A Minute with the Mayor This is a new feature of the monthly Scoop and our Town Facebook page. The column is an effort to improve communication with town residents and the Town Council. It is our hope we can share important information first hand with the taxpayers of Lashburn. There are several issues I would like to address this month. These include: Policing, the Playground, and the Rate Increases. All of these topics are of interest to all residents of Lashburn. For each of these issues I will outline some of the facts. In recent weeks the issue of policing in regards to our community has been the subject of much discussion. The Town of Lashburn contracts the RCMP for police services. The cost of policing is set by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Justice based on the 2013 rate of $37.85 per capita at a cost of $38,120 for Lashburn in 2014. The Town of Lashburn has no control over the scheduling of policing within our community. The Detachment Sergeant is in charge of scheduling. Depending on their work load will depend on the amount of regular patrols through our community. In regards to the location of a detachment in Lashburn, there are several aspects involved in the decision. The RCMP determines the location based on distribution accessibility and property. In 2012 the RCMP, in consultation and with the support of MLA Larry Doke and Tim MacMillian, made a decision to build the new detachment in Maidstone. The Town of Lashburn and the RM of Wilton were approached. The Town did not have any land available for a detachment. The RM of Wilton did make a proposal for the new detachment to be located near Lashburn. The Town Council endorsed the RM proposal. Unfortunately the RM of Wilton was not successful and the detachment remains in Maidstone. The Town would like to thank all the personal and corporate donations to the Heritage Park project. The Town also received a grant through the Provincial Community Initiatives Fund. A list of donors will be erected at the playground site when it is completed. At this time, there is not a projected completion date due to the unearthing of a heating fuel tank at the site of the new playground. The Town is working diligently with a private environment company and the Ministry of the Environment to ensure due diligence in remedying the situation. The Town and the Playground Committee will keep residents informed as soon as we have information to share. We would like you to make your children aware of the risks of playing on the structure and abiding by the fence and warning signs. There are two rate increases that will take place January 1, 2015. More information on these increases will be supplied with the November, 2014 water billing. The first is a water rate increased based on the Annual Waterworks Rate Policy as required by the Provincial Government. The objective of the Waterworks Rate Policy is to ensure waterworks are self-financing, where direct users pay for the cost of the service. The goal of the Town is to have a financially independent waterworks that does not have to complete with other key municipal financial demands. The second rate increase involves the garbage charges. The new curb side program is very convenient and offers a true recycling and organic pick up program. Residents no longer have to buy garbage tags which will save residents money in the long term. Council feels the service offered by Evergreen Ecological Services is in the best interests of the entire community. Rate increases are never easy and elected officials have some unpleasant decisions sometimes but please remember, the elected officials also pay for the water and garbage service rate increases. We would like to thank you for your patience’s in regards to the transfer from our previous garbage collection system. If you have any questions in regards to the above information please do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected] Attention: Mayor. Is there a topic that you need answers for? Please submit the questions to the Town Office and I will address them next month. Thanks for reading.
Posted on: Mon, 17 Nov 2014 17:44:25 +0000
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