Outlook town council news & notes – April 14

Outlook’s city council met on Wednesday evening April 14 for a regular meeting. Also in attendance were Mayor Maureen Weiterman and Councilors Sharon Bruce, Bob Stephenson, Kevin Grotheim, Ryan Husband, Kyle McLeod and Justin Turton (electronically present) as Chief Administrative Officer Kevin Trew and Assistant Administrator Rachel Sillers.

The meeting was broadcast live on the city’s Outlook Facebook page.

A number of topics and elements were discussed, including the following highlights.

New Chief Administrative Officer

This was Kevin Trew’s first meeting with the Council. He was officially appointed Chief Administrative Officer and given the authority to sign.

Statutes

Before Mayor Weiterman came to discuss the statutes, she said she had recently spoken to second grade students at Outlook Elementary School about her role as mayor.

The council discussed Statute No. 2 (2021) – A statute of the City of Outlook regulating the procedures of the municipal council and the council committee.

Statute No. 3 (2021) – A statute of the City of Outlook in Saskatchewan Province amending Statute No. 8 (2014), known as Zoning Bylaw, had an official reading by the council.

Reports

Assistant Administrator Report

It was said that the civic center’s tender for major renovations has been extended by seven days.

The council is to appoint someone to deal with the crow population, a typical spring event.

The auditors recently spent most of the day with the city staff. They will return to the staff with their recommendations and Rachel said everything went better than expected. Mayor Weiterman shared them and the city’s appreciation for the staff who take care of things.

Public Works Report

CAO Trew noted that the employee reports such as public works or recreation would be posted on the city’s website after their official approval.

A sewer system at Tufts Crescent was found to be clogged, allegedly due to non-flushable towels in the sewer system and excessive kitchen grease. Residents are reminded not to flush such things and to be aware of what can or cannot be flushed.

Three new summer students were hired in the department. Two return with a new student.

Recovery report

The new floor in the Rec Plex shows different places and play areas. The goal is to soon use them with all kinds of activities for spring and summer.

Unfinished business

There was an extensive discussion on an issue related to Barrich Farms and the landfill. In particular, a discussion about what Barrich should charge for the delivery of more than 60 loads to the landfill. It was discussed what percentage should be calculated and / or removed from the bill. City councilor Grotheim noted that they have to “chisel” prices because the city still has to pay one way or another. Mayor Weiterman noted that this should never happen again at the landfill.

Using a recorded vote, a motion was made that the City of Barrich Farms would charge two-thirds of the existing bill. The movement was carried out. The recorded voting result was as follows:

For – Bruce, Stephenson, McLeod, Husband, Weiterman

Against – Turton, Grotheim

On the subject of “Urban Systems” and the Mann Street Subdivision’s “Conceptual Servicing Plan”, the Council wanted Urban Systems to carry out further work on the plan, and extensive discussions were held about it. There was a long discussion about it, including preliminary planning for a pond feature that had yet to be located and finalized for design. One of the biggest talking points was the financial risk associated with the project.

An application was filed to commission Urban Systems to create a rainwater concept plan for $ 20,000. However, this request was denied as no one supported the request.

Administrator Trew contacted this reporter in an email after the meeting for further insight into the matter:

“Associated Engineering has already completed engineering for the drainage plan for both the Mann Street Subdivision and the Highway Commercial Subdivision. They have conditional approval for this plan from SSRID, Water Security, RM by Rudy, CPR and the Department of Highways; The drainage plan provides for the construction of a pond, which must be either a dry pond (which could serve as an open green space in dry periods) or a wet pond (which can serve as a water feature that maintains a certain depth at all times, even in) dry periods Decision will not be made at this point; The council had two concerns and conducted a risk assessment with the Associated plan – the first – referring to the use of the SSRID channel as a drain. The concern was the dependency on another agency and the possibility that that agency could try to get or reclaim the canal in the future – this was quickly resolved as the city Outlook already depends on the SSRID channel and they are accessible to this drainage plan. It is also advisable to make an agreement with SSRID before building the storm drainage. The second – the placement of the pond in the middle of the Mann Street Subdivision as a water feature instead of the northwest corner, as Associated Engineered said, the council found that this is not the natural way the water flows and that it can be quite costly could build a deeper, and thus wider, water feature that takes away salable residential property, which Associated considers far more expensive to invest (which drives up the price of residential land) and most likely higher operating costs with the risk of overloading the city’s storm system – the risk overloading the storm system was low, but the cost risk was high.

If the city council had decided to ask Urban Systems to design an alternative drainage plan for both subdivisions, it would have incurred an additional cost of approximately $ 20,000, but it was not approved – no decision meant we could move forward now.

The next steps will be for Urban Systems to develop a community plan for the work done so far by Associated Engineering. This is required at this point so that we can see the possible use of the pond in the subdivision and how it will affect development around it.Other constructions can be done for utilities in this subdivision as well as in the Highway Commercial subdivision.

The council plans to “pin” the expansion of the Mann Street Subdivision in the coming months as Phase 1 of the Railway Commercial / Industrial Subdivision and the Highway Commercial Subdivision are completed. “

New business

When discussing Municode for an inspection services contract, the council found that the company should have a very good reputation. An application was made and executed to accept the contract.

Regarding an application for development application for Lots 17 and 18, Block D, Plan G39, it was said that it was essentially a complaint application, but the formal way to file a complaint is not to come to the council , since a development permit is not possible, appeal to the council. Kevin recommended that the council use it for information only.

No points were discussed in the camera.

You might also like

Comments are closed.