KAMSACK — A courthouse, the bylaw enforcement officer, carnival entertainment and Communities in Bloom were among items to concern Kamsack town council at its regular meeting of March 10.
Having received information from the Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation’s Communities in Bloom program, council members indicated they wanted to know what residents thought about having the program in the community this year.
“We would need community effort and support to hold a successful Communities in Bloom event,” Mayor Beth Dix said.
“Communities in Bloom is a national program that recognizes community participation in projects involving beautification, heritage and environmental awareness,” says the organization’s webpage. “It's a great opportunity for communities to generate civic pride and local participation and gain recognition across the country.
“Participants are judged on the quality of their municipality's green spaces, diversity and originality of its landscaping, general tidiness, environmental awareness, heritage and the level of community involvement.”
In the program, communities participate with other communities in their population category within their province. Provincial judges evaluate the communities on the six program criteria and award a bloom rating from one to five blooms (five being the highest ranking) at a provincial awards ceremony in the fall, where communities receive a certificate with their bloom rating.
Up to two communities in each province will be invited to participate in the following year’s national edition.
The program’s vision is “to inspire all communities to enhance the quality of life and our environment through people and plants to create community pride.”
Provincial Courthouse
Town council spent some time discussing a more-permanent home for the provincial court, said Barry Hvidston, town administrator, explaining that since the closure of Crowstand Centre, court in the community has been held temporarily at the Kamsack branch of the Royal Canadian Legion hall, similar to the way the public library is now being housed at the seniors’ centre.
The possibility of acquiring the Ukrainian Catholic Hall for such a purpose was discussed, Hvidston said. Council members indicated they were not keen on making expenditures required to convert the hall into a courthouse.
Council agreed to look at other potential sites and even the possibility of having a new building constructed.
Bylaw enforcement
It was agreed to suspend the Community Safety Officer position for a minimum of one year in order to study the position to determine if it is the right fit for the community, Hvidston said.
This topic involved a good, long discussion, said Dix. “We were weighing the pros and cons of having a CSO or a bylaw enforcement officer.”
Initially, the position was created for two reasons, Hvidston said. They were there because of a drug issue in town and loitering on Main Street.
It has since been discovered that the CSO program cannot deal with drugs because initiatives involving the RCMP might be jeopardized, he said. There are no bylaws in place to force people off Main Street unless they are seen to be consuming alcohol or drugs, and in such cases, the RCMP have to be contacted.
Besides, public areas are meant for the public, Dix added.
Among reasons for not continuing with the CSO program is the cost, Hvidston said. The person in that position is paid from 30 per cent to 50 per cent more than is paid a bylaw enforcement officer and the program costs more, considering it requires radar, calibration of equipment, dispatch services, CSO vehicle items and access to the SGI data base.
Arguments in favour of retaining a CSO include traffic control and better networking and information sharing.
“With a CSO, there is increased inter-agency co-operation,” Dix explained.
Council is seeking a person to work as the bylaw enforcement officer for at least a year, and that person will have a valid driver’s license, a clean criminal record and at least a Grade 12 education, Hvidston said. Further experience in protective services is an asset.
Buy Canadian
Having received a letter from the provincial government requesting municipalities buy Canadian goods wherever possible, council agreed, he said.
But, it will be difficult to purchase everything Canadian-made, he said. For example, the water treatment plant was constructed by an American company so some specialized parts will have to be imported.
The once-in-four-years Saskatchewan Assessment Management Agency assessments are being mailed to residents this week, he said, adding that overall, assessments in Kamsack have been reduced by 10 per cent due to the value of some homes, depending on renovations that might have been undertaken, their age and condition.
Council authorized the Kamsack Comprehensive Institute to hold a graduation parade within the community on June 27, beginning at about 5 p.m.
After learning that SaskExpress now charges about $4,000 for a concert in the community, and it was suggested that the event be scheduled for June 21 during the carnival being planned, council indicated it would rather see another kind of entertainment scheduled.
So rather than SaskExpress, organizers of the carnival are looking for a different type of entertainment, Dix said.
Dogs running loose
A “big complaint” coming to council has to do with dogs, Hvidston said. Dogs are reported to be running loose, and some areas have dogs creating packs.
“We have heard of incidents of dogs chasing and knocking down people,” he said. Dogs are seen creating a mess in neighbouring yards.
“We need people to understand that dogs must stay on their properties unless on a leash or in designated areas, and all must be registered with the town office,” he said. A one-time lifetime fee of $25 is required to register a dog or cat, whereas previously, the registration cost $5 a year.
Hvidston said that he, along with the RCMP, is working on the problem.
The process of hiring about 20 persons, both full and part-time, to work at the Kamsack Swimming Pool, has begun. Some of the staff begin at the beginning of June, while the others, often students, will be working in July and August.
Council’s first budget meeting is scheduled for March 17, Dix added.
