The Meeting of SARM District 5 was held in the Travelodge, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, on Wednesday, June 27, 2001 commencing at 9:30 am.
Those in attendance were:
-Reeves - 23
-Councillors - 61
-Administrators - 27
-Visitors - 8
Director Nick Postnikoff welcomed everyone and called the meeting to order at 9:40 am.
Agenda
Moved by RM 403/342
That the agenda be accepted as presented.
CARRIED
Minutes
Moved by RM 452/312
That the minutes of the June 20, 2000, meeting, as previously circulated, be approved as read.
CARRIED
Res. Comm.
Helen Roslinski and Richard Porter are appointed as Resolution Committee for this meeting.
Reports
DFO Report - Alan Merkowski of the Federal Dep't of Fisheries and Oceans noted the following in his address:
-DFO's role is protecting the fish habitat
-DFO become involved when commercial or recreational fish activities are impacted
Questions
-Prairies are not associated with any ocean and have limited fisheries, yet one of our main industries, agriculture, may be significantly impacted by any fish protection regulations
Pres. Report
SARM President Sinclair Harrison spoke on the following topics:
-Education tax on agricultural land: 2001 reassessment caused a significant shift onto agricultural land, SARM and RMAA have been trying to get the Province to Improve the education tax rebate program, however, the Province refuses to improve the program.
-Municipal Road System: Federal and Provincial assistance is insufficient, Road Weights limits, New Road Construction practices
-Grain transportation: Federal studies continue, Current situation is a recipe for disaster - deregulation with no competition
-Drinking water safely: Sask. Water testing program, Center for Ag Medicine Involvement
-Rural Health Issues: SARM's reply to the Fyke Report on Health Care
-Agricultural Issues: Grains and oilseeds sector needs immediate and substantive assistance, Concerns with respect to genetically modified wheat
Questions
- Fyke Report Response
- Genetically modified wheat testing sites
Vice Pres. Report
SARM Vice President Neal Hardy spoke on the following topics:
-Pesticide Container Program: will discontinue in 2002, SARM trying to ensure collection sites will be within a reasonable distance
-Policing requisition costs are expected to increase
-Hudson Bay Route Association: Omnitrax operates the rail route, Joint running rights would help
-Endangered species legislation: Legislation suggests landowner should accept up to a 10% loss, and 50% of loss exceeding 10%, due to wildlife
-Firearm Registration: Sask. Federation of Indian Nations are challenging the legislation and is successful, may cause land to be repealed
Pesticide Container Program
Rich Wilkins, SERM Pesticide Container Program
-All municipal sites to be closed in 2002
-SERM will be analyzing the soil at the closed sites
-60% of the containers are recycled
Questions
-Any dealer who sells the product should be required to accept containers
-Regulate container design and disposal
-Identify containers for recycling enforcement
-Initiate a deposit/refund system
SMH Report
Sask. Municipal Hail President Clayton Hobman noted the following in his address:
-2000 loss history
-Competitive advantages of Sask. Municipal Hail Insurance
Ass't Exec. Dir. Report
SARM Assistant Executive Director Dale Harvey spoke on the following topics:
-revised SARM web site
-SARM's response to the Fyke report on health care
Education Tax on Property
SARM President Sinclair Harrison distributed a summary of each RM's 2001 education tax shift and noted the following:
-2001 provincial average tax increase:
Cultivated land.....13%
Pasture land........27.5%
-2001 education tax level on agricultural property is equivalent or worse than the 1999 level even though the Province has stated it is reducing the level
Questions
-Is the Provincial Government taking this issue seriously
-Why is education funding increases going to urban school divisions
-Education tax should be on residential property, not agricultural property
-Civil disobedience (i.e. tax revolts) may be required to get the Province to react
Sask. Highways Report
Greg Gilks of Sask. Highways spoke on the road weight restrictions and shipper/receiver liability:
-Overweight vehicles cause road damage
-New legislation will address the problem at source without increasing paperwork
-Emphasize "education" over "enforcement"
-Province is committed to this process
Questions
-Shipper Liability
-Scale accuracy and fine revenue
-RM may issue permits for primary weights in municipal roads
Exec. Dir. Report
SARM Executive Director Ken Engel spoke on the following:
-Proposed General Insurance Program
-SARM Lobbyist fund
-Gopher Poison
RCMP Report
Chuck Orem, of the RCMP spoke on the following issue:
-RCMP policing priorities
-Staff deployment
-Firearm legislation enforcement
-If community is unhappy with its police service: contact the local dispatchment chief, if still unhappy, contact Insp. Orem 780-7631/536-7613
Questions
-When local issues be addressed by the RCMP
Sask. Ag. Report
Gary Boes, Sask. Ag. spoke on scentless chamomile, and other weed control: Municipal Weed Survey
Questions
-Sask. Highway and railway right of way weed control
Resolutions
Moved by RM 490/340
Whereas, education tax...
CARRIED
Moved by RM 555/494
Whereas, TLE and Carelton train...
CARRIED
Adjorn
Moved by RM 461 that this meeting be adjorned.
CARRIED
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