OUTLOOK - The town council of Outlook met for a regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday night, November 6, with this particular meeting being the final one before the municipal election on Wednesday, November 13. Present were Councillors Justin Turton, Sharon Bruce, Kyle McLeod, and Bob Stephenson, as well as Mayor Maureen Weiterman, Chief Administrative Officer Kevin Trew, and Assistant CAO Rachel Sillers. Absent were Councillors Ryan Husband and 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.
Presentations and Recognitions
Kicking off the meeting was a discussion on this being the final one with this current town council before the people of Outlook cast their ballots in the municipal election.
Attention then turned to 'The List' that Council compiled for themselves back in late 2020. This list comprised of community projects and initiatives that Council intended to tackle over the ensuing four years that have since passed. Such initiatives included the ICIP raw water intake project, the landfill decommissioning project, the lagoon expansion, the Urban Highway Connector program, paving plans, and the water treatment plant upgrades; the latter of which as of this meeting, CAO Trew mentioned were now complete.
Trew updated everyone on the stage of each project, many of which are still in the midst of being carried out.
After a lengthy update on numerous projects going on around the riverside community, Trew ended it by saying that he is very proud of the work that was carried out by this council.
"This is my fourth time working with a council for a first time in my life, and only my second time working with a municipal council, but I do really thank you guys and I think it's been great," he said. "Some will be returning and some won't, but I do feel very proud of the work that you guys have done, and I think for ourselves, the work we've done with our staff has been very good."
Mayor Weiterman then took the floor, addressing Trew, Sillers, Council, and everyone watching the meeting online in making her final public comments as the mayor of Outlook. She said:
"It's very important to me as the mayor, but more importantly as a citizen of Outlook, that this group understands how important you are to all of us. And by all of us, I mean in the community.
Rachel, I do not know what we would have done if we didn't have you. You have been our bridge from past to present, and I know that that's not always been easy for you. We had lots of changes, and you're the kind of person who always shows up and shows up with a smile and a good attitude. You are a leader and I thank you for that, and I also want to thank you for being there for me when I had no one, and I didn't know where I was going. You saved me. And I will be forever grateful.
Kevin (Trew), if I told you once, I told you a million times that we're very lucky for the day you fell into our lap. You were and are the guy we need to give us order and leadership. And now that we have our governance model in action and have strategic and capital plans, the way forward has so many positives. You have proven to all of us that Outlook is where you want to be, and I personally hope that you will stick with us for a long while. I'm very grateful for your mentorship; you've encouraged me and trusted me and even scolded me when I needed it. I've grown as a person and you showed me that you're never too old to learn. I trust that the new mayor and council will continue to support you, and if they give you any trouble, call me.
Bob, thank you for being our corporate knowledge. I appreciate it that you decided to give it one more go, and on more than one occasion you have been our voice of reason. I know that you probably wanted to give me a shake once in awhile, but I appreciate the hugs that you gave me instead. I want you to enjoy your retirement because these guys have got this.
Kyle, thank you for being the guy who always listens before he speaks. I realize when you first joined Council that you were a listener, and you and I sat right there together. I was a lucky person to have you sitting beside me. And boy, have you ever listened to me over the years! I'm glad that you decided to run again as you were a big asset to this group and it shows that you love Outlook.
Sharon, thank you for always speaking your mind. From the first meeting, I was impressed by the way you questioned and commented on the things that needed clarification. Many times, you've said out loud what we were all thinking and that takes courage. I'm glad that I've gotten to know you and I can't think of a better woman to share this experience with. You're smart, you're successful, and I think you have lots of tricks up your sleeve yet.
Kevin, oh Kevin I really do know that I'm not your mother! I hope you're listening to this, but I do know that she would be very proud of you. You're one smart guy who thinks of the things the rest of us can sometimes not fathom and you never apologize for asking the hard questions. That's a gift. I do still think that you need to go to university and study something important; however, I know that you want the best for this town so you won't be going anywhere and I thank you for that. We need you here.
Justin, thank you for your friendship. That is how this whole thing started, you know? Visiting as friends and knowing that we wanted to make a change for the better. You have been there for this Council and for me from the beginning, bringing your knowledge of all things financial, and I actually learned a thing or two. You got to like that.
Ryan, I want to say thank you for stepping up. Four years ago, you had a steep learning curve but you rose to the challenge and here we are. We now have avenues for education and training that will allow new members of Council to get up to speed very quickly, and I'm excited to have you follow me in this chair. I look forward to the great things that you and your council will do for Outlook, and I am confident that we will continue to grow and prosper.
And to the citizens of Outlook; the most amazing group of individuals who first gave me a chance to be the mayor and then supported me in a thousand different ways to make this one of the most important things that I have ever done. It has been an honour to be the mayor of Outlook and it is something I am very proud of. I've been allowed to build relationships that will last a lifetime and these are the gifts that you gave me when you trusted me to be the mayor. And I will be forever grateful. I'm proud of the work that we've done together, you guys - very proud. Thank you for supporting me, and thank you for your friendship."
Reports of Administration, Staff and/or Committees Requiring Decision
Council next discussed a potential lease agreement with the Outlook Amateur Sports organization after the Community Development Advisory Committee took a look at the group's plans and intentions. Such plans do include some possible building moving, but it was said that any deeper discussions surrounding any plans would wait until at least the spring.
