 to $45,000 $15,000
- Increase THC Contracted Bldg Maintenance from $25,000 to $35,000 $10,000
- Increase Contracted Bylaw Enforcement Costs from $10,000 to $15,000 $5,000
- Increase EMO Honorarium from $2,000 to $5,000 $3,000
- Remove Fire Fighters Honorarium ($3,000)
- Increase Fire On Call Charges from $15,000 to $25,000 $10,000
- Increase Contracted Asphalt Maintenance from $15,000 to $100,000 $85,000
- Remove Utilities Water (TS) ($800)
Net Increase in Expenses $124,200
Continue with budget deliberations on March 30th; as well, an Infrastructure Committee meeting has been scheduled for April 2, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. to discuss:
Transportation Expenses (Operating and Capital)
Environmental Health Services Expenses (Operating and Capital)
Water & Sewer Expenses (Operating and Capital)
Regular Council Meeting – March 26
Recreation Recommendations:
261/20 – Applin/Grotheim: That Council create a Tourism/Museum/Communities in Bloom department, and that staff be charged with drafting a proposal for the reallocation of responsibilities from the recreation department and/or public works department to this new department. Carried.
262/20 – Grotheim/Applin: That Council meet with the museum committee to discuss with the members the need to take control of the museum so that the Town can apply for grants and allocate resources as required. Carried.
270/20 – Grotheim/McLeod: That Rafoss Plumbing & Heating be authorized to replace the boilers form the old pool into the new pool, at their estimated price of $15,000.00. Carried.
Infrastructure Committee Meeting Minutes:
Borrowing by way of Debenture:
275/20 – Applin/Grotheim: That application be made to the Local Government Committee for permission to borrow by way of debentures, the sum of One Million Nine Hundred Sixty Thousand ($1,960,000.00) in 2020, repayable over a period of twenty (20) years, for the purpose of a new raw water intake and upgrades to the water treatment plant, debentures to be repayable so that the principal and interest are combined and made payable in equal annual instalments during the term of the securities, interest at the rate of 2.72 per centum, per annum, payable at least annually. Carried.
Recycle Depot Equipment:
276/20 – Applin/McLeod: That the recycling equipment at the depot be advertised for sale. Carried.
Sewer Backup, 211 McTavish Street:
289/20 – Simonson/Smith: That the owners of 211 McTavish Street be reimbursed $1,000.00 for insurance deductible because of a sewer backup as a result of sewer lift malfunction. Carried.
Education Mill Rate:
290/20 – Childerhose/Grotheim: That Council acknowledge the 2020 Education Mill Rates as follows:
Agriculture 1.43 mills
Residential 4.12 mills
Commercial/Industrial 6.27 mills
Resource 9.68 mills
Carried.
Reserve Transfers:
293/20 – Grotheim/Applin: That Council authorize the transfer of $34,850.57 to the Water Reservoir reserve to reconcile bank balance to amounts collected of $740,297.25. Carried.
294/20 – McLeod/Applin: That Council authorize the transfer of $80,866.33 from General Revenue Bank account to Reserves Bank Account to reconcile balances. Carried.
Emergency Response Plan:
298/20 – Grotheim/McLeod: That the proposal from DataSafe for a new Emergency Response Plan be accepted as submitted, at their quoted price of $2,500 for the first year and $2,000.00 for the second year. Carried.
Omni-Sport Contract:
299/20 – Applin/Simonson: That Council authorize the signing of OmniSport contract for the outdoor skating rink, at a cost of $87,206.00 plus $10,854.00 for Concrete Piling System. Carried.
