Mayoral Report December 2013 - January 2014

Date	Activity	Purpose/Outcome	Follow Up	Policy Number
Dec 13	Mayor’s Hours	·      Met with residents	·      Brought concerns to Admin/Council	·      GP.2.1; GP.7
Dec 13	MLA Bill Boyd	·      Represent  concerns & knowledge sharing	·      Ongoing	·      GP.4.
Dec 13	Health Meeting	·      Facilitate meeting	·      Ongoing	·      GP.4.
Dec 13	RM Kindersley Xmas Party	·      Celebration		·      GP.4., GP.7.
Dec 14	Town of Kindersley Xmas Party	·      Celebration		·      GP.7.
Dec 16	Mayor’s Hours	·      Met with residents	·      Brought concerns to Admin/Council	·      GP.2.1; GP.7
Dec 16	JAMAC	·      Media interview	·      Ongoing	·      GP.4.
Dec 16	Council Meeting	·      Public Meeting	·      Refer to minutes	·      GP.0., GP.1.
Dec 17	JAMAC	·      Media interview	·      ongoing	·      GP.4.
Dec 20	Mayor’s Hours	·      Met with residents	·      Brought concerns to Admin/Council	·      GP.2.1; GP.7
Dec 20	Health Meeting	·      Communication	·      Ongoing	·      GP.4.
Dec 23	Golden West: CJWW	·      Media interview	·      Ongoing	·      GP.4.
Dec 23	Golden West: Mix 104	·      Media interview	·      Ongoing	·      GP.4.
Dec 23	Mayor’s Hours	·      Met with residents	·      Brought concerns to Admin/Council	·      GP.2.1; GP.7
Dec 30	Mayor’s Hours	·      Met with residents	·      Brought concerns to Admin/Council	·      GP.2.1; GP.7
Dec 31	JAMAC	·      Media interview	·      Ongoing	·      GP.4.
Jan 6	Museum Meeting	·      Review	·      Ongoing	·      GP.6.
Jan 6	Mayor’s Hours	·      Met with residents	·      Brought concerns to Admin/Council	·      GP.2.1; GP.7
Jan 7	Health Meeting	·      Communication	·      Ongoing	·      GP.4.
Jan 8	Organizational Review Meeting	·      Review report w/consultant	·      Ongoing	GP.7.
Jan 10	Mayor’s Hours	·      Met with residents	·      Brought concerns to Admin/Council	·      GP.2.1; GP.7
Jan 11	Museum Meeting	·      Review	·      ongoing	·      GP.6.
Jan 13	Mayor’s Hours	·      Met with residents	·      Brought concerns to Admin/Council	·      GP.2.1; GP.7

Jan 14	Kindersley & District Arts Council	·      Communication	·      Ongoing	·      GP.4.
Jan 15	Golden West: Mix 104	·      Media interview	·      Ongoing	·      GP.4.
Jan 16	Stakeholder Meeting	·      Communication	·      Ongoing	·      GP .2., GP 4
Jan 16	Economic Development Meeting	·      Discuss decision making processes	·      Ongoing	·      GP.8.
Jan 17	Mayor’s Hours	·      Met with residents	·      Brought concerns to Admin/Council	·      GP.2.1; GP.7
Jan 17	Health Meeting	·      Communication	·      Ongoing	·      GP.4.
Jan 17	Council Special Meeting	·      Information sharing		·      GP.3.
Jan 20	Employment Lunch	·      Learn about employment challenges from local businesses	·      Share concerns with Minister of Employment & Social Development	·      GP.7.
Jan 20	Mayor’s Hours	·      Met with residents	·      Brought concerns to Admin/Council	·      GP.2.1; GP.7
Jan 22	MLA Bill Boyd	·      Represent  concerns & knowledge sharing	·      Ongoing	·      GP.4.
Jan 22	George Cuff	·      Prepare for Council Retreat	·      Enhance Council’s capacity	·      GP.3., GP.8.
Jan 22	WCMGC – Cut Knife	·      Urban Co-Chair	·      Ongoing	·      GP.4.
Jan 22	Mayor Ian Hamilton: North Battleford	·      Knowledge Sharing	·      Ongoing	·      GP.7., GP.8.
Jan 22	Kindersley Housing Authority	·      Communication	·      Ongoing	·      GP.4.

What's Going On in Kindersley

Kindersley has a lot of challenges and opportunities at this time. Some are big and some are small. To keep track of everything I have been developing a mind map so I don't lose something. This helps me quite a bit. The mind map is below and some categories have been collapsed for confidentiality reasons.

Mind Map of Kindersley's Issues January 2014

The middle long box of the mind map includes the our mission, vision, values, and priorities until the end of our term. Each of the highlighted boxes is one of our priorities and the boxes underneath are the issues we are managing to ensure we reach our goals.

I wasn't able to make the map larger for the post.



Youth Council Mayor's Election Speech

Below is my oldest son's speech he gave to be elected Youth Council Mayor.

January 13, 2014

·         Over the past year or so I have learned that people expect many different things from their mayor.

·         They expect someone who can:

·         Listen to their concerns,

·         Works hard to resolve their issues, and

·         Have a vision for the future.

·         These are three things I believe I can effectively do as Youth Council Mayor over the next year.

·         My first goal is to listen to what our class mates have to say to better understand what we can do to help them.

·         As we listen we can either share the information with others who can help them or we can take action ourselves to make a difference

·         I want to be able to help address their issues and suggestions so they know Youth Council is listening and cares.

