Rosetown approves over-budget contracts for east-side development
By Ian MacKay
Town councillors approved contracts for roadwork and utility installation tied to the planned east neighbourhood development following their June 1 regular meeting.
Council moved into an in-camera session after the public meeting to discuss bids that came in well above project estimates.
Councillors agreed to award a contract for a sewage lift station and water and sewer line installation around Sixth Avenue East to Gee Bee Construction of Kipling for nearly $1.01 million. They also approved spending almost $413,000 for roadwork near the planned UFA fuel station at 14th Street and Colwell Road, awarding the contract to MTE Construction and Maintenance of Warman.
Minutes from the in-camera meeting show council will cover about $616,000 in costs above budgeted amounts by withdrawing $50,000 from the east neighbourhood reserve and approximately $566,000 from the future residential/industrial development reserve.
Council also postponed changes to the procedure bylaw after Coun. Jan Coffey-Olson said it requires a definition for in-camera meetings and argued the bylaw was not followed when she was appointed acting mayor.
“In-camera, to me, is the opposite of what it is,” explained Coffey-Olson, who had been named acting mayor after the last municipal election. The bylaw calls for an acting mayor to be appointed when both the mayor and deputy mayor are absent or unable to serve.
“All three of us” could be missing, Coffey-Olson said, adding, “To do what it says is fine.”
Councillors agreed to rescind her appointment and supported Chief Administrative Officer Damon Werrell’s suggestion that he contact the high school principal in search of a non-voting student member of council. The bylaw allows for a student member, and two students have previously served in the role.
New administrator Werrell had prepared a document outlining proposed bylaw amendments, including reasons for distributing council agenda packages at noon on Thursdays instead of earlier in the week, and establishing a 10 a.m. Thursday deadline for residents wishing to speak at Monday evening council meetings. Recently, council packages have been arriving on Friday afternoons.
Former chief administrator Darcy Olson had emailed council packages on Thursday afternoons because he did not work Fridays, Mayor Trevor Hay noted. Olson would add late submissions to the agenda before meetings, Hay said.
After welcoming Werrell to his first council meeting, Hay also expressed appreciation to Amanda Bors.
“...for stepping in as acting CAO these past few months, helping us out, and she did a wonderful job,” said Hay.
Bors, the town’s chief administrative assistant, served as acting chief administrative officer following Olson’s retirement last October.