OUTLOOK - The town council of Outlook met for a regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday night, July 16. Present were Councillors Kyle McLeod, Donna Smith, Sharon Bruce, Andy Long, and Guy Derdall, as well as Mayor Ryan Husband, Chief Administrative Officer Kevin Trew, and Assistant CAO Rachel Sillers. Absent was Councillor Kevin Grotheim.
The meeting was broadcast live on the Town of Outlook's official Facebook page.
A number of topics and items were discussed, including the following highlights.
Starting the meeting off, Mayor Husband shared that Councillor Grotheim was the newest and latest Deputy Mayor, a role being filled by all councillors during their term in serving the community.
A topic pertaining to interim financing to cover pledges over time related to the new fire hall was tabled to an August meeting as the RM of Rudy was in the midst of coming up with another proposal to present to the Town.
Communications Requiring Action or Decision
Council discussed an infrastructure investment plan (IIP) related to the Canada Community Building Fund, with such plans due by October 31 of this year. CAO Trew explained that the town was not required to carry out a plan to utilize all of the funds, pointing out that the amount remaining to allocate was $913,799.72 that can be used over the next four years.
Trew noted that there were various projects that the funds could be used for and that the Town is now looking at where to allocate such funding, or at least a portion of such funding, and an IIP has to be finalized in order to spend part of it.
"As I think Council is well aware, we have many, many projects that will cost us a lot of money," said Trew. "We are working on a recommendation prior to October 31, but I just wanted to give you this in order to get your heads thinking around this."
In discussions with Assistant CAO Sillers, Trew mentioned that the stormwater retention pond may end up being a "fantastic project" for such funding.
No decision was required on this topic at this time, rather the discussion was brought to Council to get them thinking about where such funding could be directed.
Discussion on this topic, mainly related to where such funding could be directed, is expected at a future meeting of town council.
Unfinished Business
Discussing a tax enforcement issue related to a home on Christie Street, Trew noted that the Town now actually owns the house and has had no contact from the tenant. Therefore, the Town has given notice for them to vacate the house, of which the person has a 15-day window to appeal such a decision. Trew said it was unfortunate that things had come to that point, but the Town still wished to have the taxes paid.
New Business
Touching on another tax enforcement issue, including consent to take title, Trew noted that it involved the property at 227 Pangman Street. He also shared how unfortunate it was that two tax enforcement issues had to be brought up at the same meeting, but fortunately, there was expected to be more communication from the parties involved.
Following non-arm's length payments carried by the room and approved for Councillors Derdall, Grotheim, Bruce, and McLeod, CAO Trew recused himself for the remainder of the meeting as the final discussion centered on his position's contract amendment as well as approval of the CAO performance evaluation.
Mayor Husband started with the contract amendment, noting that since the executive compensation policy had been changed, Trew felt that it would be best if the performances and increases related to his compensation aligned themselves with what staff were receiving, effectively taking a cut to align with what staff are receiving, which Husband noted was appreciated. A motion was made to accept it, which was carried by the room.
Final discussion was had on Trew's performance evaluation before Council accepted and carried it.