·         When we listen as a Youth Council we can be a good Youth Council

·         The second goal is resolving issues. This can range from just listening to someone’s concerns to acting on it as a Youth Council

·         Resolving issues means understanding the needs of youth in Kindersley and taking steps to implement solutions

·         I believe we can make a difference

·         Thirdly, I have a vision for Youth Council

·         I’d like us to continue going to schools to help other students,

·         I’d like to see us continue to organize youth events in the community

·         But, I would like us work harder to engage more students in the things we do

·         This may mean we have to change what we do or improve what we are doing

·         I would also like to see us work with the new immigrants of Kindersley

·         There are hundreds of people in Kindersley who were born overseas

·         What can we do to help them have a good life in Kindersley?

·         What can we do to help their children adjust to life in Canada and Kindersley?

·         This may involve planning events for them and educating our schoolmates

·         One thing I would like us to explore this year is having a general election for Youth Council

·         Is it possible to have Youth Council and Mayor elected by students across Kindersley?

·         Maybe it is Grade 5 and up and it will be easier if our schools are reorganized to have middle years school and high school.

·         I think it is important to study this so that Youth Council can be a tool to help all students better understand what we do across Kindersley and, hopefully, become more involved.

·         My final vision is that other communities have a chance to develop Youth Councils as well

·         We are one of the few Youth Councils in Canada

·         If I am elected Youth Council Mayor, it will give Kindersley, and us, a unique and historic opportunity to discuss Youth Councils with communities in West Central Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan, and possibly across Canada.

·         Youth Council is a good program, and other youths would benefit from the same opportunities we have.

·         As Youth Council Mayor I would like everybody to feel included

·         This may mean when going to deliver letters we go with a different person rather than a friend to get to know them better so we can understand how we would best work.

·         To achieve these goals means building on our strengths The strengths I will bring to the Youth Council as mayor include:

·         I am a good listener

·         I listen to what people say to me

·         I hear what is going on around me

·         I am a hard worker

·         Maybe you have seen me working in the lunch room, doing sound, helping teachers, or helping students

·         I want to work hard to make a difference

·         I am a facilitator, in other projects, my goal has been to ensure everyone contributes.

·         When I have been at Young Entrepreneurs camp I have been nominated from our group as the person who worked hardest to build the team into a team

•             It is important as a leader to have vision and I have clearly outlined my vision for being Mayor in 2014

·         Thank you for considering me for mayor.

Council Retreat

Council will be having a retreat April 2rd and 3rd to improve our ability to effectively and efficiently provide good governance. The time will also be used to help either Shaun Henry or Kevin Martin become more familiar with the issues, challenges, and decision Council needs to make.

Renowned municipal governance expert George Cuff will be guiding Council at this retreat.

Moment with the Mayor: Citizens on Patrol Program (COPPs)

Hi Everyone:

Kindersley is filled with many people who quietly contribute the well-being of Kindersley. The unsung contributors include moms and dads who look after kids on short notice, businesses who donate to a team, organization or cause without publicity, and the members of the Citizens on Patrol Program (COPP). I have gotten to know them a little bit, and they provide a remarkable service to our community.

COPP members tour Kindersley, visiting businesses and busy spots at night and in the early morning to ensure that businesses are locked up and secure, and identifying incidents or potential incidents that may require the RCMP to intervene, such as drunk drivers. Because of their work, COPP works closely with the RCMP in a supportive role.

For their Annual Report, COPPs reported:

·         Total Members: 21

·         Total patrols: 110

·         Total Patrol Hours: 880

·         Total Kilometres Travelled: 6,418.8

·         Total Trouble Call-Ins: 28

Here are some of the stories behind the numbers:

·         They drive around all night looking for trouble

·         They have been mooned

·         They like locking doors that have been left unlocked or open

·         They once came across a group of teenagers at Walmart trying to steal a bunch of shopping carts

My question is: What were they going to do with the shopping carts? Is there a black market for shopping carts?

·         They have given some revellers rides home in bad weather

The case in question is that the revellers were walking home in Hawaiian shirts and shorts in -30 weather. (These guys are not helping Darwin’s theory of evolution.)

·         They have helped spot stolen cars

·         90% of the time is boredom – “hanging with the guys”

·         5% is exciting

·         5% is thrilling

Does this sound like a good time to you? If it does, then why not volunteer yourself? All you have to do is go the Kindersley RCMP detachment and complete an application form.

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.

HWY # 7 Traffic Lights

To replace the stoplights on the intersections of both Hwy #21 and Ditson plus reconfigure the design of the Ditson intersection is estimated to cost $1.5 million. The intersection at Ditson needs to be reconfigured so trucks won't wreck the stoplights.

The replacement of the stoplights is a provincial responsibility due to a change in provincial management plans and a signed agreement we have with the Ministry. The province provides the lights and the Town maintains them.

We are currently working with the province on the reconfiguration of the intersection of HWY #7 and Ditson.

Motherwell Trail Bridge Project

The Motherwell Trail is one of the jewels of Kindersley. The Committee overseeing the trail has done a very good job polishing this jewel. Some of the things they have done include:

• paving
• benches
• picnic tables
• chess and checker boards
• rustic benches and tables, and
• signage to highlight wildlife and the buffalo rubbing stone.

Over the past couple of years they have been working to raise funds to build a bridge over the overflow area on the south side across from the camp ground. With money raised and a grant obtained the project started.

Unfortunately we have run into a rather large speed bump: the cost to place the completed bridge is significantly higher than the engineering firm estimated. At this time Administration is working hard to find another company to place the bridge on budget.