KIPLING — A special public hearing to address rebuilding on a Main Street property was held prior to the Dec. 9 regular meeting of Kipling Town Council. While no public was in attendance, council heard information regarding a zoning bylaw amendment and accepted a development application for a property at 401 Main Street.
The zoning amendment was linked to the development application, following a house fire at that address earlier this year. The amendment sought was for the property to be zoned as a single detached dwelling as a discretionary use.
“The reason for that is that a house burned in the spring, and the owners just want to replace that which was there,” explained Mayor Pat Jackson, who chaired the special meeting.
No comment rose from the floor, and a motion on the application was referred to the regular meeting of council that immediately followed the special meeting.
As for the development application, Acting Administrator Andrew Rygh noted that residents around the property in question were contacted, with no concerns raised.
“We sent a letter out to all of the adjacent properties, and we had one email that came back,” he said. “They were happy to have the residential building go back up, and everything else that I received was verbal from all surrounding residents. Everyone was happy to have the building be rebuilt.”
The owners are planning to place an RTM home on the site, which Rygh informed council does fit within zoning bylaws. Mayor Jackson then closed the special meeting, five minutes after calling it to order.
Wind farm up and running
Mayor Jackson was pleased to report that most of the turbines at the Bekevar Yôtin Wind Project are in operation.
“The wind farm is up and running,” she confirmed. “In fact, I talked with Duane Leicht (Renewable Energy Systems) yesterday, and he said they had 30 of the 36 fully functioning. The other six they’re working on.”
Proclamation declined
Mayor Jackson also brought forward some correspondence she received from a group called the Christian Heritage Festival, who were asking municipalities across Canada to proclaim December as Christian Heritage Month.
More than three dozen centres in Canada have already made such proclamations, including Saskatchewan centres of Saskatoon, Regina, and Prince Albert. The multi-denominational organization is a Christian music festival that celebrates the contributions of Canadians who identify as Christian, an estimated 53.3 per cent.
“Personally, for me, it’s Christian Heritage Month, but that’s within me,” Mayor Jackson said. “I’ve got friends— some of them in town—who are not Christian, and we’ve got to walk a fine line here, we can’t be leaning too far in any direction.”
Council ultimately decided to decline to make the proclamation.
Council appointments
Members of Council were officially appointed to various committees, as follows:
Budget Committee – Council of the Whole. Joint Community Centre Committee - Devin Draper and Tara Carter. SE Library Rep – Maria Hill. Veterinary Board – James Gallagher. Joint Airport Committee – Draper and Darren Szakacs. SE Transportation Committee – Mayor Pat Jackson. Joint Road Committee – Draper and Colby Sproat. Police Commissioner – Mayor Jackson. Joint Fire Committee Reps – Sproat and Szakacs. Health Foundation Rep – Maria Hill. Leisure Services Committee – Tara Carter, Gallagher and Sproat. Communities Lotteries Grant – Council of the Whole. KidSport Committee – Carter, Hill, and Gallagher. Joint Leisure Service Committee – Sproat and Gallagher. Human Resource Committee – Council of the Whole. Planning and Development Committee – Draper, Sproat and Szakacs. Utilities Committee – Draper, Sproat and Szakacs.
Moose Mountain Pipestone Creek Watershed Association (MMPCWA) – Sproat and Draper. School Community Council – Hill. Age Friendly Committee – Carter. Museum Committee – Gallagher.
Property tax payments coming in.
There’s been a bustle of activity at Town Office lately as residents hurry in to pay their taxes by year-end. The last time Rygh checked, about 30 per cent of taxes in Kipling had been paid.
“It actually moved up drastically,” he said, admitting that while not pulling the actual numbers in advance of the meeting, “it’s starting to flow in.”
“Today, in fact, was quite a busy day for Christina with a lot of people coming in to pay off their taxes,” Rygh said, estimating two to three people per hour coming in on Dec 9, during what is typically a busy month for paying taxes.
The deadline for 2024 property taxes is Dec. 31, after which a 12 per cent penalty will be applied. With the ongoing Canada Post strike, payments are accepted online through the Credit Union via e-transfer, or in person at the town office by cash, cheque, debit, or credit card.
Acting Administrator’s last day
Dec. 12 was Acting Administrator Andrew Rygh’s last day at Town Office as he returns to the banking world.
“I start on Dec. 16 at the Credit Union, so I’ve told Christina and Kelly that if they need help finding anything, I’m a phone call away,” he said.
Workplace violence policy passed
A policy that was being worked on during the transition of the Administrator position between Gail Dakue and Rygh came before council for consideration.
“There is a requirement by the Saskatchewan government to have a workplace violence policy and prevention plan in place,” Rygh explained. “This was right in that transition where Gail was still here and I came on, and it just got overlooked. Gail and I worked to build the policy, and then we just didn’t put it into the agenda to read through.”
The policy was approved by council as presented.
Town office Christmas hours
A motion before Council suggested that the Town Office close at 3 pm on Dec. 24, plus closed entirely on the 25th and 26th. Council unanimously approved the decision.
Deputy Mayor appointed
Councillor Colby Sproat was appointed Deputy Mayor, with unanimous consent from council.
Kipling’s revenue share
The total revenue share that the Town of Kipling is set to receive this year is $299,782, of which $187,363.75 has already been received. One requirement was for a resolution to come before council stating that eligibility requirements have been met by the town.
In 2024-25, the provincial government will distribute over $340 million to various municipalities through Municipal Revenue Sharing, equal to 0.75 of one full point of the Provincial Sales Tax. The amount received varies, with cities gaining 47.9 per cent ($162.974 million); towns, villages, and resort villages receiving 16.2 per cent ($55.118 million); rural municipalities get 28.5 per cent ($96.967 million); and northern communities receive 7.4 per cent ($25.177 million).
Lower voter turnout
Council received the official returning officer declaration, which also included the number of voters who cast a ballot during the municipal election last month. A total of 206 residents voted in Kipling, down from the 2020 election that noted well over 300 voters.
