The Town of Nipawin is paying for some education for a contractor – but is requiring that he stays with the town for four years.
Luc Morin, the town’s bylaw enforcement officer will be taking a basic investigation course in Prince Albert from May 29 to June 2. Barry Elliott, the town’s administrator, told council at the special council meeting March 31 the course offers a skill set Morin needs to better do his job.
The course will cost the town almost $2,400. If Morin decides to cease his service to the town, he’d have to pay 100 per cent of the cost if he did it within a year, 75 per cent if he did for between one and two years, 50 per cent between two and three years, and 25 per cent between three and four years.
“Personally, I see this as an investment,” Rennie Harper, Nipawin’s mayor, told council. “I do believe very strongly in offering personal development opportunities and I do understand that this is a contract.”
Coun. Ray Serack was opposed.
“When I hire a contractor, I expect him to come in with the skill set,” he said.
Elliott said that while he wasn’t around when Morin’s contract began in 2014, he said the town would have known what skill sets he would have had before signing.
“In small-town Canada that is a very, very rare occurrence, to get someone with all of the skill sets and training that you need.”
In that case, Elliott said, the town needs to ensure the person hired for the job learns them.
New gravel truck
The public works department is getting a new gravel truck.
The 2012 International truck will cost almost $80,200 plus tax.
The town’s gravel truck fleet currently has 1999 and 2008 models. Public works will keep running the 1999 truck until it’s unfeasible to repair because they don’t expect it would sell for much.
Zoning bylaw change for Oasis
A change to a zoning bylaw will allow the Oasis Centre to expand.
Before, the bylaw didn’t allow community centres on the downtown commercial land the centre sits on. As well, the definition of community centre didn’t include those owned by co-operatives.
The first reading of the changes was made at the March 27 council meeting. They will be advertised to allow the public to have input before council passes it.
More BARWA progress
More progress was made towards regionalizing the landfill.
Council approved turning over ownership of the facility to the Boreal Area Regional Waste Authority for $1.
The authority has six members: the Town of Nipawin, RM of Nipawin, RM of Connaught, Codette, Aylsham and Resort Village of Tobin Lake.
Water treatment plant work awarded
Council also awarded the tender for Phase 3 of the water treatment plant.
Dunmac General Contractors will complete the work for $700,000.
The facility will have nine phases before it’s done.
