L-R: Councillor Byron Tumbach, Councillor Jane Cogger, Mayor Bryan Matheson, Councillor Rhonda Phillips, Councillor Dave Cameron, Councillor Wes Holobetz, Councillor Verne Barber.
Before reconvening the meeting, priority agenda items were addressed as Council members needed their electronic devices to address these matters. These items included; additions to the agenda, reading of bylaws; accounts for approval and agenda item ‘Planning and dev. Report – 2020-025’ - was tabled until the next meeting as a result of power failure.
The Mayor - Bryan Matheson, chaired the meeting. All Councillors, the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) - Monica Merkosky and the Assistant Administrator - Krystal Strong, were present.
Under ‘Council Update’ – The CAO reported that due to recent COVID-19 events, they have decided to enact stricter protocols in the office. The side door that comes down into the lower level will be locked going forward. People who come in the front door will speak to the receptionist, who will take their name, phone number, the time and day they came in for tracing purposes. Anyone who goes past reception to meet with a staff member will be required to wear a mask. They will have a supply of masks for everyone, and hand sanitizer is required. The CAO said that they do not want to go back to when the office is closed, as it was difficult to conduct business. These changes are in an effort to keep the office open.
The CAO addressed questions regarding the Rink Board’s protocols. Councillor Phillips stated that the protocols are not good enough, stating that she witnessed the street being ‘plugged’ with people. Another councillor agreed, saying that it is like that every day. Councillor Philips said that this is not acceptable. Councillor Barber discussed the current Rink procedures stating that they don’t work, and it is a mess on 4th Avenue. He stated that they have rec hockey leagues with men changing their clothes out on the street, noting that this is totally unacceptable. Barber said that the 4th avenue procedures have to change, and there has to be a way for them to utilize the parking lot to move people in and out with some efficiency. He noted that while Saskatchewan Hockey has a return to practice plan, it still does not have a return to play plan. He said that there is now a push by rec hockey leagues who see the practice limit number of 30 - and because few rec hockey teams have more than 15 players, they are claiming it’s a practice. The Mayor noted that it’s tough to address these problems at the council meeting without the Rink Board. As the Rink Board meeting was occurring at the same time as the Council meeting, the Mayor turned the chair to Councillor Phillips so he could go to the Rink meeting. The Mayor returned shortly after as the meeting was not taking place, possibly due to the power failure.
The CAO reported - that the setup is being finalized for the Vendor Pay System at the bulk water station. Users will be able to use their debit cards instead of coins. This will save the administration a lot of time rolling a significant amount of coins that come in from the bulk station.
In October Council will receive the tax enforcement list published annually and contain the properties and balances outstanding from 2019. The CAO highlighted that the town of Lumsden doesn’t have a single tax lien on a property.
Under ‘Safe restart municipal allocations’ – The town received $108,809 under this new program. Council discussed areas where the money could be allocated. Councillor Phillips asked if there was anything they could do to expand wifi access for people who are working from home. The Mayor said that the Council should bring their ideas forward for discussion at the next meeting as this item will be on the agenda then.
Under ‘Speed sign data analysis’ – there is speed data that shows some vehicles travelling at a high rate of speed in the middle of the night.
Under ‘Forum’ – Councillor Phillips noted that people are really using the outdoor patios. She suggested that the patios be left available for the restaurant owners and the people of Lumsden to utilize longer than the original date of removal of Sept 30, 2020.
Councillor Barber, who also serves on the Prairie Valley School Board, noted that with COVID-19 cases in the community at a high, that they shouldn’t be surprised that something like this has happened, noting that it’s a bit of a wakeup call as it can happen in any community. He noted that Lumsden had large crowds in Lumsden on Saturday at the scarecrow festival.
Under ‘Unfinished Business’- Sanderson – 4th Avenue Parking Concern – Council made a resolution to direct administration to draft a bylaw for a no parking, tow away zone on the north side of 4th avenue from the alley to the west end of 4th Avenue.
The meeting adjourned. The next regular meeting will be held on Tuesday, Oct 13, 2020, at 6:30 pm in the Centennial Hall basement.
Jennifer Argue, Civic Reporter, LMT - Local Journalism Initiative reporter
Note: These reports are abridged for content