MOOSOMIN — A resolution to cancel the 2025 taxes for the Moosomin Visual Arts Centre at 701 Ellice Street was received for Moosomin Town Council consideration during their regular meeting on April 23.
“Council passed a resolution on Jan. 22, 2025, to cancel 2026 taxes,” Mayor Murray Gray said.
CAO Paul Listrom explained that the separate resolution for the 2025 taxes is a way to avoid the confusion of adding the 2025 resolution to the one already approved by council for 2026.
While the MVAC calls the tax-exempt St. Alban’s Anglican Church home, they lease part of the church and are not covered under the same status.
“You can do a sub-liability for the tenant of the building in cases where that building is exempt because it’s a church, but then there’s somebody with a taxable unit in there, so that’s why it becomes a liability,” explained CAO Paul Listrom.
Council approved a motion to cancel the 2025 taxes for the MVAC unanimously.
Tree branches to be picked up
A suggestion to Town Council that the Public Works department add extra tree debris to their load was approved. In advance of the annual town-wide clean-up day, Public Works will pick up tree branches for homeowners who do not have access to a truck to haul branches themselves.
During last week’s meeting, the Council confirmed with Public Works and Utilities Foreman Mike Stein that only tree branches from homeowners who cannot otherwise bring them to the landfill would be accepted.
“We always open up the dump when we’re doing the town cleanup for free to allow them to get stuff in,” Mayor Gray noted of other materials residents may have prepared to throw away.
Menstrual Health Day proclaimed
A letter requesting the Town of Moosomin proclaim May 28 as Menstrual Health Day was received from the national charity, The Period Purse.
The group is dedicated to menstrual equity by ensuring sustainable access to period products for all, noting that 25 per cent of Canadian women have had to decide between purchasing much-needed menstruation products or other essentials such as food or rent. They are also focused on ending the stigma associated with periods through education and advocacy.
“This is an issue that exists in your community, throughout the province and across the country,” read the letter.
The idea came in 2017 when teacher Jana Girdauskas encountered a person experiencing homelessness, and wondered how they—and others like her—would access menstrual products given their economic situation. After putting a call out on social media, Girdauskas received 350 purses filled with donated products and a movement was initiated. To date, over six million products have been donated, and more than 11,000 people educated.
Mayor Gray signed the proclamation during the April 23 meeting of council.
Highway maintenance agreement approved
About four years ago, Highway 8 through Moosomin was paved under a provincial government program at no cost to the town. In addition, maintenance grants to keep up smaller projects, such as potholes and crack filling on that section, were also received, to the tune of $13,000 per year.
The last agreement between the town and province regarding that stretch of pavement expired at the end of March, and correspondence received from the Government of Saskatchewan asked for a motion to approve an agreement for the next five years.
Council unanimously passed the motion.
Summer students hired
There will be eight summer students hired this year for the Town of Moosomin. In the Public Works department, starting May 2 are Austin Norgan (fourth year as a summer student), Karli Heathcote (third year), Sven Nosterud (second year), Marshall Light (second year) and Kyle Bochek (first year). Sierra Piper will also be joining the team in her first year, with a start date to be determined.
In the recreation department, Clayton Kindlein started his seventh year on April 7, and Ty Lowe will return for his second year on May 2.
Council approved a motion to acknowledge the summer students.
