KAMSACK — Wage increases, a new recreation director and a final walk-through of the renovated Sportsplex were among items to concern town council at its regular meeting Dec. 12.
Council ratified a salary increase of 1.5 per cent for the 12 members of CUPE (Canadian Union of Public Employees) who work for the Town of Kamsack, effective the first pay period in 2023.
A similar increase was ratified for five out-of-scope employees.
Council accepted with regret the resignation of Steven Dutcheshen, manager of recreation and community development, effective Dec. 9, and then ratified the succession of Benjamin Sipple, Administrative Clerk 1, moving into Dutcheshen’s position, effective Jan. 1. It was agreed to advertise for another administrative clerk.
Council accepted a report presented from Johnson Controls regarding deficiencies found during the final walk-through of the Phase 1 of the Broda Sportsplex project.
Cost of remedying the deficiencies will be borne by the contractors, Mayor Nancy Brunt explained following the meeting.
It was agreed that rates for using the Sportsplex are to remain the same as they were in 2021-22.
The Sportsplex skating arena was to be opened for use on Dec. 16.
Council approved the dates for its regular meetings in 2023. There are to be two meetings each month on the second and fourth Mondays, and only one meeting in each of July, August and December.
Recognizing that there has been a decline in the numbers of needles found by public works staff, council decided to commend the Saskatchewan Health Authority on doing pick-up sweeps within the Town.
Because the CPI (Consumer Price Index) has increased 6.9 per cent in 2022, and operating costs have increased due to the economic financial strain since the pandemic, council approved a 6.9 per cent increase for the new fire agreements. The Town has had fire agreements with the RM of Cote, Duck Mountain Provincial Park, Cote First Nation and a portion of the RM of Sliding Hills.
Having received a request from a business district group to allow a survey to be inserted in water bills, council, after having taken the request under advisement and after a careful review, declined the request, saying the survey does not meet best practice standards of the municipality.
Council advised the business district members to generate, distribute and collect its surveys within its own group as it is not a council directive survey.
Council accepted information provided by Greg Podovinnikoff, park manager at Duck Mountain Provincial Park, saying that the lodge is to be dismantled.
