KAMSACK — More than a third of the three-hour-long regular meeting of Kamsack town council on June 9 involved discussions with residents who were concerned about dogs that are allowed to run freely.
Council met with a delegation of 11 residents, who live in an area around Assiniboine Terrace, said Mayor Beth Dix.
“They told us that the dogs were getting aggressive, were chasing people, were barking and snarling and chasing wildlife.
“They also said there were a bunch of cats in the neighbourhood that are spraying in neighbours’ yards,” she said.
Basically the delegation said there were three dogs that were causing the problem, while a fourth died due to alleged poisoning, Dix said. The dogs are a German shepherd, a pug and a pitbull.
Council passed a resolution calling for any non-licensed dog that is caught running at large to be picked up and transferred to a pound in Yorkton, she said.
Owners of the dogs that have been identified have been contacted, but the response has been negligible, she said.
The Assiniboine Valley Health and Wellness Committee, which until last year was responsible for securing and maintaining the medical staff at the Assiniboine Valley Medical Centre, told council that it no longer needs its annual contribution of $2,500, said Barry Hvidston, administrator. Councillor Robyn Tataryn, who is council’s representative on the committee, requested that council, instead, contribute towards creating welcome baskets for new doctors arriving in the community, and council agreed to provide a nominal amount for the baskets.
Although no one from council can attend the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association Regional Roadshow in Esterhazy June 24, Councillor Karen Tourangeau was authorized to attend the Community Ventures Future annual general meeting on June 26.
Community Ventures Future provides small government loans to businesses that are unable to obtain sufficient funding from other sources, Hvidston explained.
Although council had applied for and received $7,500 from Affinity Credit Union to repair the lighted sign in front of the Town Hall, when the repair person came to the site it was discovered that the sign had been constructed with old technology that could not be repaired, Hvidston said. It was estimated that between $20,000 and $25,000 would be needed for a new sign.
The sign, which has not been operational for about five years, has been used to publicize various community events.
Council decided to re-evaluate the sign at next year’s budget deliberations, Dix said.
The community safety officer’s vehicle, that is no longer required, was sold to the Muskoday First Nation.
Hvidston said that the administration is in the process of going through various bylaws. Council is currently looking at the parking and golf cart bylaws and plans to review five or six others.
