Moment with the Mayor: Community Engagement

Hi Neighbours:

Believe it or not, we are already starting the 2015 budget process at the Town. Administration has been compiling a list of operational and capital items for consideration, and Council has requested that some of last year’s capital expenditures and deferred investments be reintroduced to help us prioritize investments for next year. The provincial and federal governments are also conducting their preliminary budgets discussions and we are preparing our presentations and letters for them.

Here is our tentative 2015 Budget Timeline:

·         The week of Oct. 6 – 10: Community Consultations. Please attend and bring your suggestions. If you represent a group or an organization, please bring a Board resolution supporting the position and/or request.

·         November 10: Public Council Meeting during which the budget will be presented to the public and accepted in principle.

·         November 24: Public Council Meeting to adopt the budget and set the mill rate.

Every year, we hold public budget meetings seeking public input. These are valuable opportunities to hear from our taxpayers and we look forward to the comments and input we receive.

Since being elected almost two years ago, I have been reflecting on why so few people attend these meetings. I think the best explanation I have found so far is from a book titled “Economic Theory of Democracy.” What the author (Down) suggests is that “rational people will ignore a decision when the effort required to get informed about it is greater than the value of getting the decision right.” This could be understood to mean that it is a lot of work to keep abreast of all of the challenges and issues related to making the ‘right’ decision.

Another author suggests that the effort (and outcome) required to make the ‘right’ decision is too great when compared with the effort (and outcome) we need to dedicate to our family, work, and leisure activities (sports, arts/culture, religion, civic groups, etc.) Based on this idea then, without being cynical: We all want competent elected officials at the municipal level and all levels of government in order to make the best decisions possible. (Seymour’s “Birth of a Boom: Saskatchewan’s Dawning Golden Age”)

That is what our Council is trying to do - make the best decision possible with the best information we can reasonably get. So, we have been building our asset management plan, our 10-year infrastructure capacity plan, developing an economic development and culture plan, strategic plan, and more so we have the best information possible to make the best decisions we can.

Please write or phone if you would like me to discuss a particular topic. If you have any questions or comments, drop me a line at the town office or email me at mayorenns-wind@kindersley.ca. You can also check out my blog at http://mayorjohn.blogspot.ca/. I appreciate your feedback.

Traffic Flow

The Ministry of Highways have recently recommended that the Town consider having only two access points to HWY#7: Ditson Road and Highway #21. Our recent Traffic Study also suggested that these access points need to considered.

The reason for the consideration is safety. The Main St access is dodgy with 3 roads connecting at in a small poorly designed area. I get the safety thing.

My concern with the other access points, and much less so for HWY #21, is design. The corner at the KI and the road to Co-Op and Walmart is tight. Can this interchange accommodate the increased volume of traffic?

With proper signage I don't think our businesses on the Service Road would see a drop in service.

Let me know what you think. Email me.

Traffic Lights On HWY #7 & Ditson Update

We just received word that the traffic lights are to be delivered and installed the week of September 8th. It has been a long time and thank you for your patience as we have used temporary stop signs and signals. Through our patience we have saved more than $1 million.

Spray Park Construction

Construction of the spray park has started.

August 26, 2014

August 26, 2014

Official Community Plan Approved

Just a quick note to let you know that the province has approved our OCP and Zoning By-laws. The province would like a couple of tweaks but we now have a 2014 OCP.

Thank you to Minister Bill Boyd and his office, Minister Reiter and his ADM Keith Comstock and staff for helping to expedite the approval process.

We had 7 projects in limbo between the old and the new OCP.

Proposed Resolution Regarding Infrastructure Borrowing

The resolution below is an attempt to have the provincial government work towards a solution so we can address our infrastructure challenges. The Town has been doing a lot of work to understand our challenges and develop a strategy to effectively and efficiently address these challenges. However, now we are at the point where we have insufficient resources to act effectively and efficiently. Sustainability includes have the resources to implement good decision based on sound strategies.

