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The RM of Weyburn council passed a bylaw which authorizes the municipality to officially take part in the Weyburn District Planning Commission, at their meeting held Jan. 16 at the RM office.
The passing of the bylaw follows in the footsteps of the City of Weyburn, with the bylaws helping to formally establish the planning commission. The bylaws will now both be forwarded to the provincial government for approval by the minister, said Reeve Carmen Sterling.
Meantime, some agreements between the city and RM are awaiting the establishment of the commission, such as the fire agreement, which is currently being renewed annually until it can be hammered out formally at the commission table.
Fire Chief Steve Debienne was a delegation to the RM council meeting, and went over the calls the Fire Department responded to over the past year, and any issues that have come up, and equipment needs.
The Fire Department responded to a few grass fires in the RM, in addition to the call-outs for accidents, and Reeve Sterling said one issue the chief commented on is the need for any land-owner doing a controlled burn to notify the Fire Department, or else they'll respond to the fire if it's called in by a passerby.
Sometimes a control burn has been reported, but to the provincial fire number, and the word doesn't always make it down to the local department in time.
"We've always told our ratepayers to make sure they report any control burn," said the reeve.
The Â鶹´«Ã½AVeast Regional Economic Development Authority (SEREDA) is setting up a task force to try and recruit more doctors to the Weyburn area, and asked for representation from the RM to take part.
Coun. Heather Cugnet expressed interest, and will represent the RM on the task force, which is just getting organized right now. Coun. Maureen Clay will be her alternate if she can't make a meeting.
Unlike several recent council meetings, there were no subdivision or development permits to approve for the RM, but a number of projects did get discussed by the RM council.
One project is for a commercial-industrial lot located on Highway 35 about four or five miles south of the city; the RM will be negotiating a service agreement for the provision of services.
There are a couple of subdivisions that were discussed, said the reeve; "some are still in the process of getting information that's needed."
Among the ones up for approval, she said, one ratepayer had three subdivisions on the go, also in need of negotiating a service agreement with the RM.
"It seems like every meeting we have lots of development to discuss," said the reeve.
With SARM holding their spring convention in March in Saskatoon, the council authorized three council members and the administrator to attend; Reeve Sterling will be joined by Coun. Cugnet and Coun. Clay.
Council also approved of a budgetary item prior to the start of budgeting, said the reeve, explaining, "We purchased a grader to replace one coming off a warranty. We had to do that ahead of time because of the pricing."
Normally the council deals with its budget for the year in March and April, settling it once the provincial budget has been brought down. Among other budget items this year will also be the planning commission, said the reeve.
Council also heard from the Hudson Bay Route Association, which asked the RM to consider joining its ranks. The council has asked for a representative to attend, to explain what the benefits of belonging to the association would be. The association wants to get into grain handling in the post-CWB world, shipping grain out through Churchill, Man., then through Hudson Bay.
The RM had to replace its member on the Airport Board, as their former member was unable to continue attending the board meetings; Coun. Ron Fellner was appointed to the board for the RM council.
