The full slate of municipal councillors took part in the first video conference for the RM of Wallace-Woodworth, discussing agenda items and making motions. Public access to council meetings and video conferencing is being taken a step further with council’s recent motion to purchase quality dedicated equipment.
In order to comply with the Province’s new safety measures, avoiding public gatherings and distancing, the meeting is available on the municipality’s You Tube channel.
Reeve Clayton Canart said it was important for the RM to improve video conferencing for people “so they don’t have to travel or us to them.” After a staff presentation on quotes and options, he said, 3C Tech probably fits what I was hoping we would get to.” The question arose about when the Virden tech company could supply the hardware.
CAO Garth Mitchell said, “That type of material is flying off the shelf right now.”
Councillor Barb Stambuski urged council to make a decision at that meeting. “I think we should make the motion and get it going.” A motion was passed to purchase the necessary equipment from 3C Tech.
In unfinished business, zoning bylaws have been put on hold until such time as council decides how to hold public hearings.
Wallace-Woodworth will supply water to a farm that is right across from the municipal boundary Road 72. This is a single farm hook-up.
Road bans come into effect on Friday, March 27, at 6:00 a.m.
In order for heavy vehicles to use a road during the ban, there’s one-time permit available for commercial operators that are examined on merit with each request. The RM is working out the means of online payment for this, including the use of credit cards. Contact the office for more details.
Wallace-Woodworth plans to be members of two conservation districts - newly minted watershed-based Souris River Watershed District and Assiniboine West Watershed District and council passed first reading.
A group of municipalities are served by Highway 83. They are getting organized to act as a lobby group. Council passed a motion to attend (by remote access yet to be confirmed) an upcoming meeting to be held in Pipestone.
Council considered a report on FCM Climate Adaptation. It’s a plan around water management on the Scallion, Bosshill and Gopher creeks in an attempt to find a way to minimize flooding and infrastructure damage. Undertaken by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, it has been an ongoing topic.
Reeve Clayton Canart re-stated other councillors’ remarks saying, “I don’t see us even remotely getting involved with something with that kind of numbers (cost),” adding that the conservation district can undertake some flood mitigation “for a reasonable amount.”
During committee reports, Councillor Mark Humphries brought forth a concern for businesses in Elkhorn and Kenton, with the coronavirus pandemic and isolation measures. “There’s at least four small businesses that are extremely worried. And [some] in Kenton too.”
On this topic, council hopes to include their economic development officer Tiffany Cameron at the next meeting.
