KAMSACK — While meeting with the Kamsack Times on Aug. 15, Kamsack Mayor Nancy Brunt and town admin Barry Hvidston provided an extensive update on the town’s recent developments, focusing on zoning bylaw amendments, public hearing outcomes, community events, and upcoming initiatives.
Zoning Bylaw Amendments and Vet Clinic Approval
The council discussed the ongoing zoning bylaw amendments, which have been a significant focus over the past few months. “The big thing that's been happening the last two or three months is the vet clinic and public hearings,” Administrator Barry Hvidston noted. The council has officially issued a discretionary permit for the Vet Clinic at the last meeting.
Ongoing Projects and Community Alerts
Mayor Brunt provided an update on the status of the CSO’s vehicle, noting that it remains out of service due to ongoing issues.
“We had to replace the engine and the CSOs vehicle, and it's still down because of issues,” said Mayor Brunt.
The council is also continuing to use the Voyant alert system, a valuable tool that allows residents to receive town alerts via text, email, or phone call. The system is particularly beneficial for seniors without access to digital devices.
“We just have to get a staff member trained again. We'll be doing it in September. The Voyant Alert system is a good system because people can register for different levels of alerts. They can register for town wide alerts. Anytime there's an alert, they'll get every alert out there, or they can do it specific to their area, so they can get an alert by text message, by email or by phone call. So that's so seniors who don't don't have computers, don't have cell phones or whatever else, they can still get a phone call that will say garbage pickup in your area is delayed by one day, or when there was a fire by the tracks, which would be town wide. Unfortunately, when you do that one, everybody shows up to the fire by the tracks. Stay away when you're told to stay away for your safety.”
Munisoft Training and Administrative Updates
The council also discussed the training of town staff on the Munisoft software, a critical component of Kamsack’s administrative functions. Munisoft, which handles everything from tax rolls to accounts payable, requires proper training for staff to maintain operational efficiency.
“All of our staff are going through Munisoft training,” Hvidston explained. “We’re closing the office down, and everybody’s getting this training, including myself. It’s a process, but it’s essential to ensure we’re up to date.”
Community Events: Carnival and Canada Day Successes
The council reflected on the success of recent community events, including the town carnival and Canada Day celebrations. Despite rainy weather impacting attendance on certain days, both events were well-received by the community.
“Friday was really good for attendance, though Saturday and Sunday were less active due to the rain,” Hvidston noted. However, the enthusiasm for the carnival remains high, with residents eager for its return.
Canada Day, although dampened by morning rain, saw an impressive turnout of approximately 1,500 people. The day’s festivities were praised, though the fireworks were postponed to Sask Express’s show Frequency Quest in August due to weather conditions.
“Sask Express on August 2nd was another highlight, with about 250 people attending,” Hvidston added. “The fireworks were fabulous, and we plan to use the same company next year.”
Plans for 2025 and Beyond
Looking ahead, the council is already planning for 2025, aiming to combine Canada Day celebrations with the carnival to maximize community engagement.
Hvidston said, “So instead of having Canada on a weekday, we're going to push it back to the weekend when the carnival comes in and have the mud bogs and everything all at the same time, and that should generate more interest in the whole weekend.” Mayor Brunt added that, “It’s really hard to do Canada Day in the middle of the week, because people have to work the day before and they have to work the day after. So we’re planning to move it to the weekend with the carnival,” Mayor Brunt explained. The council hopes this will increase attendance and create a more cohesive celebration.
KamKids Daycare temporary location and Recreation Subsidy Grant changed
The council also addressed various administrative matters, including the renting of the OCC Hall to KamKids while their new location undergoes renovations.
Mayor Brunt said, “We're renting the OCC Hall to KamKids while they're undergoing renovations of their new location. They're going to be located in a house on East Avenue. So the house has to undergo major renovations. So because we feel that having a daycare in our town is very important, it's a vital aspect, we are renting the hall to them. Which will limit some of the things that can be held during the week at the OCC Hall.” Hvidston added, “We're estimating that's gonna be about nine months. So unfortunately, the OCC probably won't be rented out outside of KamKids very often. But as Mayor Nancy said, having a daycare in town is important.”
Additionally, the council discussed the Recreation Subsidy Grant, which provides financial assistance to low-income families for recreational activities. The program has been slightly tweaked to ensure it continues to serve its intended purpose effectively.
Hvidston said, “So we had to tweak the program a little bit this year. And we'd like to have it used, up to $2,000 in total can be used. And it's a first come first serve item, but it is intended for low income residents of the town of Kamsack.”
Mayor Brunt added that, “It's a great program. It means that somebody can get a swimming pass and go swimming, someone can play hockey who normally couldn't. So the wording just needed to be changed slightly so that we made sure it was going to a low income family. Who can't afford to do some of these activities.”
Roof Repairs and Upgrades
Hvidston provided an update on various infrastructure projects. One of the significant undertakings includes addressing long-standing roof leaks at several facilities. Pelican Foams and Coatings were awarded a $50,000 contract to apply a new foam layer on the Town office roof. Hvidston said, “The roof was leaking. It's been leaking for a few years now. I did some tenders off in June. We awarded it at the July meeting. It was Pelican Foams and Coatings that received approximately $50,000 to put a layer on the roof here, and it'll be good for quite a few years now. The other thing that these guys are going to do is at the Broda Center, there's one spot that the roof is leaking, so they're going to put the same foam over top of that to correct those issues.”
Fire Department News
The council welcomed a new member to the fire department, Chase Fountain, and is actively recruiting additional volunteers.
Mayor Brunt said, “We would encourage everyone to be fire safe. We have harvest coming. People are cleaning up garden refuse and everything like that. Don't start things on fire, no burning grass, no burning garden refuse that's not permitted in town.”
Eaglestone Lodge Funding
A budget of $5,000 has been allocated to Eaglestone Lodge for capital improvements. The funds will be used to build ramps and replace the dining room floor, addressing safety concerns for residents who use walkers or wheelchairs.
Municipal Fees By-Law
Barry Hvidston introduced a new municipal fees by-law designed to streamline the fee structure. This comprehensive by-law consolidates various fees into a single document, enhancing transparency and accessibility for ratepayers. Specific areas, such as water and sewer fees, remain governed by separate regulations.
Hvidston said, “With an all encompassing fees bylaw we can look at and see that, recreation, public works, administration costs, everything is in one spot. Yes, there's certain pieces of legislation. For instance, water and sewer has to be approved through a water and sewer bylaw, so we can't bring it into this all encompassing fees bylaw. But most other expenses, or most other fees we can. And it's a one stop. You look at it, and see this is what it is, and it's upfront.”
Upcoming Projects and Events
Several upcoming projects were discussed:
- Pool Operations: The town pool will close on September 2.
- Broda Center Opening: Preparations are underway to open the Broda Center skating rink by October.
- Landfill Transition: The new transfer station being developed to replace the existing landfill, is expected to be completed by mid-September.
- Election Preparations: The upcoming municipal election is drawing near, with the nomination period closing on October 9 and election day set for November 13. Mail-in ballots will be available, and information about running for council will be included with water bills and posted online.
- Beekeeping and Golf Carts: The council is reviewing policies regarding beekeeping and the use of golf carts within town limits. Both issues are under consideration, with further discussions planned in upcoming meetings.
