Rural Municipality of Kindersley workers to do some much-needed maintenance to the grounds at Heritage Manor

Kenneth Brown
of The Clarion

The Rural Municipality of Kindersley has taken over yard maintenance duties at the Kindersley and District Health Centre, to the benefit of residents and visitors.

Lionel Story, a councillor for the RM of Kindersley, said the municipality has been doing the yard maintenance at the health centre since 2016 after officials became concerned with the condition of the property. The contributions have continued in 2017, he noted.

“Last year, we were getting very concerned about how the grounds were looking, so we offered to do the rototilling in the trees,” Story said. The work has since expanded to include cutting grass and other tasks.

The municipality purchased a lawn mower and rototiller to do the work, he said. Most of the trees on the southwest corner of the property were dead so they were cleared out. Story said “truck loads” of trees were hauled away.

Workers have also cleaned up the courtyard in the middle of Heritage Manor, a long-term care facility.

It’s unknown how long it’s been since residents of Heritage Manor have been able to enjoy the courtyard, but Story said they can enjoy it now. The work wasn’t easy, according to the councillor.

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A small track hoe had to be lifted into the courtyard by a large crane. Workers had to clean out several branches and a buildup of natural waste, so a collection bin was also lifted in for dead trees and stumps. The municipality is also fixing the property’s sprinkler system.

The work needed to be done, he said.

“We just decided that we would step up to the plate and do it,” he said. Although health centres are owned by the province, they are community facilities because they serve the community and sometimes the community has to help out.

The RM of Kindersley is a partner in the Kindersley Regional Medical Arts Authority, a group that owns the Kindersley Clinic building, and it was recognized by Story that helping with yard maintenance also benefits the clinic.

He said it all started when two former employees of the health centre were talking to him and were reminiscing about how beautiful the property used to look. At a council meeting, he suggested that the municipality could help and other council members agreed.

Story then contacted health centre officials and told them the RM of Kindersley didn’t want to step on anybody’s toes, but the municipality would do yard maintenance because it looked liked the Heartland Health Region could use the help.

The councillor said he wanted to thank S&R Transport for supplying a crane for the courtyard project, along with Pro-Plus Sales & Rentals for the waste bin and the track hoe, and Dancin Oilfield Services for supplying bridging to balance the crane.

Workers also cleaned up a courtyard near the front entrance of Heritage Manor, he said.

Gayle Riendeau, the acting CEO of Heartland Health Region, said health centre’s grounds look wonderful and it’s great the municipality took the initiative to do the work. Officials at Heartland appreciate the help, she noted.

“We’re very thankful and appreciative of all the work they’ve done,” she said of the RM of Kindersley, adding that the contribution has made a noticeable difference. “The grounds look very much improved. We’ve had a lot of dead or old trees removed, and brush or shrubbery that either died or was overgrown.”

According to Riendeau, the health authority has dealt with yard maintenance in different ways through the years. Heartland was unable to recruit for yard maintenance positions, so the work was going to be contracted out back in 2016.

The health authority was accepting bids for the work when the RM of Kindersley approached Heartland and made an offer to help, so the offer was accepted. Riendeau said the centre is a community resource in the eyes of RM officials and it’s a nice contribution. The property is one of Heartland’s largest, she added.

Reeve Glen Harrison of the RM of Kindersley said it was quite a sight to watch the crane lift items into the inner courtyard. The municipality is contributing resources to the project and he said he wanted to thank ratepayers for their support.

“It’s not incumbent on the RM of Kindersley to be doing all this extracurricular activity, so I thought we could let the ratepayers know that their contribution is much appreciated,” Harrison added, recognizing the work is helping to restore a nice appearance for residents and visitors.

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