Resolution to Address the Lack of Financial Tools Municipalities Have to Address Infrastructure Needs

Whereas Kindersley is a growing community with a growing commercial, industrial, retail, and residential base; and

Whereas the Town of Kindersley, having completed a number of assessments and plans including: infrastructure capacity assessment, long term financial plan, asset management, traffic study, landfill site assessment, and other planning tools like the new strategic plan, organizational effectiveness plan, culture and economic development plan, arts and recreation needs and operational assessment, as well as a new Official Community Plan and accompanying zoning by-laws; and

Whereas, based on the above assessments and plans, Kindersley’s growth may be compromised due to a lack of financial resources to sustainably support growth; and

Whereas the Town of Kindersley has identified as priority needs a new landfill site, a new sewage lagoon or treatment facility, new arts and recreation facilities to replace facilities almost 40 years old or facilities deemed unsafe or not cost effective directed to be demolished; and

Whereas 130 urban municipalities are unable to accept or plan for new residents and new business because of a lack of resources to develop new infrastructure; and

Whereas infrastructure current funding available through the Build Canada Fund and matching funding from the Province of Saskatchewan are inadequate to address the immediate infrastructure needs of growing municipalities and regions; and

Whereas municipalities, especially towns, have limited revenue generating means; and

Whereas infrastructure funding by the federal and provincial governments are below the historical level in relation to GDP when most infrastructure was built; and

Now therefore be it resolved that the Council of the Town of Kindersley strongly encourages the Government of the Province of Saskatchewan to amend current legislation and regulations to allow increased flexibility for borrowing monies to develop infrastructure. Items to amend include:

     ·         Increasing the amortization period for repayment;

     ·         Different considerations, or thresholds, for borrowing limits between those infrastructures that generate revenue and those that don’t;

     ·         Separating from municipal debt limit those infrastructures, such as utilities, that are self-sustaining; and

     ·         Provide approvals for increased debt limits for those municipalities who have developed asset management plans, infrastructure capacity plans, and long term financial plans;

And further be it resolve that the Government of the Province of Saskatchewan make such amends with all reasonable haste to facilitate ongoing and sustainable growth and competitiveness.

Notes on Mayors' Discussion on Health Care

Below are some notes I took during a meeting of mayors to discuss the delivery of healthcare in municipalities.

Regina: August 18, 2014

Scope of Healthcare participation

·         The delivery of healthcare has elicited different responses from communities

·         Subsidies of varying degrees

·         Provision of clinic buildings

·         Construction of a new facility

·         Provision of housing and vehicles

·         Own and operate clinic

·         Provision of incentives

Issues

·         Recruitment

·         Uneven playing field for recruitment (wealthy vs less wealthy; urban vs rural; hospital vs clinic (scope of practice offerings))

·         Communities are competing on the provincial and national scale rather than collaborating

·         The current model, no recruitment and retention guidelines, does not ensure sustainability but encourages competition amongst municipalities

·         Physicians shop around for greater pay (their market is provincial, national, and international)

·         Make communities compete against one another (divide and conquer)

·         Irregular level of service provided

·         Across the province and within regions

·         Fragile, dependent upon physicians’ ‘happiness’

·         Communication

·         Lack of transparency and openness

·         Broken agreements

·         accountability

·         Human Resources

·         Shortage of EMTs

·         Volunteer fatigue

·         Shortage of physicians (docs may shop around)

·         Scope of practice in an area has been compromised

·         50% of physicians leave within 5 years

·         Health is to be non-profit (Health Authorities/Ministry) yet has a profit driven centre (Physician Centres)

·         Municipal funding of healthcare is not sustainable

Policy Challenges

·         Level of service:

·         Physician staffing

·         EMT staffing

·         Geographic question

·         Communication

·         Accountability

·         Broken agreements

·         Open/Transparent

·         Funding

·         A question of population based delivery across large distances

·         Recruitment & Retention

·         Intense competition between communities

·         50% of physicians leave within 5 years

·         Subsidies

·         No accountability

·         No transparency

·         No legislative protection or jurisdiction

Clark Place Condo Development Celebration

This afternoon was an opportunity to celebrate a lot of work that has not been seen. Work completed by the Provincial Government, Marathon Equities, Excelsior Quality Builders Ltd, Head Start, Synergy Credit Union, and the Town of Kindersley towards the development of new homes for Kindersley. Today was the start of 24 new condos of a 70 unit complex. Construction on the condos has already started, they are modular, and it is expected that the homes will be ready and people moved in for Christmas.

Clark Place Sod Turning, August 27, 2014

 A number of interested people and dignitaries were on hand for the celebration.

Clark Place Sod Turning, August 27, 2014.

The realtor of the development is Royal LePage owned and operated by Bill Larocque(sp?)

Wynn Sturm talking about Clark Place prior to the sod turning. August 27, 2014

One of the things we learned today was that the homes will cost $336,000. Council is still working towards more attainable housing as well.

The following are my speaking notes celebrating the Clark Place sod turning.

·         This day is finally here.

·         New home construction is starting beginning with this condo project

·         I have tired of saying “we are working on it” and today can we give a little pause to that expression.

·         Homes are happening and we will continue working in this direction

·         It takes a lot of people, and money, to make this day happen

·         On behalf of the Town of Kindersley I would like to express our gratitude for the work done by many people to alleviate Kindersley’s housing shortage. A shortage that threatens our social and economic health.

