Open House (Condo) at Brookhollow Estates!

How do we build a life that has space and time for everyone? We live in a neighbourhood with good neighbours and friends with access to space in which time ceases to run.

See and Imagine Brookhollow Estates next to Motherwell.

Come out Thursday August 20th between 11:00 and 1:00 to see what is there and imagine something new.

For more information click here and here.

Coleman Cres Park Public Consultation

What do you do with a blank slate? For some people it freezes them - I call this 'blank pageitis.' Kindersley has a wonderful opportunity to turn a blank field into a beautiful space filled with laughter and tears along with screams of victory and defeat plus the low hum of conversations.

Coleman Cres Park: What can you imagine? August 18, 2015.

Can you imagine a green space with soccer lines on a level field surrounded by a small walking trail with a small child playground including a baby/toddler swing? That is what one family imagines in their email to me.

How about a small parking lot on the east side so kids don't have to cross the road?

Benches for those quiet, and sometimes intimate conversations?

How about outdoor workout spaces for those into fitness training?

What do you think about a couple of tables that could host a picnic? Perhaps a bbq?

What do you imagine?

Moment with the Mayor: a Pool Update and Speed

Hi Neighbours:

Last week, we met with Group 2 regarding the pool and community responses. There is a lot of discussion regarding having a 6-lane pool or a 4-lane pool, and no consensus has emerged so far. As a result, Group 2 has been asked to provide more information on 6-lane pools so Council can make an informed decision in September, and so that you can know the projected costs of the options brought to us. Due to the request for this additional information, the presentation to Council by Group 2 has been moved to September.

Council prefers to have good, detailed information to make a good decision rather than incomplete information to make a rushed decision. Thank you for your understanding.

Regarding the survey, so far more than 550 people have completed the survey. The survey has been extended to August 17th to accommodate those families away on holidays.

I was surprised to learn that, in June, someone was clocked on our speed sign on Ditson Road driving 149km/h. The yellow speed signs that flash the speed you are traveling also record the data enabling the Town to understand traffic patterns. I want to make it clear that this is not photo radar and tickets are not being issued to date. The information does, however, suggest that more traffic enforcement is required and this request will be brought to the RCMP.

Here is a summary of the data collected for June:

•              Total Vehicle Count: 37,040

•              Average Speed: 59 km Average

•              Minimum Speed: 10 km

•              Lowest Speed: 8 km

•              Average Maximum Speed: 113 km

•              Highest Speed: 149 km

•              Highest Usage Time: 1700-1800 hours

Total Violations: 16,068 or 40% exceeded posted speed limit (starting at 61 kmh)

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.

Kindersley and District Plains Museum and Kindersley Community Grants

The Museum a built another structure to host artifacts it has collected. If you haven't been out to the Museum and may want to see what changes have been implemented.

New Exhibition Building. August 11, 2015

On another note: if your community organization needs funding help please apply for our Town of Kindersley Community Grant Program. The program is designed to help organizations develop, expand, and improve important programming. Applications are accepted year round but monies are distributed after September 30th and April 1st. Up to $750 is awarded to organizations.

This is from the Town's website:

Projects must:

1. Be conducted within the Town of Kindersley, and resulting goods or services must remain within the municipal boundaries upon completion.
2. Benefit or have a positive impact on a key sector or demographic within Kindersley, or the community at large.

New Firehall Update

One of the attributes needed on Council is patience. Last summer we identified land for the new fire hall. Having done that we negotiated with CNR to purchase the land and in January of this year we had a deal. Now, in August the deal has progressed to the point that we could approve the subdivision of the property. Once this goes through with the province then CNR can be paid and the title transferred to the Town.

Future site of New Kindersley Fire Hall. August 11, 2015

Concurrently we are also doing a review of the Fire Department. I believe that we have a hard working highly trained fire department who are well regarded. One of the questions that has to be addressed is level of service. What level of service do we need for the Town and can afford? The results of the review will also help determine the design of the new fire hall and the type of equipment required.

