Kindersley Chamber of Commerce Trade Show Conversations: Thursday

If you are at the Trade Show please drop by our booth and talk. While you are there you can also fill out a form to win a 10 Pass swimming pass for the pool.

Here are some of the comments I heard this evening.

·         Can’t we spray the Town for bugs? They are bad all over.

·         We will be bringing this up at Council.

·         Shouldn’t we be a city?

·         Typically a community needs to reach 5,000 to be designated a city.

·         There are extra costs and benefits to being classified a city.

·         The Klippers.

·         Just about everyone thinks the Klippers should have to pay up.

·         Back alley pick up: most people want back alley pick up and not front curb pick up.

·         We will look into this some more. As an example: my stuff is at the back.

·         Town maps should be more widely distributed so they are easier to find.

·         We are in the process of putting many of our brochures, forms, and applications in more accessible places.

·         Putting maps in high traffic areas is an excellent suggestion.

 

We are also received a number of encouraging comments. Thank you very much.

Moment with the Mayor

Hi Everyone:

I wrote this during a 6-hour layover in Calgary as I returned from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Conference in Vancouver.

Today I am writing about an assortment of issues.

Here is a strange problem that Kamruz, our Town engineer, had to overcome: During preparation for the new sidewalk running from the Kindersley Inn to 7-11, we learned the road is too flat. Who’s ever heard of a road being too flat? The reason this is a problem is that, if the curb and gutter goes on the south side of the road, water will not have a place to run, and as a result, we’ll develop big puddles on 11^th. To address this, multiple low spots (11 in total) have to be created along the length of 11^th Avenue with appropriate drainage at each.

The Klippers are struggling and have come to Council asking for help. While in Vancouver, I met with the mayors of a number of SJHL teams and asked them how they have handled their respective teams’ struggles. Discussion was interesting and we plan to talk again. For the record: my wife and I have sent away to buy Klippers’ season tickets. The best way the Klippers can overcome their current hurdles is to sell more tickets.

The FCM Conference was a very good investment of time and money. Saskatchewan, if I recall correctly, is the only province that has not had someone sit as President of the Federation. Here are some things I have learned:

·         Many leaders believe municipalities have a fiscal crisis.

·         Kindersley has a $40 million infrastructure deficit over 20 years. How do we catch up? Council is looking at that as we develop our Strategic Plan, Long Term Financial Plan and a Long Term Infrastructure Plan.

·         We get a significant amount of our revenue from property taxes - a 19^th century tax tool. The Town is trying to get more cost recovery from facilities and services but, generally, we get less than 40% of our costs. Did you know that, in the US and Europe, municipalities receive as little as 20% of their revenue from property taxes?

·         Did you know revenue growth - or the tax load - has increased significantly for the Federal and Provincial governments compared to the Town? Consider this:

Years	Jurisdiction	Revenue Growth
1999 – 2003	Federal	12%
1999 – 2003	Provincial	13%
1999 – 2003	Municipal	8%

FCM is working on these issues and so are we at Council. Council, with Administration are trying rationalize our approach so the Town is working and spending smarter.

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. I appreciate your feedback.

Have a good week!

Celebrating a Century of Family Farming!

Hi Everyone:

 

Did you know that 80% of the residents in Kindersley have three generations of their family living here? That is a significant number and it shows up in the region as well. In Kindersley and area Information Services Corporation (ISC) will be honouring some families with an ISC Century Family Farm Award. The award recognizes families who have continuously maintained the same farm or ranch operation for 100 years or more.

 

Here is a list of some of the families being recognized for farming the same land for more than a century:

Reid Friedlund – D’Arcy

Greg McIntyre – D”Arcy

Gary Johnson – Eston

Duane Martinson – Fiske

Don Finley – Flaxcombe

Jerry & Joan Booy – Glaslyn

Edward Schamber – Kerrobert

Warren Baxter – Kindersley

Douglas Longtin – Kindersley

Kenneth & David Rea – Marengo

Wayne Ekelin – Smiley

Congratulations everyone for persevering through a century of ups and down on the ever changing family farm!

More FCM Thoughts

Hi Everyone:

Tonight was the gala reception at the FCM Conference. It was a wonderful evening with good food, great entertainment, and the requisite speeches. As a note: approximatley 2,500 representing 91% of the population attended the conference. 