·         Our MLA Minister Bill Boyd for the provinces support of the program

·         Since 2012 Headstart has played a role including hosting a developers forum.

·         From Head Start I want to thank Wanda Hunchak and Marlin Stangeland for their patience and persistence to make this day possible. I would also like to thank Rhonda Young from Head Start who helped get the process rolling

·         Back in the summer of 2013 Council met a visionary and hard working developer who has rolled up his sleeves to turn a lot of bare land into lots for development.

·         Wynn Sturm has been a great partner pushing and working for new housing in Kindersley.

·         Wynn, thank you for your patience and dedication so this day can be celebrated.

·         Wynn is the owner of both Marathon Properties the developer and visionary of Brookhollow Estates and the owner of Excelsior Quality Builders Ltd who are building the 24 condos

·         Projects like this need money and I want to express our appreciation to Synergy Credit Union and Branch Manager Barb Derbawka for demonstrating their support for Kindersley

·         Gratitude also needs to be extended to the unsung heroes at the Town Office for doing your part in helping us realize this day. Bernie, please extend our thanks to your staff for their hard work.

·         The importance of this project cannot be understated.

·         We have a growing and dynamic community that is bursting at the seams with economic activity and opportunity.

·         These homes are the first step in building Kindersley’s future

·         Kindersley is a wonderful community with energetic people and our commercial and industrial businesses need more people like this

·         Homes like those being built here ensure that our restaurants have enough cooks and servers, that our shops have enough staff, that our support services have enough technicians, and enough operators to ensure that a hungry world has enough energy and food

·         This is our sustainable future

·         To Bill at the provincial level, to Wanda at Head Start, Wynn and your various crews, Barb and your helpful staff at Synergy, thank you for helping Kindersley realize a new future and a new normal.

Mayoral Report: August

Date	Activity	Purpose/Outcome	Follow Up	Policy Number	Expense
07/23	Health Meeting (Kerrobert)	·      Update	·      Ongoing	·      GP.4.	$000
07/24	Infrastructure Meeting	·      Development Levies	·      Ongoing	·      GP.2.; GP.7.	$000
07/24	RM representative meeting	·      Fire services	·      Ongoing	·      GP.4.	$000
07/24	Economic Development	·      Follow Up Initiative	·      Ongoing	·      GP.4.	$000
07/24	Economic Development	·      New Initiative	·      Ongoing	·      GP.4.	$000
07/25	Mayor’s Hours	·      Met with residents, admin tasks, stakeholders, etc	·      Brought concerns to Admin/Council	·      GP.2.;.7	$000
07/29	Phase 2 Meeting	·      Discuss construction	·      Brought info to Council	·      GP.4.; GP.7.	$000
07/30	Sprung Meeting	·      Tour Sprung facility	·      Brought info to Council	·      GP.4.; GP.7.	$000
07/31	Mayor of Warman	·      Tour Warman and discuss common issues	·      Brought info to Council	·      GP.4.	$000
08/05	Town Update	·      Caught up on latest happenings	·      Ongoing	·      GP.4.
08/8	Mayor’s Hours	·      Met with residents, admin tasks, stakeholders, etc	·      Brought concerns to Admin/Council	·      GP.4.; GP.7.	$000
08/11	Mayor’s Hours	·      Met with residents, admin tasks, stakeholders, etc	·      Brought concerns to Admin/Council	·      GP.4.; GP.7.	$000
08/11	Council Meeting	·      Public Meeting	·      Refer to minutes	·      GP.0.; .1.	$000
08/12	HR Committee	·      Start Senior Admin compensation review	·      Ongoing	·      GP.2.	$000
08/13	Pipeline New Interview	·      Kindersley Update	·      Ongoing	·      GP.4.	$000
08/13	Mix 104.9	·      Meet with new broadcasters		·      GP.4.;	$000

08/15	Mayor’s Hours	·      Met with residents, admin tasks, stakeholders, etc	·      Brought concerns to Admin/Council	·      GP.2.;.7	$000
08/17	Mayors’ School (Regina)	·      Professional Development	·      Ongoing	·      GP.8.	$498.75
08/18	Mayors’ School (Regina)	·      Professional Development	·      Ongoing	·      GP.8.	$000
08/18	Mayors’ Health Meeting	·      Discuss municipal response to health care delivery models	·      Ongoing	·      GP.8.	$34.16
08/19	Mayors’ School (Regina)	·      Professional Development	·      Ongoing	·      GP.8.	$334.56
Total Expenses					$867.47