LMT Nov 30 - Vol 114 - issue 03

lmtimes.ca • Last Mountain Times • Monday, November 30, 2020 • /lastmountaintimes • @lmtimes
Camera obscura vice versa - RM Lumsden No.
189 Meeting Highlights
New Sgt. at the RCMP
Detachment, Sask
Clubroot
The Council of the RM of Lumsden
met via Zoom for its regular meeting
on November 26, 2020. All Councillors,
The Reeve - Kent Farago, and the
Chief Administrative Officer (CAO)
Monica Merkosky were present. There
was a conflict of interest declared
by Cody Jordison for the employee
Christmas gift and staff Christmas
party agenda items.
The Public Works Manager, Leighton
Watts, informed Council he wasn’t
currently working out of the shop due
to Covid-19 precautions.
7
Sgt. Chad Clark RCMP
Sgt. Chad Clark, the new Commander
of the Lumsden RCMP Detachment,
presented as a delegation to Council.
He introduced himself, noting he has
met with the town and other communities
as well. He wanted to take the
time to meet Council and to find out if
there was anything that they wanted or
needed differently from the RCMP.
He arrived in Lumsden in mid-September
and has a 20-year career
with the RCMP. He said that while he
doesn’t live in Lumsden, he is committed
to being in the community
on his off time by being at the rink
and having people know him and see
him. He recognized the difficulty that
COVID-19 has presented and how that
has affected how he would typically like
to introduce himself in the community.
He said he is very happy to be there and
excited to work with Council.
He recognized that most problems
come from the city, and he said he
considers Lumsden a decent area
with decent people. He said he is
wide open to concerns and comments
from Council. Council passed on their
concerns to Sgt. Clark. In the April -
June community policing report, there
was only one impaired driving charge,
youth dangerously racing cars, ATV use
in areas where they shouldn’t be and
people using a spot as a shooting range.
Councillor Jordison commented that
since Sgt. Clark has come to Lumsden
he has noticed an increase in visibility
and was appreciative. Sgt. Clark said
that he had initiated a log patrol to see
where the constables are patrolling,
which he will be able to use as a tool
to make decisions as to where they are
needed. He said that impaired driving
is a priority.
Sask Clubroot Initiative Advisory
Board
Councilor Langford requested Council
make a motion so he may participate
on the Sask Clubroot Initiative Advisory
board.
The Saskatchewan Clubroot Initiative
Plan in May of 2020 indicated that Clubroot
is a soil-borne disease caused by
a microbe that affects a host of plants,
including cruciferous field crops such
as canola, mustard, cabbage, etc. In
Saskatchewan, the Ministry of Agriculture
monitors commercial canola
fields for Clubroot symptoms and the
Clubroot pathogen’s presence through
an annual survey.
Langford said the board gives input
to the Ministry of Agriculture on
legislation related to Clubroot. Before
COVID, the board met quarterly and
currently, they have met twice via
Zoom.
Councillor Andrew was concerned
with Langford’s educational background
and what would make him a
good representative for a seat on the
board. Langford explained there is
representation on the board by the
different agencies and several farmers
who have dealt with Clubroot. He said
his background includes attending an
agricultural college. He was a grower
for thirty years in the commercial vegetable
business and has grown crops
affected by Clubroot, and has stayed in
touch with farmers.
Andrew continued to voice his opposition,
saying that it would be more
beneficial if a representative were more
in touch with the broader agricultural
community in the RM. The Reeve said
that Langford was stepping up and
asked Andrew if he was doing that. Andrew
responded, saying that sometimes
that no representation is better than
some representation. Jordison stepped
in at this point and said he disagreed
with Andrew’s comment, noting that
the qualifications Andrew was looking
for are already in place on the board.
There was some confusion after
Andrew asked Langford if he could
leave the meeting. After Langford left
the meeting, Reeve said that Langford
had not declared a conflict of interest
and therefore was not required to leave
the meeting, noting that only Langford
could declare a conflict and that Council
could not declare it for him.
As Langford had already left the view
of the camera, Council was unsure
how to call him back to the meeting.
Eventually, Langford returned, and the
Reeve said he didn’t have to leave and
asked if he was declaring a conflict,
which Langford said he was not as it
was a volunteer position. After additional
discussion, Andrew requested a
recorded vote, which passed to support
Langford. In favour; Farago, Jordison,
Neuls and Schlosser. Against; Andrew,
Garbutt. Langford abstained.
COVID
The CAO reported that there would
be a temporary staff shortage because
of COVID-19 precautions. As a result,
the office will be closed from November
26 – December 1. Staff will be available
by telephone and email during the days
the office is closed, and there is a drop
slot in the door.
The CAO noted a new mandatory
mask policy; however, the office had
been practicing the masking since the
previous week. They are trying to be
as careful as they can through masking,
sanitizing, social distancing and
limiting the number of people in the
office areas.
Meetings of Council are available to
be viewed by the public via Zoom. The
next meeting is on December 17 @ 1:00
pm. Contact the Municipal Office to
arrange for a Zoom meeting invitation.
Jennifer Argue, Civic Reporter, LMT - LJi
Note: These reports are abridged for content
Meili releases letter to Moe
calling for multi-sectoral
Covid-19 task force
REGINA - Today, the Leader of Saskatchewan’s Official Opposition
Ryan Meili wrote Premier Scott Moe to call for the creation of
a multi-sectoral task force to tackle the spread of COVID-19 and
protect our communities, hospitals, schools and businesses.
“With cases rising, we know that everyone is feeling the stress and
strain of the pandemic,” said Meili. “Now is the time to pull together
and fight for our province against our common enemy: COVID-19.”
Melili said that the task force should develop a coordinated
response to the pandemic, and be comprised of municipal and Indigenous
leaders, health care professionals, educational professionals,
representatives from business and labour, community-based
organizations and the Official Opposition.
“The COVID-19 situation is moving quickly in Saskatchewan.
Every day presents an opportunity to take additional action to slow
the spread and provide the support families, communities and businesses
need to make it through this challenging time,” said Meili. “I
truly believe that by working together we can successfully flatten the curve in Saskatchewan, save
lives and create the conditions for a successful recovery.”
-Thomas Linner, NDP Caucus
NEWS BRIEFS
PVSD Board Meeting
The newly elected Prairie Valley Board of Education held its
first meeting together on November 18. From Chair and Vice
Chair elections and an update on year end to presentations on
mental health supports and graduation rates in the Division,
the Board had a full meeting.
COVID-19 Update: Pilot Butte and Indian Head
Pilot Butte School Positive Case - Prairie Valley was informed
today a case of COVID-19 has been diagnosed in an individual
at Pilot Butte School. One classroom will move to online learning
until December 7 and close contacts have been directed to
self-isolate for 14 days. Pilot Butte School will remain open and
classes will continue as normal for all other students.
Indian Head Schools Update - Online learning will continue
for an additional week at both Indian Head High and Indian
Head Elementary schools. This decision was made in consultation
with Public Health as an additional measure to slow the
spread of COVID-19. In class learning is now anticipated to
begin on December 7 rather than November 30. Students at
Indian Head High and Indian Head Elementary schools have
been participating in online learning since November 16 after a
number of cases of COVID-19 were diagnosed in the community
with a significant number of individuals required to self-isolate.