KAMSACK — Arrival of two new doctors, a culvert replacement, a regional EMO plan, extending a fire agreement and a revision to the golf course agreement were among items to concern town council at its regular meeting of May 12.
Council was informed by Kayla Brears, a specialist in recruitment and retention at the Yorkton Regional Health Centre, that two new physicians will be welcomed to Kamsack at a reception on May 22. She said Dr. Hatamnejad and Dr. Ibukun are expected to begin practice in the community in July.
Town council decided to make an application to the Assiniboine Watershed Stewardship Association for a 50/50 grant to a maximum of $5,000 for the replacement of two smaller culverts with one large culvert across Third Avenue North.
The estimated cost of the project is $55,000, said Barry Hvidston, town administrator. That amount is included in the 2025 budget.
It was agreed to proceed with a regional Emergency Measures Organization (EMO) plan of the East Central Municipalities Alliance, which would formalize an older, out-of-date plan that would include 12 rural municipalities, towns, villages and First Nation communities, Hvidston said. The intent is to gauge the interest in the plan, then hold a meeting to further discuss it. A TSSI (Targeted Sector Support initiative) grant for municipal collaboration is available for the initiative.
Council decided to sell the Community Safety Officer (CSO) vehicle that is outfitted with extensive equipment not required for the bylaw enforcement officer, and in its stead, purchase a truck for the bylaw enforcement officer.
It was agreed the Town would not be proceeding with a proposal to purchase the Ukrainian Catholic Hall to convert it into a building for use as a Provincial Court, among other uses.
Acquiring the building would require a large budget for major renovations, Mayor Beth Dix explained. That cost has not been included in the budget.
Applications from about six residents were approved for the cutting of grass for about 100 Town-owned lots, Hvidston said. Each person will be paid $150 for the year to keep the grass on those lots cut. Currently, in the community are more than 200 such lots.
Council and the fire department have agreed to enter into negotiations with the RM of St. Philips to protect Div. 3 of the RM of St. Philips, which is located east of Keeseekoose First Nation and abuts Duck Mountain Provincial Park. An agreement currently exists for the Kamsack fire department to provide fire protection to the RM of Cote, one division of the RM of Sliding Hills, Cote First Nation and Duck Mountain Provincial Park.
Council agreed to prepare a new five-year agreement with Riverside Golf course, which would replace the existing two-year agreement with the golf course that asks for one dollar a year, with a new five-year agreement that will require the golf course to pay $800 a year to cover the cost of insurance.
In addition, it was agreed council would have one seat on the golf course’s board, he said. Councillor Robyn Tataryn was selected as the Town’s representative on that board.
The condition of the Kamsack Swimming Pool seems good so far, Dix said. Staff are being hired to work with Sherry Nikiforoff, the pool manager. The pool will be open for the season on June 14.
Permission was granted to allow a portion of the Kamsack Comprehensive Institute graduation to be held in the curling rink side of the Broda Sportsplex on June 26.
The KCI will be using the rink because the OCC Hall, which normally is used for the banquet and dance, is otherwise occupied, Dix said.
Council approved a request from a group of pickleball players to use a cement pad located at the skate park north of the RCMP building as a pickleball court. The players would erect a net and paint the court as needed at their own cost.
Dix said council was upset that the original cost of $4,000 to install a system at the water crane located at the fire hall had increased by $11,000 to $15,000. Council agreed, nevertheless, to install the system, which would use debit or credit cards for payment rather than cash.
The new system is expected to be more accurate than the old system, Hvidston explained. Currently, water at the crane costs one dollar for 65 gallons and is used by rural residents and town residents needing extra water for such things as swimming pools.
“That’s pretty cheap water,” said Councillor Brian Kirkpatrick.
Groundwork is to begin this summer for a cement pad at Riverview Cemetery to be located at its northeast corner, where a group of four 48-niche granite columbaria is to be located along with centralized seating.
The cemetery currently has 96 columbarium niches in three units, and they’re filling up fast, Hvidston said. The cement pad is expected to cost about $20,000, and the first two units about $50,000.
“It will look nice,” Dix said, adding that it is expected that families might want to contribute to the cost of landscaping and seating.
It was agreed the fire hall security system will have its lock-and-key system replaced with an electric key fob system, similar to what is used in other town-owned buildings.
Council was reminded that members would be welcome at the Kamsack branch of the Royal Canadian Legion’s annual Decoration Day observance at Riverview Cemetery on June 1 and was informed of a Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) regional roadshow in Esterhazy on June 24.
