March 15, 2022
By JENNIFER ARGUE, Local Journalism Initiative reporter
Sgt. Dean Gherasim was at the council meeting to provide an update to the Council and receive feedback from the municipality. The Town will be receiving monthly updates while he is at the detachment. Council didn’t have any questions.
Superintendent of Public Works and Utilities Jeff Carey provided a short update to Council. The new garbage truck arrived with training. He says they are keeping an eye on spring runoff. Councillor Tumbach gave Carey kudos for excess snow blowing work they completed.
Director of Finance Ryan Haresign provided a financial update to the Council on the list of accounts. He noted the Town incurred some interest charges on the Visa statements when staff were home sick with COVID.
Director of Planning and Development Aimee Bryck provided a Co-op gas station development update. She said they received an update from the Water Security Agency (WSA) that had made a flood protection recommendation for the site. She noted the Co-op has concerns as it was unexpected. Councillor Barber and Mayor Matheson were both upset at how the WSA had made the recommendation after the Town had given the developer approval and after the developer had spent a substantial amount of money. Barber said the WSA was flagging the Town that they had a deficiency in their flood protection. Council discussed what had occurred, and Bryck said she had set up a meeting with the WSA, and they will report back after the meeting. Mayor Matheson said he hoped the WSA was worrying more about the residents of Lumsden rather than a proposed gas station. He said he didn’t feel as though they were. “This gas station has above-ground tanks.” He said it was crazy that they require the co-op to provide what amounted to 1 million dollars of in-fill. He noted that there would be no difference compared to a neighbouring gas station. The Mayor and Councillor Barber were concerned about their liability in the matter.
There were 25 items under committee reports. The CAO provided her update and thanked Jacqueline Chouinard for getting the plastic bag consultation out to the public sector. Councillors then provided their individual updates.
Jenelle Brennan, Jim Rawlings, Ashlee Longmoore and Bryan Matheson will be attending the SUMA convention. Lumsden landfill hours on Thursdays are moving to 4-7.
The sewer use bylaw passed second and third readings. Council passed a debenture bylaw in three readings. Mayor Matheson noted it was being passed in one meeting as it was time-sensitive. Councillor Tumbach asked for a friendly amendment to the motion. He asked that the motion include “why” Council passed it in three readings for transparency and the permanent record.
Council also passed the first reading of the recreation fees bylaw.
Council went into closed session. The agenda didn’t note what authority the closed session was held or the subject matter discussed. There were no resolutions that came after Council returned from the closed session. Mayor Matheson thanked Council for their efforts and that they were moving forward with a bigger and better council.
Note: These reports are abridged for content