The Don Morgan Fire Hall. August 11, 2015

Chief Hope and his crew are very dedicated and earnest in what they do spending countless hours training, preparing, and recovering. Our fire department couldn't do what they are doing without the support of their spouses and families support. Family activities are interrupted, missing one parent, cancelled, as a parent responds to a call. And lets not forget how responding to an incident, such as a child's death, can affect our fire fighters emotionally and physically including their relationships.

A very sincere and heartfelt thanks go out to our fire brigade: Thank you!

Lending a Hand to Kerrobert

The Town of Kerrobert recently suffered through a severe hail storm. The damage was immense and is going to take some time to repair. Thankfully, while I was away, Deputy Mayor Janzen took quick action and directed our CAO to assist Kerrobert. Our assistance was used ranging from clearing alleys to helping with organizing the emergency response.


Kerrobert Hail Damage. google search

The Town of Kerrobert asked for a costing of the assistance we provided: just under $12,000. Council is not charging the Town of Kerrobert for our assistance: this is what good neighbours do.

Kerrobert Hail Storm Damage. google search.

Pool Update

Last week we met with Group 2 regarding the pool and community responses. There is a lot of discussion regarding having a 6 lane pool or a 4 lane pool and no consensus has emerged so far. As a result Group 2 has been asked to provide more information on 6 lane pools so Council can make an informed decision in September and so that you can know the cost of our options. As a result of this the presentation to Council by Group 2 has been moved to September.

The Old Kindersley Aquatic Centre. August 11, 2015.

We prefer to have good information to make good decision rather than incomplete information to make a rushed decision.

Thank you for your understanding.

Regarding the survey: so far more than 550 people have completed the survey. The survey has been extended to the 17th to accommodate those families away on holidays.

Speeding in Kindersley

I was surprised to learn that someone in June was clocked on our speed sign on Ditson Road doing 149km/h. The yellow speed signs that flash the speed you are doing record the data enabling the Town to understand traffic patterns. I want to make clear that this is not photo radar and tickets are not being issued.

Ditson Speed Sign. August 11, 2015

 Here is a summary of the data collected for June:

• Total Vehicle Count: 37,040
• Average Speed: 59 km Average
• Minimum Speed: 10 km
• Lowest Speed: 8 km
• Average Maximum Speed: 113 km
• Highest Speed: 149 km
• Highest Usage Time: 1700-1800 hours
• Total Violations: 16,068 or 40% exceeded posted speed limit (starting at 61 kmh)

 

Lonnie Brooks Optometry Update

When next you're downtown check the new front of Lonnie Brooks practice. The Brooks have freshened the inside and now the outside.

The guys from Bumble Bee finishing up Brooks Optometry. August 9, 2015

Moment with the Mayor: Summer Hodge-Podge of Stuff

Hi Neighbours:

It was good to go away for our vacation, and it is good to be back. I have spent the past few days getting back up to speed, so this column is a hodge-podge of different topics.

The two public consultations for the pool held at the beginning of July had a really strong turnout. I understand it was a good meeting. We are now conducting a survey regarding the pool, and specifically what residents are willing to pay to build and operate it. Your opinion is very important. This facility can be a destination venue, and the more people who use it because we have the right features (such as the number of lanes, slides, hot tubs, ropes, etc.,) the better for everyone. Likewise, we need to know how much you are willing to pay for the pool through your taxes. So please go to www.kindersley.ca and share your opinion with us.

The Grand Opening of Boston Pizza was held on August 8^th. You will want to experience the newest restaurant in Kindersley, and I also hope you remember the good restaurants we already have in town.

While I was away, I received a text from the Reeve of Mariposa near Kerrobert thanking the Town of Kindersley for all of the assistance we provided after the devastating storm a few weeks ago. That is what good neighbours do - we help out. And as Mayor, I am proud that we are community that helps out. I am also proud that we have neighbours that help us out when we need it.

On another note: recently I was appointed to represent Kindersley and Saskatchewan at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities on two standing committees - Community Safety and Crime Prevention, and Social/Economic Development - and the Rural Forum. Mine is one of nine appointments from the province of Saskatchewan, pending approval from Kindersley Town Council. I am proud to bring our concerns to the federal level and I am excited to learn what I share with Kindersley as we grow. Thank you for the opportunity to serve Kindersley at this level.

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.