By Kevin J. Sabo
For the Advance
Town of Castor Administration has started the process of modernizing the Airport Bylaw.
After a recent issue at the airport it was found that the existing bylaw was last reviewed in 1978, establishing an airport committee and budget.
The committee has been defunct for quite a few years, and keeping the existing bylaw would require the re-establishing of it.
“This just modernizes the bylaw,” said Chief Administrative Officer Christopher Robblee.
The new bylaw outlines acceptable uses of Castor’s airport as well as establishing costs and fines for violations.
In motion put forward by Coun. Tony Nichols, the bylaw passed first reading. The Town is now required to advertise the bylaw and host a public hearing before the final two readings are passed.
The public hearing is currently scheduled for Sept. 28th.
A bylaw for the use of alternate energy within the Town of Castor will be reviewed at the public hearing as well.
Procurement Policy
The Town of Castor Administration has developed a procurement policy.
“We have been following generally this type of procurement since I took over in 2019,” said Robblee.
“What this specifically does is establish an administrative fairness (and appeal) process.”
The new policy outlines the requirements companies must follow in order to qualify to bid for Town of Castor contracts and sets various threshold levels of expense that determine when administration may sole-source a project versus putting it out to tender.
“I believe it’s time for council to consider something like this,” said Robblee.
Council voted in favour of the new policy in a motion put forward by Coun. Brenda Wismer.
Memorials
Town of Castor council has received three separate requests asking for a variation to the Cemetery Bylaw regarding the size of monuments.
Each of the requests will see a monument (headstone) placed that will exceed the height allowed in the bylaw by four to eight inches.
Currently, the bylaw reads the maximum height of a monument may not exceed 18 inches.
With the number of requests for a variation to the bylaw, administration is currently working on updates to the bylaw which would see an increase to the height up to a maximum of 30 inches.
“The (change) will affect the monuments section only,” said Robblee.
“My recommendation is to approve them all, as the bylaw is coming back.”
The monument height variations were all approved by council in three separate motions put forward by Coun. Rod Zinger.