When it comes to the year that was in Yorkton, Mayor James Wilson said one thing overshadows all else which happened, and that is the heavy rains and resulting flood July 1.
"The flood kind of overshadowed a lot of good things that happened in the city," he said in a year-end interview with Yorkton This Week.
Wilson said the flood showed something about the city which transcended anything done at City Hall. He said the thing he will remember is not so much the damage, but the way the community responded to the hardship.
"It was the leadership shown by people," said the Mayor. " People were reaching out to people." He said it was quickly apparent city residents realized what was important "is the person next door."Wilson said on behalf of himself and Council he wanted to thank "everybody that did contribute and really stepped up to help."
Certainly the effects of the flood were substantial in the city.
"People are still going through the effects," said Wilson, adding the work on homes and businesses damaged July 1, will continue well in to the new year.
Wilson said in general terms Council has been dedicated to laying a foundation not just for the year ahead, but which will allow Yorkton grow into the future.
"We have the responsibility the decisions we make are for the future," he said, adding looking forward Council is trying to develop policies to help manage growth.
The management of growth has meant the need to undertake "some major projects along the way," said Wilson, pointing back at the upgrade and expansion of the Gallagher Centre, or the new Fire Hall, officially opened this year, or the new Water Treatment Plant which came on line late in 2010.Wilson said the fire hall is a good example of what is happening.
"We completed the Fire Hall on time, and on budget," he said, adding the foresight to include aspects such as the ability to host a command centre to coordinate disaster response activities proved worthwhile almost immediately, being used at the time of the flood.
"I think the fire hall proved important in the flood," he said.
Wilson added the fire hall is also an example of a long term vision for the city, with room for growth in a building which should last 30-40 years, although he noted there are fire halls decades older still in use in North America.
The management of growth is also what was behind the City's annexation plan, which was modified in 2010, and brought land into the city on its east side which is planned to become a large residential development.
Looking at 2010, Wilson said he is also proud of the fact Council, with the help of City Administration was able to pass its 2011, budget before the end of the current year.
"This sets up to further succeed into the future," he said, adding for the first time in years the City has "a budget prior to actual operations."
The earlier timing should have benefits, in particular tendering some of the work which can be carried out earlier, meaning more interest.
"You can't be tendering when everybody is busy," suggested Wilson.
Hosting a community think tank, where nearly 50 community leaders formulated a collective vision of what they would like to see in Yorkton in the future was also a step undertaken in 2010, with a report on the process expected early in the new year.
Wilson said the results of that work, and a recent economic development business plan can now flow into the budget processes moving forward, again facilitating growth planning.
Another step toward the future were steps taken in 2010 which will see the landfill become a self-sufficient entity in the same way City waterworks are now generating enough internal revenues that funds for operations are not being drawn from the general tax pie.
"Waterworks is self sufficient It pays the debt it incurs," said Wilson, adding landfill operations will eventually be the same. That step is being taken as the landfill moves toward a point where it will need to expand at a cost of several million dollars.
Looking ahead Wilson said the City will look to "continue the service we have," although he added it is important to continuously "examine the level of service," as well.
Wilson said he also sees a role for the City to be at the table in terms of discussions regarding key services which are not generally the purview of the municipality, areas such as health care and education. He said such areas are not the mandate of the City, but the importance to the community is such the City must be involved in at least talks surrounding such key services.
