Like Shakespeare’s Hamlet, we have a great tragedy in the RM of McKillop but also like Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities (or in McKillop a case of two hamlet types) “its the best of times (for some) and the worst of times (for many)”.
As an aside there is a Dickens connection to Saskatchewan: Charles Dickens’ son Francis was an officer in the Northwest Mounted Police from 1874 to 1886. He was posted in the territory of Saskatchewan at Fort Walsh in the Cypress Hills, and Fort Pitt on the North Saskatchewan River.
Also, before I return to the issue at hand, I need to mention that newly “elected” Councillor Stricker resigned from council last week. Being that I have been away on business in the USA I have little in the way of information why, but given my knowledge of the Stricker family and their fine business reputation I am guessing that Joan like myself was unwilling to have her name attached to the current goings on with the soon-to-be-exposed self-serving interests and other potentially-scandalous behaviour of a number of other council members.
Back to my Tale of Two Hamlet Types: The RM of McKillop has two types of hamlets, unorganized and organized, but really we have two ‘classes’ of hamlet residents; second class and first class. However, unlike class types on an airplane, both types pay exactly the same taxes for the same assessed value of their properties, and there is no difference in assessed value based on the type of hamlet the property is located in. So, for example, if there are two identical homes on similar properties, one in the Organized Hamlet of North Colesdale, and one in the Unorganized Hamlet of Heritage Valley, taxes for the two properties would be virtually identical ….but the amenities and the services received are not.
North Colesdale, where Councillor Dixon resides, is a 1st Class Hamlet where the residents are entitled to direct 43% of their municipal taxes towards amenities, services and social events within their hamlet. And what they do not spend in any given year is put into a dedicated reserve fund for future years. So what exactly does that mean? Well, North Colesdale directs and receives snow removal when they want it, likewise with road maintenance and dust control in the summer. They can install street lighting and pay for the power bill out of the municipal taxes. If they want to purchase and install new playground equipment, they are able to do it out of their municipal taxes, replace or upgrade the boat launch or dock, same deal. Likewise the cost of maintaining their current water system is paid from their hamlet account and Councillor Dixon has made it very clear that he wants to see a lake waters irrigation system installed in the hamlet and the capital cost and ongoing maintenance costs will be paid for from their hamlet fund. As I mentioned, money not spent by an Organized Hamlet in any given year goes into a reserve fund for that hamlet and collectively that fund for all hamlets is now close to $1,000,000.
For an unorganized hamlet 2nd Class Resident, for all of the above-mentioned items, the residents will have to pay additional dollars for those amenities or services. For example: Sunset Resort has street lighting but the hamlet residents see an annual surcharge on their tax bill to pay the electrical bill for that lighting. But, right next door at the Organized Hamlet of North Colesdale (where RM Councillor Dixon resides) their street lighting is paid out of their hamlet fund. So, no additional tax levy.
To be fair though, if the folks at Heritage Valley, or any other unorganized hamlet desire play ground equipment, dust control or any other service or equipment they can go cap in hand begging that the RM council find money to purchase that equipment. RM council will have to find the money from general revenue (to which, by the way, the orginized hamlets only contribute 57% and have great amenities and extra services and still have a hefty surplus) or the RM council can try to implement some type of community improvement for the hamlet with a surcharge for that improvement tacked onto the hamlet residents’ tax bill.
Also, it might interest the reader that the 1st Class Residents of the Organized Hamlets are “safer”. Organized Hamlets, like Collingwood where RM Reeve Bondar resides and RM Councillor LaBatt resides, can and have purchased a portable defibrillator and pay for the maintenance and servicing of the unit from their hamlet fund and are also able to pay for first aid training as well. Maple Grove, just south of Collingwood, and the other unorganized hamlets, would have to dig deep into their own pockets for such things.
Now, there is no reason that council could not provide the same services to all hamlets - it is well within their purview to do so. But, what the hay, Bondar, LaBatt and Dixon have ‘special access’ to tax dollars. Why should they care what the second class residents want? (watch for Part 2 in the July 8th edition)
My name is Howard Arndt and I will always put my name on anything I write.
Disclaimer: opinions expressed are those of the writer
