OUTLOOK - The town council of Outlook met for a regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday night, December 20. Present were all of Council: Bob Stephenson, Kyle McLeod, Sharon Bruce, Ryan Husband, Kevin Grotheim, and Justin Turton, as well as Mayor Maureen Weiterman, Chief Administrative Officer Kevin Trew, and Assistant Administrator Rachel Sillers.
The meeting was broadcast on the Town of Outlook's official Facebook page.
A number of topics and items were discussed, including the following highlights.
Reports
Recreation Report
By Megan Anthony
Recreation Director
Jim Kook RecPlex:
- We sold 156.5 hours of ice time to local and non-local user groups (Nov)
- We offered 90.5 hours of public skate, shinny, parent and tot skating (Nov)
- The schools used 16.5 hours of ice time (Nov)
- The bowling alley was used for 72 hours (Nov)
- The curling ice was used for 57.5 hours (Nov)
- Projected to sell 148.25 hours of ice time (Dec)
- Projected to offer 89.75 hours of public skate, shinny, parent and tot skate (Dec)
- Schools are projected to use 15 hours of ice time
- Bowling alley is projected to be used for 81 hours (Dec)
- Curling ice is projected to be used for 31 hours (Dec)
Civic Centre:
- Equinox was in the Civic Centre from Nov. 1-19th
- 8 Days of dance
- 2 single day rental events
- 1 meeting rental
- In December we have 2 weekend events, 1 single day event, 8 days of dance rentals and 2 meeting rentals
Management:
- Facilities are currently running very smoothly. Our new employees have adapted well to the business of the facility and are doing very well in their roles. It feels like a weight is off our shoulders having adequate staffing.
- Our first run of bowling leagues finished December 7th. We ran a 6 week league and received good feedback regarding the length of the league as well as just in general, people are really enjoying the bowling leagues. We are planning to have leagues again in the new year. Pickleball is going very well and it is staying busy.
- Pickleball ends December 17th and will start back up January 7th.
- We created an “Olympia” as a part of our winter wonderland in the park decorations which we are very excited about! We plan to display it at the RecPlex after the winter wonderland event is over.
- Livebarn was installed in the facility - we had some issues right off the start but Livebarn was able to resolve the issues.
- I have completed another class in the Recreation Management course I am taking. I will start my next class January 8th which will be the half-way mark to being done with my course!
Bylaws
This meeting was designated to feature the third and final reading of Bylaw 10(2023) Animal Keeping, which has received much attention recently in the public eye, notably after this publication released a story highlighting the bylaw and speaking with CAO Trew about the history leading up to Council's impending decision surrounding it, written as a way of educating those seeking more information on the bylaw and learning more before any decision was made.
CAO Trew spoke on the article, noting that it helped some people fill in the proverbial blanks surrounding the bylaw and contributed to a more collective understanding about the bylaw. His recommendation to Council was to move forward with the third reading of the bylaw. After a note by Councillor Husband on a minor grammatical error, the third reading of Bylaw 10(2023) Animal Keeping was carried.
Council then moved on to Bylaw 12(2023) Borrowing, set to perform both the second and third reading. Trew noted that Council wanted to carry forward with both of the readings because they want to move the "arduous" process because the Town is at the point where "we need to get this done". Trew said that he needed to correct a mistake related to the percentage connected with the bylaw, noting that he would take a brief break from the meeting to correct the information. The second reading was passed with a motion, with corrections to be made. From there, Council then passed the third reading of Bylaw 12.
Communications Requiring Action or Decision
Council next discussed a letter received from the Small Steps Early Learning Centre, which has been undergoing renovations as it's adding on to its facility with another wing of the building being constructed. The daycare has asked for letters of support as it pertains to fundraising, and Trew shared that the Town has penned one from Mayor Weiterman to be officially passed on to Small Steps. A motion was made and carried for the Mayor to sign the letter.
Mayor and Councillor's Forum
Mayor Weiterman recognized Councillor Husband, who was now taking on the role of Deputy Mayor. She also thanked Councillor Bruce for her hard work and dedication in having recently taken on the role. Weiterman also noted that with the newest appointment of the deputy mayor role, things have come full circle as 2024 brings with it another civic election season later this fall.
Unfinished Business
Talks then moved to an approval being sought, as Trew noted that some discussion surrounding a salary grid had taken place. He said that the recommendation was that the salary grid afloat with a 5.5% cost of living index and that Council freezes step increases for the 2024 year. The motion was made and carried, with Councillor Grotheim against it.
Council then passed a motion to accept a portion of the 2024 Budget related to town operations. Mayor Weiterman noted the hard work of Assistant Administrator Sillers and CAO Trew, as well as the many members of 'Team Outlook' who've gotten the community to where it is today from an efficiency point of view, where such a document is prepared and ready for others to study.
Discussion then moved on to the Town's 2024-2033 Capital Plan, with it being shared that the Town has come up with a total capital budget for 2024 of $5,494,250, with $845,500 coming from depreciation, $28,000 coming from reserve, $1.48 million coming from long term borrowing, and the remainder from both the provincial and federal governments, as well as partnership agreements with other municipalities. A motion was made and carried to accept the plan.
