Lorne Kelsey and Patty Brotzel-Close, representatives of NRC Community Management Inc., addressed Council as a delegation to provide a report on renovation work that has taken place at the Norman Ritchie Community Centre over the past year. The organization was successful in obtaining a Community Investment Fund matching grant of $20,000 to assist with the cost of furnace replacement, and would like to proceed with building a kitchen on the main floor to enhance the facility’s potential for bookings. Mayor Rod Perkins requested that firm estimates be brought back to Council for the desired future projects so that they can be incorporated into budget planning for 2018.
Additional quotes to install pedestrian traffic signals have not yet been received so Council postponed a decision on this project until the October 10 regular meeting.
Council adopted a new Strategic Plan focusing on three main objectives to guide decision making on behalf of the Town of Kindersley: fostering strong relationships between Council, Administration, and the community; spending and managing money efficiently; and seeing major capital projects to completion.
Council also approved a new Council Governance Policy, which eliminates all reference to the previously used Carver Governance Model, and upon being adopted supersedes all previous governance documents guiding past Councils. The new policy outlines the framework for Council’s governance relationship to both Administration and the community.
In response to a proposed subdivision of land, Council resolved that the applicant be requested to have responsibility for any and all costs associated in the development of 2nd Street East and 3rd Street East, and that 13th Avenue East be extended from 2nd Street East to 3rd Street East to ensure that no parcels of land are landlocked. Approval of the subdivisions as originally proposed without development of these access roadways would result in irregularly shaped lots and not allow for 13th Avenue East to be consistent with the overall community plan for the C3 district.
In recognition of the Canadian Cancer Society and its efforts to raise awareness about breast cancer, the most diagnosed form of cancer among Canadian women after skin cancer, Mayor Rod Perkins proclaimed October as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The proclamation is intended to raise awareness of the effects and causes of breast cancer and to encourage women between the age of 50 and 69 years to participate in a mammogram at least every 2 years.
Council also made declarations for the following weeks:
Fire Prevention Week, October 8-14, 2017 – Recognizes the importance of fire safety planning for communities and households, as well as acknowledges the training and dedication of Kindersley firefighters. Residents are urged to develop a home escape plan all members of the household and to practice it twice a year.
Waste Reduction Week, October 16-22, 2017 – Recognizes that waste reduction is key to conserving the world’s resources and landfill space and urges residents to engage in new efforts to reduce, reuse, recycle, and compost by choosing sustainable and responsible consumption and environmentally responsible products and services.