Vancouver Gala Reception, June 2, 2013

Some of the highlights of the conversations included:

·         Policing: should the province be looking at forming our own provincial police force? We don’t know and there are a lot of unknown questions and answers; but, we have to explore it as an option.

·         Something I learned about police investigation: a murder investigation can cost in excess of $1 million. Ouch.

·         Firefighting: around the table it was controlling costs for the cities who had career firefighters. It is a significant issue for them.

·         Budget: in the larger centres policing and fire consume almost 30% of the budget.

·         Governance: people are interested in our governance model and how we manage Council business.

·         There was interest in my governance report.

·         SJHL Teams: every community has challenges with their respective teams of one degree or another.

·         Managing Growth: the question was – what are you doing?

·         Asset Management: we are in decent shape compared to other municipalities. Congratulations go to our previous Council and Administration for getting the ball rolling on this matter.

·         Health: for the people I spoke with the past few days it is not an issue as it is for us.

·         Infrastructure: everyone wants more repairs and expansions sooner than later.

·         FCM: we hope to have the first SK President of FCM in 5 or 6 years.

Those are some of the highlights and I will report more over the coming days.

Vancouver Virtual Date



Canada Place, June 2, 2013

When we first learned I would be attending the FCM Conference my wife and I decided we would come together. So we planned the trip, FCM organized spouse activities while we are at our sessions, and paid for it in January. However, in February, my wife severely injured herself resulting in the doctor issuing a no travel note. So much for a working/romantic weekend getaway in Vancouver. My wife stayed home as a result.

 

After the gala reception my wife and I had a virtual romantic walk along the bay. I walked along the bay talking on the phone pausing everyone once in a while to take pictures of the surroundings.

It was a beautiful evening for a romantic stroll. The only thing missing was some music.

 The problem with a virtual date is kids can easily interrupt our date. One of our sons got on the phone to say hello around here.

Huge cranes at the Vancouver Port. The facility moves approximately $200 million worth of goods everyday. Yes, I mentioned it to my wife. I was disappointed I couldn't find time to go on the tour demonstrating the logistics of the Port's operations.

City scapes can be lovely. My favourite city scape is Shanghai. I was fortunate to visit in 2010.

 

 

This concludes the romantic area of the walk. A sculpture, with purpose, and in the window behind is a rotating globe. A lovely evening that would have been significantly better had it been a real date rather than a virtual date. A least it was a date.

 

Here are some of the photos. The photos were taken on by BlackBerry Z10.

June Schedule

Hi:

This is my tentative schedule for June. My schedule tends to fill up.  I will update it as we go along. Email Wayne Gibson if you would like me or a member of Council to attend an event or meeting.

June 1 - 3 – FCM Conference, Vancouver

June 6 – Chamber of Commerce Trade Show (5:00-7:00)

June 7 – Mayor’s Hours

June 7 – Chamber of Commerce Trade Show (4:00-6:00)

June 8 – Air Cadets Annual Ceremonial Review

June 10 – Duck's Unlimited Unveiling

June 10 – Mayor’s Hours

June 10 – Council Meeting

June 10 – Klipper AGM

June 12 – Water West Meeting

June 13 – Denise Cooke’s Retirement Party

June 14 – Mayor’s Hours

June 14 – HR Meeting

June 17 – Mayor’s Hours

June 19 – Kindersley Regional Medical Arts Authority

June 21 – Mayor’s Hours

June 24 – Water West Grand Opening

June 25 - Meridian CF AGM

June 25 – Council Meeting

June 26 – WCMGC, Wilkie

June 28 – Mayor’s Hours

Hot Dog Carts & "Diesel Bus Fumes" Seasoning

It may be time for me to confess I love hot dogs and sausages from hot dog carts. If I could afford it that would be a regular lunch item for me.



Hot dog stand "Japadog" in Vancouver, June 1, 2013

It reminds of a story when I lived in Israel. Rather than hot dog stands they had falafel stands. The best falafel I have ever eaten was from a falafel stand besire a diesel bus with not emission controls. Has anyone every seen 'diesel bus fumes' seasoning?

