Kenneth Brown
of The Clarion
Town council has agreed to abate property taxes for a charity harvest group after hearing from one of the group’s members.
Brenda Burton, a representative of the Field of Opportunities (FOO) charity harvest group, appeared at the council meeting on Nov. 14 to provide information. The group wanted $2,760 in 2017 property taxes abated.
For three years, FOO has seeded and harvested a crop on about 100 acres of land north of Moody’s Equipment Ltd. and the Canalta Hotel. The land is classified as agricultural property, so it’s taxed accordingly.
The tax abatement request was before council at a meeting on Oct. 23 but council members wanted more information before granting the request. Mayor Rod Perkins said council discussed the request. He noted that council represents the taxpayers, so members wanted to know if the funds would benefit local groups.
Burton said FOO was established three years ago as a partnership between landowners Pat and Deb Holland, Prairie West Terminal (PWT) and Moody’s Equipment. PWT has since become G3 Kindersley and G3 Prairie West.
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She said the land is part of Holland’s Industrial Park and Pat Holland didn’t need the land for new industrial or residential developments. He wanted it farmed and wanted to donate it to a growing project.
Burton told council the first crop, wheat, was grown in a dry year and the yield wasn’t large. However, proceeds from the crop were donated to the Kindersley Legion for its building renovation project, and to the Elizabeth Lions football parents association for its projects.
Council heard that a lentil crop in 2016 was washed out, so FOO wasn’t in a position to support community groups. According to Burton, the group grew canola in 2017 and it ended up being a “decent” crop.
The group hopes to grant about $20,000 to community ventures thanks to the 2017 canola crop, and the abatement of property taxes would allow FOO to grant more funding to groups. Burton said the grant applications are due by Dec. 1 and groups have to meet the “strict” criteria.
She noted that the grant focuses on sports, culture and the arts. The delegate said there must be a tangible benefit for groups to qualify for a grant. Youth leadership initiatives are another area of focus for the FOO group.
Perkins said council just wanted to hear that a portion of the proceeds would help to support local groups. Town officials asked if groups such as NRC Management Inc. and the Friends of Kinsmen Park would qualify for current projects, and Burton said those groups could apply for a grant.
Deputy Mayor Ken Francis asked who pays taxes on the land and what the landowner receives in the arrangement. Burton said the property taxes are turned over to FOO and the landowner doesn’t ask for anything in return for the use of the land.
Ultimately, council passed a resolution to abate the property taxes as requested. The mayor thanked his colleagues for supporting the project.
Other council meeting highlights:
- Council members passed a resolution to enter into an agreement with the Saskatchewan Water Corp. (SaskWater) to operate the town’s water treatment system.
Mayor Rod Perkins said the town has been in negotiations with SaskWater for several months. He noted that the town has done its due diligence to negotiate an agreement with the third-party corporation.
Bernie Morton, the town’s chief administrative officer (CAO), said he believes the water treatment and distribution system is the town’s largest asset in terms of its value. The system includes the treatment plant, water tower, Eston-Kindersley water system and all of the related infrastructure.
He noted that it’s costly to maintain the water system and it’s also costly to produce, treat and distribute the water. Morton said the proposal by SaskWater will provide safety and security for the assets.
Perkins said SaskWater is in the business of managing and operating water and wastewater assets, so the Crown corporation has the experience necessary. He explained that the corporation will ensure the appropriate human resources are in place.
“What they provide is a continuity of staffing more than anything,” the mayor said. He noted small communities often struggle to find qualified water treatment staff to manage and operate facilities. “They have a huge pool. They move people around. They can supply people.”
Perkins said he believes the corporation will conduct interviews with the town’s current staff at the water treatment plant, but it will be up to SaskWater to ensure the people are in place to operate the treatment and distribution system.
In an interview, Morton said the town is still in negotiations with SaskWater, so the financial implications are still unknown. He said there will be a small increase in costs, but the town is getting a good deal from SaskWater because the corporation wants to gain experience by operating the municipality’s treatment system.
The corporation will manage and operate the water treatment plant. Morton said it’s been challenging for the town to keep up with the certification of treatment staff for the past three years or so.
Administration presented options to council, and council resolved to hire the Crown corporation to manage and operate the system. The CAO said the town would still be responsible for maintaining the infrastructure, but human resources and expertise will be provided by SaskWater.
- A representative of Kindersley Integrated Children’s Services (KICS) has asked council to consider adopting a document called the Kindersley Children’s Charter.
Arlene Goosen, the KICS representative, appeared before council on Nov. 14 and presented the town with a copy of the Children’s Charter, a document that highlights seven rights for children.
The seven basic rights included in the Children’s Charter are the right to basic needs, right to be loved, right to belong, right to be safe, right to play, right to learn and right to contribute. The charter expands on each of the seven basic needs for children.
Goosen told council KICS has been a part of the community for 25 years. She said KICS is asking council to adopt the Children’s Charter and to allow the group to display the charter at public facilities such as the West Central Events Centre.
Council members showed their support for the document and told Goosen they would take the idea into consideration. Goosen said KICS wants people to consider how they’re treating children, and the charter would help. Mayor Rod Perkins said council would discuss the idea and include it on a future meeting agenda.
- Council passed a resolution to place $1.25 million into the town’s utility reserve account. The money was part of the town’s 2017 capital budget for an ongoing wastewater project. The money will be held in reserve to become part of the 2018 capital budget.
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