The January 11, 2021 meeting agenda and supporting documents are posted under the Council (Meeting Agendas) tab on the website. The Council member contact information is under Council Members.
Update on SaskTel Internet Proposal:
At the November, 2020 meeting, Council approved the SaskTel proposal to proceed. The next steps were to establish Emma and Christopher Lakes as an Additional Service Area and arrange for a public meeting before a bylaw can be considered. A letter was to go out by the end of November to those ratepayers impacted. The letter will be delayed until the end of January because Council had asked SaskTel to complete a review of options for higher speeds as well as review the costing under the Community Participation Program for both the existing Proposal and for other options. The letter will outline the payment options and timelines for the levy and SaskTel work.
Two items of correspondence were received from SaskTel at the January, 2021 meeting. One was a quote of $9,205,000 for a fibre optics build along with an analysis of potential grant opportunities; and the other was a letter outlining the result of the review for the DSL option which indicated that the contribution for the District under the Community Participation Program remains at $1,076,000.
Following discussion, Council declined to pursue the fibre optics option and reaffirm the decision to proceed with the DSL proposal as was approved in November, 2020.
Public Hearings – None.
2021 Assessment Revaluation
Council reviewed and discussed the preliminary valuations for the 2021 reassessment. This reassessment will impact all properties in the Province of Saskatchewan. The Province of Saskatchewan sets the Percentages of Value to determine what portion of the values are taxable. The only change from previous values is for commercial property classes (commercial, industrial, elevator, railway, resource and pipeline) which will be reduced from 100% to 85%. The residential property classes (residential, multi-unit residential and seasonal residential) remain at 80%.
Council received the trend report showing the total fair value of the properties in the District decreased by 3.72% from $945,323,000 to $910,215,300. In order to achieve the same level of taxation, the mill rate would need to be increased; however, Council will not make that determination until the budget process later in the Spring.
Council resolved to request that SAMA review the class of properties that currently include 109 and AN109 classifications (generally used for property one row back from lakefront) and determine if any should be included in a separate classification as 108 that have unique characteristics from the others.
Reports, Discussion and Actions:
- Public Works: the purchase of a new Bobcat E35 trackhoe was authorized; works continues at the new lagoon with solar panels being installed; weather has permitted tree work to be completed in some ditches including Poachers road. Brush and tree removal will be completed at McPhail Cove when time permits.
- Council approved the Municipal Fee Bylaw No. 01-2021 which revises changes for a number of fees including building permit fees as well as the addition of some fee for building activities.
- Protective Services: December statistical report, provincial and inter-agency updates.
- Building / Development: December permit report and Annual Statistical Report for 2020.
- Administrator’s report included the Action / Motion item report, administration bond, excess liability insurance, workers’ compensation rate for Council members; and the SaskTel proposals; the 2021 revaluation figures.
- Bylaws were passed for the Fire Fighting Services levy of $100 per developed lot and for a special levy for street lighting at the Birch Bay subdivision. The sanitation levy bylaw was not adopted for 2021 at this time. Council will revisit this levy at a subsequent meeting.
- A request to reduce the speed limit on Jacobsen Drive in the Bells Beach subdivision from 30 km/h to 10 km/h was deferred to the Administration for review and recommendation.
Other matters of business:
- Received communications: PARCS; SAMA, AN109 Group; and SARM re Election; Membership fees, and SARM fees; and a thank you for the Snowmobile Club for the donation.
Comments or concerns should be submitted through the Council office (306.982.2010 or email office@www.lakeland521.ca. They are reviewed by staff on a regular basis, and monthly by Council.