All councillors were present. Administrator Courtney Huber was present, and Reeve Delbert Schmidt chaired the meeting. There was some discussion on the minutes from the previous meeting before there was a motion to accept the minutes.
Under ‘Financial Statement’ - Administrator Huber gave a detailed Financial Report for the month of August, with total revenue of $1,898,773.74; total expenditures of $167,274.64; noting a net change in financial assets of $1,731,499.10.
Administrator Huber noted that the R.M. would be using the MEEP and Gas Tax money to purchase the tractor. Council Accepted the Financial Statement.
Under ‘Correspondence’- Huber reported on correspondence received by the R.M. including; SARM Policy bulletin indicating that for the first time their annual convention in 2021 will be digital; Ministry of Government Relations - they sent the Gas Tax instalments of both one of $29,972 and instalment two of $29,972 for the 2020/2021 year; Ministry of Government Relations also sent approval for MEEP funding to purchase the tractor. The grant was $146,028; Scott Hubick sent an email requesting the R.M. be part of the iHunter app. The app makes the R.M. map accessible to hunters. Huber will look into the cost of the iHunter app.
The Correspondence portion of the meeting stopped temporarily to allow Dustin Huber, Operating Foreman, to report to Council. He reported that they stopped doing the pit run to stay out of the way of everybody. He stated the pile on the old 6 is full of rock. Council discussed discuss the purchase of a screener if they are going to continue with the pit runs. Dustin reported that to rent a self-contained screener is 22,000/month. Dustin said he would price a screener out. Councillor Wild recommended setting up a committee regarding the screener;
Dustin reported that they had a fire with the gyro mower. They called 911, and Craven fire came out and had it out right away. Wild asked Huber what the R.M.’s liability coverage is. Huber stated that they have 6,000,000 liability. Huber stated that she hasn’t received the fire bill from Craven yet, but she will compare the deductible. Reeve Schmidt noted that they were supposed to give locations of water to the fire departments but never did.
Council discusses wages of employees and retention. CM Larsen suggests that they should have a wage schedule. Huber states that they have set up a wage review in January.
Huber notes that the shop power is double in comparison to the previous year. Wild states that they can request a comparison meter if they feel they need to. Reeve Schmidt suggests looking at the carbon tax portion of the energy bill. Dustin left meeting @ 9:30am.
The meeting continues with ‘Correspondence’ - Text2Car sent a brochure noting a lot of municipalities have it. ; RCMP report; Town of Southey Fire Rates increase effective September 1st $4,000/first 3 hours, $2,000/per every hour after, $500/false alarms, no charge for Stars landing, notes that the rates are in line with everyone else. Huber states that what the town has increased their rates to; ConX Wireless services; SAMA Board of Directors will be holding the 2020 AGM virtually on October 22nd @1:30pm; Eco Leveling Ltd. sent information on services they provide; Rock Ridge condo association received their grant and said that they would be using the fund for road maintenance or to help cover the cost of a water line break that they had in May; Parkland Regional Library sent out a notice that they will be having four information meetings around September and have asked no more than one rep to attend each meeting due to COVID. Councillor Larsen will be attending. Parkland Regional Library sent 2019 audited financial statements.
Under ‘Reports’ – Wild reported that they had a scale committee meeting where they awarded the tender for the scale’s aprons. The accepted tender included sealant and will be done in 3 weeks. Wild said he hasn’t wired it yet as they are moving the office building to the south side. He noted that this would allow a person to sit in the building and watch the monitor without getting out. He hopes that the scale will be operational in a couple of months; He notes that the beaches have been busy, and as a result, the landfill has been busy. Wild continued to say that they are going to have to dig a new hole within two years. He stated that previous cost estimates had been 620k to 1.3 million. He concludes that to begin the process with Sask Environment, they will need to hire consultants; Wild noted that they had concluded their regulatory issues with Sask Environment. He noted that being a member of ARWMAS (Association of Regional Waste Management Authorities of Saskatchewan Inc.) has been very beneficial; Wild reported that they had a joint meeting with the R.M. of McKillop, though the two reps from McKillop were not in attendance. The potential ability to purchase the landfill site from the R.M. of McKillop was discussed. Wild made a motion that the R.M. of 219 seek legal counsels advise on implications to the R.M. if the lease was terminated. Motion carried.
Councillor Ritter reported that nothing has changed with the Cupar home. He would like to have a meeting off-site in order to facilitate better interaction.
Councillor Hegglin reported re: Strasbourg and District Health Clinic Board; that he would like to have a meeting after harvest and have a round table that they could send out to everybody.
Reeve Schmidt reported that at The Manor, all six rooms will be filled in the next couple of weeks and that nobody has moved out in the past few months. He further notes there has been some maintenance done in the rooms. Council Accepted Reports.
Under ‘Old Business’- Huber has nothing to report regarding Yancoal; Investments- quotes were requested from Earl Grey Credit Union and Infinity. Both were .5%, and the Conexus quote was 1.05%, which would be a one-year redeemable investment that they can access after 30 days without penalty. Council discussed the information then made a motion to invest $750,000 at Conexus at 1.05%. Motion carried; Decap Trailer Insurance- Huber read out the denial letter of their claim as the insurer deemed that the damages to the trailer resulted from mechanical failure. Motion made and carried to accept the denial letter; Klock horses - Wild informed Council that he had been to the property three times and had only seen one horse. At this point Councillor Wild notes that it appears he has complied. Council made a motion and carried not to issue a fine and will continue to monitor.
Under ‘New Business’- Mail-in Ballot Bylaw- Huber stated that, going forward, the R.M.’s would be required to have either a mail-in ballot or advance poll bylaw or both. Council then reviewed the draft bylaw. Council discussed then passed the amendments to the mail-in ballot bylaw; Reeve Schmidt stated that he is not running in the election; The Reeve suggested that they hold the advance poll in either Craven or Stilton. The Council discussed where to hold the advance poll. A motion was made and carried to have the advance poll held in Earl Grey on Wednesday, October 28th, from 3-8 pm at the Earl Grey Community Hall. Council made a motion to acknowledge the notice of intent of Ducks Unlimited Conservation Easements; Miscellaneous Appointments- Council accepted a motion that Kyle Gartner be appointed to the Fire Department.
Under ‘List of Accounts’ – Council reviewed, made a motion and carried the list of accounts.
The meeting adjourned. The next regular meeting will be Tuesday, October 13th, 2020, at 8:00 am at the Earl Grey Curling & Skating Rink.
- Jenifer Argue, Local Journalism Initiative reporter
