MELFORT — The election bylaw for the upcoming Nov. 9 election has been finalized by the City of Melfort.
Protocol and procedure are outlined in Bylaw No. 2020-11 with sections on both mail-in ballots, in-person voting, and the use of a vote-counting system.
Persons looking for mail-in ballots will still have to come to city hall to show their ID and pick up their ballots.
Mayor Rick Lang said for in-person voting the stations will be set up to allow for social distancing and other COVID-19 health and safety guidelines set out by the Saskatchewan Health Authority.
With Melfort bringing in the vote-counting system, Lang said everyone will be filling in a scantron-like sheet to cast their ballot with specific markings.
The system has been proven to work in other municipalities, both across the province and the country, and will make counting ballots faster at the end of the day.
“I do remember the last election, the counting of the ballots didn't finish until midnight. Most people want to know what the results are before them.”
New firefighter pay scales
Council has also approved a new pay scale for firefighters of the Melfort Fire Department. Fire Chief Shaun Stewart said hourly rates for firefighters will now be based on training rather than experience, except for the Fire Chief who is a salaried position.
Current firefighters will stay at their current rates until the appropriate training changes their skill levels. Any firefighter coming out of their probationary periods will now be placed into this new phase structure, Stewart said.
This will ensure firefighters are motivated to get the appropriate training and improve their skills.
“It will give them something to work towards,” he said.
Arena open to book
The Northern Lights Palace Arena has been open for user groups to book. However, the groups will have to adhere to the Saskatchewan Health Authority guidelines for COVID-19 health and safety.
“You got to make sure that they follow all of the information, which could make it difficult or not. It depends on what kind of events would be planned, but those rules still have to be followed,” Lang said.
Even with the Palace just opening, the arena has already been booked by user groups for the next three weeks.
