A regular meeting of Oxbow Town Council was held the evening of Jan. 23.
With only a few items on the agenda, the meeting only lasted about an hour and a half. Mayor Doug Pierce, Ald. Judy Swanson, and Ald. Cory Mercer were absent from the gathering. Ald. Bob Goodward was the chairman for the meeting.
David Carson, foreman of the town crew, presented the public works report. He said some repairs were being made on a hydrant south of the elevator. Other work included reading water meters, water testing, replacing some water meters and remote readers, cutting some trees, making repairs to the sweeper, sander, grader and loader, removing snow and sanding, and doing some repairs at the water tower. He had contacted Associated Engineers as requested by council to see if a representative would come to a meeting to discuss the subject of water. Associated Engineering is interested, but needs more details. Brad Vanbeselaere, administrator, will contact the company.
As hydrovacing was a big monetary item in 2011, costing the town $75,000, the administrator was authorized to contact other towns and cities to find out what method they use when there are water breaks or other underground repairs to be made.
A request was made by the Oxbow Housing Authority for the Town to install a street light at the north end of Heritage Court (where there is an existing power pole) as there is a need for additional lighting in this area.
The Town will check with Sask. Power, and find out what the cost would be.
Paula Haygarth, business consultant from the Southeast Regional College, attended the meeting. The college would like to offer some courses in Oxbow. She said she would be visiting some of the businesses who hire newcomers and would be asking if any further training was needed or if a class such as English as a Second Language (ESL) would be useful. She also asked for suggestions regarding possible instructors for ESL and was interested in learning that rooms were available for rent in the Oxbow hall (i.e. former OPHS).
Information was received from the SGI Auto Fund regarding a Seatbelt Challenge. This is a community-driven way to increase seatbelt use in the area. The challenge, starting this spring, will include public awareness activities and two roadside surveys to measure seatbelt usage rates among local competing communities. The community with the highest percentage of positive change between surveys will earn a cash prize ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 to be used for local road safety improvements. This is the fourth year the Seatbelt Challenge has been held. The Town will ask the community relations co-ordinator to attend a council meeting to discuss the Seatbelt Challenge further.
Reports:
• It was asked if the lights on the town sign could be improved, as they are very glaring, and not highlighting the sign as they were intended.
• The lights for the Christmas tree should be turned off.
• Ald. Bob Goodward attended the hall board meeting, and the hope was to get the old Memorial Hall cleaned out within the next two weeks. An ad had been placed in the Oxbow Herald regarding rental rates for the gymnasium and meeting rooms. Some locations are available for longer term office rentals and leases.