A Bike Tour

While at FCM I took a bike tour of Vancouver. The focus of the tour was a discussion of design issues in a municipality. The tour guides pointed out both their successes and mistakes they would like to do over. Here is where the emphasis was on: "no substitute for good design."

 

Our bike tour in China Town, May 31, 2013

FCM Thoughts

Hi Everyone:

 

I have been spending the last few days at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Conference in Vancouver. It has been very busy with sessions starting at 7:30 or so and finishing at 8:00 with the hospitality suites after.

A FCM Session May 31, 2013

Here are some highlights for me:

·         “cities are living labs”

·         Cities are alive and ever changing with opportunities for “do overs.” However, it should be noted that the “do overs” are over years and generations and not days, weeks, and months.

·         There is no substitute for good design

·         The example here is fascinating: Olympic Park had to be raised more than a meter for design and functional purposes. The result was a more esthetically pleasing square with intentional water run off to revitalize a wet land area. They believe the effect has been the return of whales into the harbor due to increased bio diversity leading to an environment suitable for the whale

·         “Sustainable communities: do you want a sustainable marriage?” Great pointed question. For me I have been putting forward the idea of thriving and dynamic. Sustainable is just getting by, which business only wants to be ongoing or viable? Let’s check our attitudes to see if we want “Sustainable” lives or “Thriving” lives? In the same vein: so we want a “sustainable Kindersley” or a “dynamic/thriving Kindersley?”

·         Municipalities have a fiscal crisis.

·         Kindersley has a $40 million infrastructure deficit over 20 years: how do we catch up? Council is looking at that as we develop our strategic plan.

·         We get a significant amount of our revenue from property taxes. The Town is trying to get more cost recovery from facilities and services but generally we get less than 40% of our costs. Did you know that in the US and Europe municipalities receive as little as 20% of their revenue from property taxes?

·         The Federal and Provincial governments have downloaded programs. One item we are currently wrestling with is a “Special Constable” to enhance our bylaw enforcement plus items like speeding. Yes the RCMP are short staffed and cover a large area.

·         Did you know revenue growth, or the tax load, has increased significantly for the Federal and Provincial governments compared to the Town? Consider this:

Years	Jurisdiction	Revenue Growth
1999 – 2003	Federal	12%
1999 – 2003	Provincial	13%
1999 – 2003	Municipal	8%

·         As a rule of thumb: municipalities are responsible for ~67% of infrastructure with 8% of the tax resources

·         In 1993 Federal/Provincial transfers accounted for $0.25 of every dollar of Town revenue; today it is $0.16 a decrease of 37%.

FCM is working on these issues and so are we at Council. We are trying rationalize our approach so the Town is working and spending smarter.

A Reference Letter from a Client

Recently I received this reference letter from a client. She is great to work with!

 

May 22, 2013

To Whom It May Concern,

The Drug and Alcohol Awareness Wellness Network (DAWN) is a multi-sectoral, regionally based committee which operates throughout west central Saskatchewan.  DAWN’s purpose is to support communities in taking action to address substance use issues.

Teo Lakes Consulting was originally contracted by DAWN to assist with a specific objective of a Contribution Agreement between Health Canada and the network – the development of a DVD resource targeted to young athletes and youth sporting organizations.  John Enns-Wind of Teo Lakes Consulting proved to be efficient, knowledgeable, creative and tenacious in the attainment of the project goals.  It is for this reason that DAWN renegotiated the contract with Health Canada to be able to expand and extend the contract with Teo Lakes Consulting.  Mr. Enns-Wind’s ability to make things happen was then utilized to work with multiple communities to increase local capacity to affect positive change, particularly for youth.  Between the two separate contracts, Mr. Enns-Wind exhibited exceptional skill in building relationships with diverse stakeholders, connecting to both adults and young people, working with communities to identify needs, set goals and creating plans for action, setting the foundation for future partnerships for DAWN and navigation of bureaucratic processes.

DAWN attributes its ability to achieve the goals of the project to the work of Teo Lakes Consulting.  There were numerous unexpected obstacles throughout the project, but Mr. Enns-Wind persevered in guiding us through to the successful completion of the project.

If you wish to further discuss our experiences with Teo Lakes Consulting, please do not hesitate in contacting me at the above information or emailing crystal.storey@hrha.sk.ca.

Sincerely,

Crystal Storey

DAWN Chairperson