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Town of Castor athletics bursary back before council

A previously passed bursary for local teams competing at provincial level, or higher, athletic competition was brought back to council during their May 9 meeting.
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(File photo)

A previously passed bursary for local teams competing at provincial level, or higher, athletic competition was brought back to council during their May 9 meeting.

The request for council decision was previously heard several weeks ago where council agreed to allow the creation of a policy which would award $200 per team or $50 per individual for costs related to provincial or higher tournaments, up to the maximum of $1,000, with the funds to come from the Town of Castor Recreation Board.

“Recreation Board felt fairly strongly that the money should come from the Town of Castor, not the board,” said Castor Mayor Richard Elhard.

“I think it’s a good argument. From my point of view, when they go there, they are representing the Town of Castor … It looks really tacky for us not to support them any way.”

Some councillors agreed, while others did not.

Coun. Kevin McDougall wondered why the issue was back before council when they had already made a decision on the matter, and Coun. Don Sisson, while agreeing with the Mayor that the town should support the youth, voiced his hope that this decision would be a final one.

Deputy Mayor Trudy Kilner weighed in, saying “I think, we make a decision, we have to stick to our guns.”

Ultimately, Coun. Cecil Yates put forward a motion to establish a town policy to sponsor youth sports competing at provincials to a maximum of $1,000 a year, to be administered by the chief administrative officer, which was carried.

Surplus

Thanks to fiscal prudence on the part of administration, and no drastic break downs or repairs requiring significant sums of cash, the Town of Castor ended 2022 with a surplus of around $276,000.

Because of where the money was raised, council was forced to allocated $64,000 of the funds into restricted reserves for future water and sewer work, and $100,000 has been previously set aside to replace the fire department’s rapid response truck.

After some deliberation, council opted to move the rest, around $126,000, into unrestricted reserves to have capital on hand in case of emergency.

“We’re an old town, and you never know what will happen,” said Elhard.

LUB update

Chief administrative officer (CAO) Christopher Robblee has given council a first look at the proposed amendments and updates to the Town of Castor’s Land Use Bylaw.

According to Robblee, due to changes in the Land Use Act and the Municipal Government Act, the Land Use Bylaw has grown more complicated over time.

The updated bylaw modernizes definitions and changes several aspects surrounding fences and hedges.

Once the bylaw passes third Reading, fences being built in the community will need a development permit prior to construction.

Existing fences, while not technically passing the new bylaw will not have to be changed. If, down the road, the fence needs to be replaced, no permit will be needed, as long as it is being rebuilt to original specifications and out of similar material.

Any changes to a replacement fence would need a development permit, according to Robblee.

Development complaints are enforced by the development officer, in this case Robblee, though he said to council that he responds on a complaint-based approach, and does not seek things out to enforce on.

One other area pertaining to fences and shrubs that Robblee may no choice but to enforce on is corner lots in the community.

Due to legislation in the traffic safety act, corner lots must have clear view for traffic on the crossing roads, and fences on corners can be no taller that three feet. Due to it being a safety issue, properties with fences going right to the corner and exceeding the maximum height may have to be enforced on.

Council will have a couple of weeks to review the document to request any changes before it is brought back to council for first reading.



Kevin Sabo

About the Author: Kevin Sabo

I’m Kevin Sabo. I’ve been a resident of the Castor area for the last 12 years and counting, first coming out here in my previous career as an EMT.
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