Kenneth Brown
of The Clarion
SaskPower is looking to build a new facility in Kindersley but council members are denying the corporation’s request to maintain a septic system.
Council addressed the request at a meeting on Jan. 29. The town’s elected officials unanimously agreed with a show of hands that they don’t want the corporation operating a septic system at a new facility at its current location along Highway 7 east of Kindersley.
Bernie Morton, the town’s chief administrative officer (CAO), said the town has received an application from SaskPower with respect to a building project. The corporation plans to construct a new building and demolish its current building.
He noted that there was no sewer service near the property when SaskPower first built its facility at the location. Morton said there is now a sewer connection to the west of SaskPower because a sewer line has since been extended to the east of the car dealership located on 11th Avenue East.
The town’s policy for new developments states that if there is a sewer connection near the property, the building must tie in to the sewer system, he told council. The CAO said SaskPower is not interested to connect to the town’s sewer system.
“They’d rather continue with their existing system.” He said the corporation has been using a septic system since the facility was first built and SaskPower wants to continue using a septic system for the new building.
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Morton said he received a letter in January from SaskPower’s vice-president of capital projects stating that the corporation would tie in to the system if the connection was in front of the building. The connection is a short distance to the east of the property, so the corporation doesn’t want to tie in, he said.
A municipal bylaw states that a tie in should occur if a connection is close enough. Town officials would rather have residents and businesses follow the bylaws, the CAO said. The options are to allow SaskPower to operate a septic system or have the corporation sign an agreement to connect to the sewer.
Mayor Rod Perkins said officials have discussed bringing a sewer line north from Rosedale or south from across Highway 7, but neither option was favoured by SaskPower. The corporation is aware of its options, along with the estimated cost to the town and the corporation, Morton said.
Councillor Dean Galbraith said council supports growth and development, but the corporation doesn’t pay taxes to the Town of Kindersley and he’s not in favour of spending taxpayers’ money on a development when there’s no way to recover those costs.
Councillor Gary Becker said there has been a lot of new development in Kindersley and people have had to pay their fair share to proceed with the projects, so exempting SaskPower from having to follow the rules is not fair.
Morton told council he would advise the mayor to respond in writing to the corporation. Perkins said he would have the administration draft a letter and he would be happy to sign it. The mayor asked for a show of support from council and all members pledged their support for the letter.
Other meeting highlights
• Three bylaw matters have been addressed by council members, including a new Animal Control Bylaw, and they have approved a zoning amendment bylaw for a second time.
Council gave the second and third readings to Bylaw 16-17 at a meeting on Jan. 15 to adopt the zoning bylaw amendment, but council had to pass a resolution on Jan. 29 to rescind those resolutions. Bernie Morton, the town’s CAO, said the town had not given proper notice of the zoning bylaw change.
He told council legislation states that the town has to issue a public notice to advertise zoning bylaw changes for a period of two weeks prior to public hearings, but the advertising was unable to be completed due to the timing of the holidays.
Bylaw 16-17, to amend Bylaw 04-14, known as the zoning bylaw, was given a first reading at a special council meeting held on Dec. 20, and the amendment bylaw has been given its second and third readings. Council held a public hearing on Jan. 29 and no members of the public presented any feedback or concerns about the amendment.
The zoning bylaw amendment gives a broader definition to “Railways and railway ancillary functions” in Kindersley, so the definition covers more of the things that occur in the railway industrial (RW) district. Morton said the public hearing on Jan. 15 was held prematurely.
Council also gave a first reading to Bylaw 03-18, a new Animal Control Bylaw, and although the town is not required to do so by legislation, public notice is being issued before second and third readings will be given.
Members of the public will have a chance to provide feedback or concerns on the new Animal Control Bylaw. Morton said due to the bylaw’s frequent use, it was a good idea to give public notice. Council also gave all three readings to Bylaw 04-18, a repeal bylaw, to repeal other outdated, duplicate and unnecessary bylaws.
• The town’s elected officials have approved a non-exclusive occupancy agreement with KAWS Animal Rescue to share access to the Town of Kindersley’s animal pound.
Mayor Rod Perkins said the town has held discussions with KAWS Animal Rescue, and the agreement allows the group to use the animal pound. The use would be shared and CAO Bernie Morton said the town has worked with KAWS in the past, but the group needs more space to continue to operate.
• Council has passed a resolution to purchase an additional software licence key for a system at the water treatment plant at a cost of $12,305. The purchase came on recommendation by SaskWater, the town’s third party treatment plant operator.
• A resolution has been passed by council to make several annual appointments. The appointments include deputy administrator, auditor, assessor, emergency measures officials, building inspectors, planner and engineer of record, development appeals board, and board of revision.
• Members of council have appointed Bernie Morton, chief administrative officer, to be the town’s voting delegate at the SUMAssure annual general meeting during the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association 2018 convention.
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