OUTLOOK - The town council of Outlook met for a regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday night, March 26. Present were Councillors Kyle McLeod, Sharon Bruce, Andy Long, Donna Smith, Guy Derdall, as well as Mayor Ryan Husband, Chief Administrator Kevin Trew, and Assistant Administrator Rachel Sillers. Absent was Councillor Kevin Grotheim.
The meeting was broadcast live on the Town of Outlook's official Facebook page.
A number of topics and items were discussed, including the following highlights.
Bylaws
On the docket for this meeting was Bylaw 2025(02) Building Bylaw, which was set for its third and final reading. With CAO Trew having not heard any comments or feedback on it, the bylaw was okay to proceed with its final reading, although it does have to have consent from the provincial minister in relation to this particular sector. The bylaw was officially carried by Council.
Reports of Administration, Staff and/or Committees Requiring Decision
Discussing an application by the Town for CHIF funding (Canadian Housing Infrastructure Fund), Trew explained that they were seeking funds for one project in three different parts; the stormwater retention pond, the lagoon upgrade, and the lift station replacement. The substantial project is carrying a total cost of approximately $23 million, with the Town requesting support in the form of 50% of the cost.
The projects are among the Town's plans for the years ahead, with Trew noting that they aren't projects that need immediate attention right now as it's something the Town will be working on over the next five years.
"These are three significant parts with significant expense," said Trew, who also said that such projects are key in order for the Town to signal growth.
It was also said that such applications won't receive any attention until after the federal election in late April.
In an update on the tendering process related to the new fire hall in Outlook, CAO Trew said that they've received "a pretty good sampling of bids" from within the community. A spreadsheet has been put together with bids that have been submitted to this point by CAO Trew, the RM of Rudy's Trent Sim and fire chief Dalas King, with precautions being taken to avoid any possible conflicts of interest. Rivergrove Homes was selected as the project manager last fall, but they were said to not be the desiginated decision maker on aspects of the project.
Bids have been submitted for every tender, helping to make the project continue moving at a solid pace.
Mayor and Councillor’s Forum
Mayor Husband made mention of the local hockey teams that were involved in provincials action, which saw the games not having taken place at the time of this meeting.
Unfinished Business
Husband made mention of the Town's flag raising and proclamations policy having been looked at recently in discussion, and CAO Trew had taken it and made some modifications and minor changes. Trew said that the Town had previously been operating without an official flag policy, and the reason for it having had such attention recently is due to the public's interest in the topic, with a healthy debate had last June over the raising of the Pride flag.
Duration dates for waving the Pride flag were said to produce disappointment in some from the community.
Mayor Husband said he was glad the Town now had a policy on the subject, with Councillor Bruce adding that it's good to have such policies that state the Town's procedure plans on such matters.
Councillor Derdall said that "it's a minor thing, but also a major thing" as far as passing the flag raising policy right now, with the views in the community that are out there, and adding that with the absence of Councillor Grotheim, perhaps it may have been best to wait until the full council was at the table.
The topic showed a divide in the room over beliefs on what should or shouldn't be allowed, shedding light on why such a black-and-white adopted policy may have been needed in Outlook in the first place.
Councillor Bruce made a motion to accept the new flag raising and proclamations policy and procedures as amended. All in favour were Mayor Husband and Councillors Bruce, Smith and McLeod, so it was carried.
The Town's flag raising policy is available to read on the town website at THIS LINK.
