Town Council met on Wednesday Jan. 30, which was changed from the first Wednesday of February to account for councillors away at convention.
This meeting addressed a number of topics including general discussion of the usual business. On top of this they spoke about two possible bylaws to be introduced. The first is to provide a base tax. The government explained that a number of villages, towns, and RM's have applied the base tax only to properties with improvements; but, there is no provision to do this. All properties classified as residential must be included in the base tax even those without buildings on them.
This topic was taken to council by Huguette Lutz, Chief Administrative Officer, with a prepared bylaw. Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) had sent an email previously to a number of areas that they would like to discuss the base tax further at the SUMA convention. A decision therefore was not made concerning this topic.
The other bylaw addressed was one to provide a minimum tax. Currently there is not one in place and a number of commercial properties are paying very little. By setting a minimum tax it would bring the overall mil rate down and equal out taxes for all. This too has not been passed, but will be decided upon at a later date.
Concerning the Community Foundation it was found they are recommended to have $2 million in order to make it viable. The Town of Carlyle was bequest approximately $63,000. An option is to work with the Saskatoon Community Foundation who takes on groups' money and invest it as a part of their lump sum, though they keep it separate for that particular groups use. The Saskatoon Community Foundation has approximately $46 million in assets and requires an administrative fee of 1.5 percent. The local committee here gets to decide how their money will be spent and will go to local organizations. The council decided to invite the executive director of the Saskatoon Community Fund to discuss this further.
SUMA has released Providing Advocacy for Villages, Towns, and Cities explaining they would like to charge more to be able to provide more advocacy for these groups. The councillors decided that they would not make a decision on how to vote at convention until they hear more about this. SUMA is supposed to be doing this already, so the councillors would like to learn more about the pros and cons of this change. It would mean an overall $1,056 more the Town of Carlyle would have to pay.
Town Council approved the Carlyle and District Donor's Choice for 2012. They took in $9,056 and gave out the total minus the sum that the Town used to mail out everything, thus equalling $8785.70.
The Town of Carlyle survey results as of now were discussed, more are still expected to come in, but currently most comments concerned the need of a daycare. Other comments included medical care and the need to get and keep more doctors in Carlyle. Housing was another concern. Many people would also like to see a Sarcan depot available in the town as well. Several comments were also received regarding the cleaning of yards and business properties.
Some of the positive comments so far include the new water, the great shopping in town, the Kindergarten to grade 12 schools, as well as the garbage and recycling pickup offered by the town.
A meeting with businesses to discuss a Business Retention and Expansion Program was not attended by any businesses. The council discussed this and decided they would hold another meeting to meet with people, so letters will again be sent out in the mail. A date will be set in February to which the town council is hopeful more will attend.
