The Town of Langenburg held their initial council meeting for the 2020 year on January 21st.
Conversation about the lift station revolved around the tender that went on SaskTenders earlier and which close on February 6th. So far the tender has had over 100 views on the provincial tendering website which shows interest in the lift station tender. A meeting will need to be held after the closing date to award the contract.
The town will undergo their regular audit on March 11th which will be a busy time for the office staff.
There is a grant titled “Investing in Canadian Infrastructure:” which the town is looking at applying for. There are two streams available with grants the town may apply for. The town will apply for an upgrade to their pipes through the Green Infrastructure stream of the grant. Through the Community, Culture and Recreation stream, the town will look to gather more funding for the new swimming pool.
Council mentioned that the cost of railway lights increased $680 to $740 during their accounts payable discussion.
Council agreed to purchase two porta-potties for the sports grounds area. The quote for the potty is around $2000 so the town will be looking at the $5000 range when the project is completed. The purpose of the potties is to have them mobile to transport around to various events happening around town; they will be able to help out groups such as community soccer at the sports grounds as well.
Munisoft is a program that the Town of Langenburg uses, it may have the ability to track carbon tax to see the increase in cost. The Town is interested in these figures for administrative and financial reasons.
Feedback from citizens was given on the rest stop located alongside Kaiser William Ave in Langenburg. Council accepted the design put forth about the gazebo. Town council requested amd quotes received for the gazebo and washroom. One of the few hurdles left is Department of Highways requires a site plan on their application form.
Council adamantly agree that having more communication with the department of highways before going forward with the gazebo plan would allow this project to be completed as smoothly as possible.
Sask Public Works conference in Regina February 25-27th. Concurrently Town forman Karlos Van Caeseele who is a member of the sask. Public Works Council has been invited to attend the Manitoba Public Works Conference in Brandon, Manitoba. Council feel it would be good for Town Foreman to attend both. The Manitoba Public Works Conference will not cost the town any registration fees.
In compliance with the new town by-law there Langeburg Curling rink will be seeing handi-cap parking signs erected. It was noted that the curling rink didn’t meet town by laws therefore council responded by requesting they be put up right away.
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On Thursday, January 16th a motor vehicle accident occurred. No injuries were sustained although the crosswalk sign on the south side of the highway by the TD bank did get severely damaged. Council and town workers are contacting dept of highways to have this crossing sign replaced as soon as possible. “This could be a potential public safety matter, and needs to be fixed right away’ said Mayor Fogg.
Kim Wondrasek and Juli Mitschke attended as the swimming pool committee to give an update.
The committee is wanting to complete the tender so they can finalize their costs. Drawings are done by engineers and are stamped. Getting information regarding insurance liability and how to put tender on SaskTenders.
With respect to Project manager. Council agreed there should be a project manager. They feel it is necessary to achieve the best results for this huge project
Some of the fund raising coming up for the pool committee are a Valentine’s Day featuring a Magician, a Beef raffle for ½ a beef and of course Laff and Linger Days.
So far fundraising and donations have reached a staggering amount of just under $1.2 million committed so far. Yet falls just shy of the $1.75 million that was the budget for the project.. The Town of Langenburg has already committed $300 000 that came from taxpayers base tax. The New Swimming Pool Committee has asked for an additional $300 000 to help reach its budgeted goal. Council states “we are behind this project to the end” and will have further talks with the pool committee to reach that goal.
By Gary Horseman
(Local Journalism Initiative Reporter)