Reeve Bob Schmidt - seen here before a Zoom background, presumably
The RM of McKillop met for its regular meeting via Zoom on November 24, 2020.
Former Councilor Rudy Thompson/Kuderewko Payment
Former Councilor Rudy Thompson submitted a letter to Council. In the letter, he asserts the decision to pay former Councilor Andrew Kuderewko was based on incomplete information. Adding that the Administration appeared aware, there were outstanding legal fees that Kuderewko had been court-ordered to pay the RM. He states that had he been aware, the payment council made to Kuderewko for unpaid monies could have been applied to the outstanding legal fees. He finished his letter requesting a response. Read the letter Here.
Rate Payer - Leandra Cameron/Kuderewko Payment
Rate Payer Leandra Cameron submitted a letter to Council regarding the payment to former Councilor Kuderewko. In the letter, she asserts Council neglected to do their due diligence regarding the payment to former Councilor Andrew Kuderewko. Cameron included a detailed breakdown of amounts paid to Kuderewko and what the RM would have owed him for his time on Council. She further stated she had sent her concerns to Council regarding Councillor Rudy Thompson's motion to pay Kuderewko. Cameron submitted several questions asking the Council for a response. Read letter here.
Fox Point Advisory Committee Terms of Reference Agreement
The CAO said Sask Wildlife had approved the Fox Point Advisory Committee term of reference agreement. She noted the requirement that an applicant cannot be a member of any Sask wildlife chapter was removed because they were firmly against it because of the bias. When questions arose regarding this amendment, the CAO reiterated that this is only an advisory committee.
The CAO added that Council and Sask Wildlife would jointly approve the third member of the committee.
Councilor Dixon raised concerns about the scope where either party could dissolve the advisory committee with 90 days' notice. The CAO asked what would be put in the agreement to make it everlasting and reminded Council the wording had been there since November 2019. Dixon felt that both parties should mutually agree on dissolution. Dixon also wanted Council to be mindful of the responsibilities under the various Acts.
Reeve Schmidt was concerned that a dispute resolution process was not included in the agreement. The CAO explained that nothing would be approved without first coming before Council and Sask Wildlife.
Councilor Whitrow stated it was just an advisory committee and made a motion to accept, which was carried unanimously.
Delegation
June Ledrew of Collingwood appeared as a delegation to speak to the zoning bylaw around intermodal shipping containers (sea cans). She received a letter from the RM stating that the sea-can on her driveway is considered a guest suite. She responded to the RM in writing, challenging their determination saying that it was not a guest suite as there is no functional heat, plumbing, water, electrical, not connected to the property's services, sleeping accommodation and is a temporary structure. She explained she has no intention to make it an air b and b but is a temporary little home project that she intends on finishing by next summer and then will move it to another location out of the RM.
To prove her assertion that it's not a guest suite, she supplied photos of several modern ice fishing shacks that she felt would be more in line with a guest suite than her project. She said one of the modern shacks has a stove for cooking, washroom, satellite, and sleeping quarters, solar. She also shared photos of other ice fishing huts that were more like a sea-can, being that they were unsightly.
She challenged Council to look to the future regarding the current bylaw as people are building lovely homes out of sea-cans, and if someone was going to build a sizeable developed home from sea-cans, that under the current bylaw Council would have to say no.
She added that she felt the concerns regarding sea-cans is esthetics. She explained that she is going to insulate, clad and add a sloped roof to her sea-can and that it wouldn't look like a sea-can by next summer. Councilor Dixon raised his concern that a sea can couldn't be moved immediately like a fishing shack. Ledrew disagreed, saying it could be loaded onto a truck and moved. Ledrew then concluded her presentation.
Reeve Schmidt made a motion to send the matter to the planning and economic development committee to address temporary projects such as Ledrews and intermodal shipping containers- noting that he had counted 25 sea cans around the hamlet areas of the RM.
Hamlet Committee Report
Chair of the Hamlet Committee, Councilor Dixon, presented the Hamlet Committee Report, which occurred on November 7. He reported the main recommendations to come out of the meeting; Fire bans – Organized hamlet boards would be able to add a fire ban within their boundaries if necessary but would not be able to overrule one that is already in place. Trees North of Clearview on the Road Allowance - Over the past five years, organic material such as trees and leaves have been dumped in this area. It was previously a burning site for around 25 years. Even though there is signage restricting dumping, it has continued. The foreman will stack the material before completing a controlled burn. Hamlet Committee to organize unorganized hamlets committee formation – The Hamlet Committee will establish meetings with the unorganized hamlet residents to see if they would be in favour of forming a committee. Council made a motion to accept the report and approved the related motions.
Administrator's COVID-19 Report
The CAO said that it had been business as usual, with the exception that the Council will hold all meetings electronically until the end of the year. She noted the community planner is working from home until the end of the year, and one other employee may need to work from home depending on what happens with the schools. The CAO added an office closure would depend on announcements from the government. She said that they want to ensure that everyone in the office, as well as anyone that comes into the office, is safe as they are taking the best precautions possible. The office continues to follow masking requirements, hand sanitizer and log keeping for contract tracing purposes.
RIRG Grant Approval
The RM received approval for the full amount of $500,000 under the Rural Integrated Roads for Growth (RIRG) Program for approximately 7 miles of the 731 grid. The RIRG program is administered through SARM and assists RM's with costs of building and upgrading municipal roads, bridges and culverts to support growth.
It is a matched grant for which the RM will be responsible for $250,000 and the program for $250,000. The agreement must be signed and returned to the government before December 16, 2020. The CAO noted they have reached out to several engineering firms to get a ballpark amount on costs for the project. She informed Council if costs are under 75k, it would not have to be publically tendered; however, costs over 75k would. She added they believe the cost to be under 75k, and there is no requirement to spend the full amount of the agreement.
The Council carried the motion to sign the funding agreement.
All meetings of Council are open to the public. The next regular meeting is on December 8 at 9 am. All sessions will be held over zoom and can be attended via telephone or internet. The Zoom invite is available on the RM's web page.
- Jennifer Argue, LMT - Local Journalism Initiative reporter