OUTLOOK - The town council of Outlook met for a regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday night, March 23. Present was all of Council: Bob Stephenson, Sharon Bruce, Justin Turton, Kyle McLeod, Ryan Husband, and Kevin Grotheim, as well as Mayor Maureen Weiterman, Chief Administrative Officer Kevin Trew, and office clerk Crystal Fisher.
The meeting was broadcast on the Town of Outlook's Facebook page.
A number of topics and items were discussed, including the following highlights.
Mayor Weiterman was suffering from a migraine headache, so she passed the chair over to Deputy Mayor Turton for the meeting.
Bylaws
The second and third readings were held and carried for Bylaw 07 (2022) to Repeal Bylaw 23 (2020) A Bylaw to Amend the Official Community Plan.
As well, the second and third readings were also held and carried for Bylaw 08 (2022) to Repeal Bylaw 24 (2020) A Bylaw to Amend the Zoning Bylaw.
The second and third readings were also held and carried for Bylaw 09 (2022) Assessment Appeal Fees.
Communications Requiring Action or Decision
On the topic of a SaskPower quote for the railyard subdivision, it was explained that the Town of Outlook has been in the process of developing the railyard subdivision. It was said that construction is complete with the exception of utilities. SaskEnergy has already provided a quote and has been engaged to begin their work in the spring of this year. The Town was awaiting SaskPower's quote for providing power to 13 lots of Phase 1A, as well as changing the street lights on Railway Avenue to LED lighting. The Town received SaskPower's quote for power supply and they're still awaiting a plan regarding lighting, but they have received an estimate.
The recommended resolution was that Council approve the quote provided by SaskPower to provide electrical services to Phase 1A of the subdivision at a charge of $152,623.05 + GST, as well as an increase to the poles at the street crossing to be an additional five feet higher. A motion was made and carried to approve.
Delegations
In attendance at the meeting was Iain Macfarlane, the assistant sales manager of Loraas Disposal Services, as well as Tim Morris, a Loraas regional representative. Iain gave a presentation to Council on a proposal regarding a quote for waste services. It was said that communities across the province are always looking at how they can get rid of waste. Iain noted that Loraas understands that Outlook had a long history with recycling, touching on the previous controversy that stirred up many in the community after the then-Council closed the recycling depot.
A handout covered what Loraas services could be provided to the town, including 95-gallon curbside waste cart collection that would involve being emptied on a bi-weekly basis at a cost of $4.65 per cart. As well, the information included details on front end metal waste bin collection, which would entail Loraas canvassing the local business sector and present them with options. Such costs with this service would be as follows:
3-yard waste container, emptied once a week: $65 flat/month, $35 extras
Same container emptied every two weeks: $32.50 flat/month, $35 extras
Same container emptied every four weeks: $20 flat/month, $35 extras
There are also offerings for 4-yard and 6-yard containers, with increased costs. The costs would be subject to GST, a variable rate fuel surcharge, and a 2.4% federal carbon levy, which is subject to change. It was said that unlike most companies in the industry, Loraas doesn't charge a monthly container maintenance fee, administration fee, overweight fee, or a call back fee.
Reports of Administration
The Community Development Advisory Committee came up with some recommendations in regards to the Civic Centre rental contracts for those wishing to book the building for their event. One of the recommendations had to do with damage deposits, of which there are two; one is for a weekend rate, and the other is for a day rate. The amounts are a $200 deposit for a full day rental, and a $500 deposit for a weekend rental. There was a feeling that the rental rates weren't high enough, and while they have been raised, it's said that the numbers are very comparable to venues in similar municipalities.
Mayor Weiterman said that in keeping the rates as they are, that could attract more potential renters down the road. She also noted that there is bound to be a lot more pride of ownership with the new facility, touching on what it had been reduced to beforehand.
Clerk Fisher pointed out to Council that there's already been interest from six renters, with bookings already going into 2023.
A motion was made and carried to accept the rental contract.
Mayor and Councillor's Forum
Councillor Grotheim brought up a concern that was brought to him by a resident about Progress Avenue, noting that parts of it are "super dark" with little to no lighting. The Town will look into the issue and follow up, and it was said that they need to look at everywhere to ensure there are no other visibility issues.
Unfinished Business
On the topic of a utilities replacement project related to Highway 15, which includes updates to the storm sewer and treated water distribution lines underneath the highway as part of Outlook's ten-year capital plan. Council has approved the project to begin taking place in 2022. Administration had asked Associated Engineering to provide a quote for preliminary engineering and other services, and a quote was received to proceed with the work, and the quote for preliminary design and site survey came in at $22,500.
Touching on the topic of a solid waste contract, Council made note of the presentation by Loraas earlier in the meeting. It was said that the company had contacted the town on the possibility of a two-year contract. Trew pointed out that Loraas isn't the only transporter of solid waste that is interested in working with the Town of Outlook, though the Town is pleased with Loraas's current service. There have been early talks about Outlook going toward an automated collection system, which would include carts. Loraas would provide carts for residental and small businesses, and if the Town was to approve a contract with them, there would be quite a bit of time involved to provide education to the public. The Town could possibly put the contract into commission in July of this year, and if the contract were to be signed, no jobs would be lost within the public works department. Staff who are currently performing such tasks would be reassigned, and the Town is expecting more staff to be needed at the regional landfill.
No concrete decisions were made at the meeting, as Council expects the public to have their say on Tuesday night, April 12 at the community open house event at the Civic Centre.
New Business
On the topic of lot pricing in relation to Phase 1A of the railyard subdivision, it was said that quotes had been obtained from SaskPower and SaskEnergy to provide utility services to the 13 lots, and SaskTel's infrastructure would be installed at the same time as SaskPower. Water and sewer mains were accessible, and each property owner would pay for their service lines to be installed from the curbstop and the main. Future servicing include plans for a lagoon expansion as well as a new treated water reservoir. Under the first table of their pricing plans, with 5% servicing and 3% contingency, the average price of the lots would be $139,977.40, and under a second option with a larger contingency and a larger future servicing, the average price would be $150,418. A motion was made and carried to move forward on setting pricing under the first pricing plan of 5% servicing and 3% contingency.
