KAMSACK — A good portion of the regular Kamsack town council meeting on Feb. 24 involved a discussion between council members and Ross Fisher, executive director of the Health Foundation of East Central Saskatchewan.
The conversation centred around the new regional hospital proposed for Yorkton, which initially had been announced in 2018, said Barry Hvidston, administrator. Fisher told council that it is expected construction of a new facility will begin within four years.
He said a feasibility study regarding what services are required at the new facility is expected to be completed and released within a few months, added Mayor Beth Dix.
For the hospital, communities within the district will be obligated to provide 20 per cent of the construction costs, plus furnishings, Hvidston explained. The municipalities are being approached for those costs while it is hoped private donations will pay for the furnishings and equipment.
Fisher said that residents living outside Yorkton could expect to contribute about $500 each, he said. This means that Kamsack with a population of about 1,800 persons would be contributing $900,000 towards the construction of the new hospital.
Council has not made any decisions on the matter, but it would be beneficial if, with that cost in mind, council might begin raising that amount, Dix said.
There remain many “mays” and “mights” in the discussions, Hvidston said.
“When we asked what services will be provided in the new facility, Fisher said that he does not know of them all, but said that routine cancer treatments will be available instead of forcing patients to go to hospitals in Regina or Saskatoon,” Dix said. He also indicated that the hospital will have a kidney specialist.
Return to a bylaw enforcement officer?
With Sherise Fountain leaving town staff, council is looking at the Community Safety Office (CSO) position, Hvidston said. Fountain was the first person to occupy the CSO position, which is a bylaw enforcement officer with added duties such as traffic control, and the person is authorized to issue such things as speeding and parking tickets.
Council is deciding whether or not to revert back to a bylaw enforcement officer instead of a CSO, he said.
Council denied an appeal requested by Curyine Stonechild, who was said to have a “dangerous dog” which was ordered to be removed from the community.
The dog was said to be aggressive and is often running loose.
Wildlife group wants use of former reservoir
The Kamsack branch of the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation asked council for the use of the former reservoir located next to the Riverside Golf Course.
They want the reservoir so it can be filled with water in order to stock fish as well as being a place to conduct various educational programs, Dix explained.
Council was hesitant to give its approval because the reservoir was constructed with clay and clay will be needed when the town’s refuse site will be decommissioned and covered.
“We’ll need a lot of clay at the dump,” Hvidston said, adding that tests will be conducted this spring before a decision on the matter is made.
It was decided to sign firefighting agreements with Duck Mountain Provincial Park, the RMs of Cote and Sliding Hills, the Village of Togo and Cote First Nation. The agreements continue with no changes from the previous agreements.
Council agreed to acquire fleet cards from Jim Patteson for the purchase of fuel for town-owned equipment and vehicles.
Using these fleet cards to purchase fuel provides increased security, and the cards can be used almost anywhere, Dix explained, adding that currently, if an employee is on business out-of-town he or she must find ways to purchase fuel and then submit a bill to the council for reimbursement.
Council members to attend SUMA convention
A budget meeting was set for March 17 and it was agreed that six persons would attend the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) convention in Saskatoon April 13 to 16. Expected to attend with Mayor Dix and Hvidston are councillors Easton Moline, Robyn Tataryn and Onastasia Eliuk, as well as Dana Grieve, the assistant administrator. Public works supervisors Karl Morck and Kelsey Rauckman were authorized to attend one day of the convention.
Council agreed that the Broda Sportsplex would be closed for the winter season on March 28.
A summer carnival is being planned for Saturday and Sunday, June 21 and 22. In addition to having Canuck Amusements of Selkirk, Man., return to the community, the mud bogs events and a slo-pitch competition will be held during the weekend.
“And it will include a parade,” Dix said, explaining that she has had many people requesting a parade be included in the summer festival.
