Good info and discussions held at SARM convention

This year's mid-term SARM convention had a lot of good information for the delegates, but a relatively quiet resolution session with most resolutions passing with little debate, said RM of Weyburn Reeve Carmen Sterling.

The reeve took part in one of the featured discussions, chairing a panel discussion with the mayor of Saskatoon and the reeve of the RM of Estevan around the issues that arise in rural-urban development.

Some of the information presented included topics like alternate enforcement options, for enforcing bylaws in an RM, and over-weight permitting for RM roads.
"There was an update on that which was very good," said Reeve Sterling. "In general all the presentations were certainly prudent, and those two presentations had information that was relevant to what we've been talking about in council."

The delegates were addressed by two cabinet ministers, Jim Reiter of Highways and Infrastructure, and Ag minister Lyle Stewart, plus there were policy updates from SARM, and a presentation on emergency preparedness, and what services are provided in the event of a major emergency.

In regards to the resolutions, normally a source of debate at the conventions, only four or five were lost out of a list of over 30 resolutions, said the reeve.

There were two that were submitted jointly by Weyburn along with a group of other RMs, and one of those passed unanimously.

The first resolution dealt with inequities in the Planning and Development Act, where RMs that border urban areas (like the RM of Weyburn) encounter restrictions that urban municipalities are not subject to.

An example of the inequities are that urbans are not required to get ministerial approval for zoning bylaw and community plan amendments, but RMs are.

The other resolution dealt with the issue of annexation of land by urban municipalities from RMs, and the level of compensation that RMs receive for having land and roads transferred under the neighbouring city or town.

The group of seven RMs is asking that SARM lobby the province for a review of the hearing process carried out by the Saskatchewan Municipal Board (SMB), and to ensure there is a clear definition of "need" as it pertains to the annexation of land, and a review of the compensation process when annexation of land occurs.

The latter issue of compensation arose, said Reeve Sterling, as rulings by the SMB do not always reflect factors or infrastructure costs the RM may have incurred in the upkeep of roads and related infrastructure.

"We've had discussions with the City of Weyburn on these things," said the reeve. "One of the things missing in annexation compensation is a requirement for compensation for infrastructure that's being turned over to the city. In most RMs that includes roads."

She added that the RM is "trying to have an understanding with the city on growth patterns, and land the city is interested in growing into," and said if there are standards such as this resolution is seeking, it will help in negotiations when annexation does take place.

"RMs want to be just as involved in growth as urbans do," added the reeve.

For the panel discussion, Reeve Sterling admitted it was a little unnerving to be up on stage in front of over 1,000 delegates, fielding questions and taking part in the discussion on urban-rural relations, but she said she enjoyed the session as both Weyburn and Estevan have had extensive dealings on these issues.

She noted that she also attended the Regina Growth Summit held recently, and she noted the RM and City of Weyburn came out looking really good in terms of the good relations the municipalities share.

"It validated the relations that we're having, and it allowed us an understanding of where the city is coming from," she said, noting that when problems arise between other municipalities, usually "it comes from not understanding each other's positions" in inter-municipal issues.