OUTLOOK - The town council of Outlook met for a regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday night, May 28. Present were Councillors Sharon Bruce, Donna Smith, Kyle McLeod, Andy Long, and Guy Derdall, as well as Mayor Ryan Husband, Chief Administrative Officer Kevin Trew, and Assisant CAO Rachel Sillers. Also present was student Silas Milanovich, who was observing the meeting as part of his work experience class at Outlook High School. Absent was Councillor Kevin Grotheim.
The meeting was broadcast live on the Town of Outlook's official Facebook page.
A number of topics and items were discussed, including the following highlights.
Bylaws
Discussing bylaws, CAO Trew shared that student Silas has been learning a lot in his time as a work experience observer, and he's actually been working on some of the town's bylaw information. With that, he turned it over to Silas, who shared information on Bylaw 04 (2025) Repeal of Certain Bylaws, which was set for its first reading.
Milanovich went over some of the town's old bylaws that were set to be repealed, including Bylaw 05 from 2003 (private swimming pool bylaw), Bylaw 04 from 2018 (smoking bylaw), and Bylaw 26 from 2019 (bylaw to recover protective services cost). After some discussion on the backgrounds of such old bylaws, their repeals were passed by Council.
Next, Council discussed Bylaw 05 (2025) Good Order Bylaw Including Noise, which collected language and aspects from a number of old bylaws in order to create this newer, updated one. After some discussion on legalities and authority, the bylaw passed its first reading.
Lastly, Bylaw 07 (2025) Uniform Mill Rate, Mill Rate Factor and Base Tax Bylaw was discussed by the room, which was set for its 2nd & 3rd readings. Some lengthy discussion was had in the room surrounding the numbers before the bylaw's 2nd reading was passed by Council. The 3rd reading was then passed by Council, after which Mayor Husband noted that the Town would be sending out tax notices very soon.
For all of the Town's bylaw information, you can also check out the town website at the following link .
Unfinished Business
The town's mid-year operations budget and capital plan was next to be discussed, with Assistant CAO Sillers noting that a mid-year review of the budget and plan was set months ago. This allows the town to make adjustments for things such as inflation as time passes.
Some of the items contained in the budget have been approved and/or changed, including the salary and wage schedules, disposal of redundant equipment, grants and revised property assessment figures.
The original revenues in the Operating category were $7,362,000, and the amended revenues after recent decisions are now $9,494,124.
After some discussion, a motion was made and carried to accept the updated budget and plan, which was said to be something that Council will revisit in a matter of months.
New Business
Council next discussed an agreement with the Ministry of Highways over improvements to Highway 15.
CAO Trew went over some of the details surrounding what work would be carried out in the project where the costs would be shared between the Ministry and the Town.
The Ministry of Highways came back to the Town with information, sharing that the costs of work to be carried out are estimated at over $1 million, with the Town's share coming in at $755,150. A motion was made and carried to proceed with the agreement moving forward.
Council moved in-camera to discuss a land sale topic.
