Budget delayed, but not stopped

Jason Kerr
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Budget delayed, but not stopped

It took a little longer than expected, but Prince Albert city council has passed their 2018 budget.

Council gave final approval during a meeting on Monday, but not after stiff opposition from councillors Charlene Miller and Terra Lennox-Zepp.

The conflict didn’t sit well with Mayor Greg Dionne, who touted the budget as a win for taxpayers, and criticized those who voted against it.

“We’re approving a $38-million item, and there’s a couple councillors who are missing a $50,000 item or a $51,000 item, and they chose not to support the budget,” Dionne said. “That’s sad…. You can’t just pick one line and vote for it. You vote for it as a package. Did I like it all? No. There was two or three things … that I fought for and I lost 6-3, so I moved on.”

Despite seeing a multi-million dollar funding cut from the provincial government, city administrators expect revenues to be up in 2018, largely due to changes to property assessment values and expected revenues from the city’s new impound lot.

Residents can expect a 1.5 per cent property tax increase, as well as the extension of a number of public works projects, like restoration of the Little Red River Park riverbank.

“We still have lots of construction projects on the way, and what those projects are what the general public likes: repairs,” Dionne said. “We’ve got our asphalt programs fully in place. It’s one of our most popular, so we’re going to be repairing more streets. We’re going to be attacking the potholes. We’re building water reservoirs …. we’re improving the sewer lines, so it isn’t like we shut down with that 1.5 increase.”

It wasn’t all good news, however. In addition to leaving a number of staffing positions unfilled, city employees will take part in a new Voluntary Day Off without Pay Program. It’s estimated that the program will eliminate an estimated $83,000 in expenses.

Miller and Lennox-Zepp both took exceptions to the budget, with the latter calling it unnecessarily frugal.

“This is an austerity budget where it does not have to be,” Lennox-Zepp said. “I would say that in this budget, we are delaying or vacating some important infrastructure work. I find this budget has the city kicking the can into the future for important work that needs to be done.”

Lennox-Zepp took specific aim at the city’s base tax, which she called “the least fair and equitable taxation that a city can implement,” and also decried the cuts to city staffing. She said all three decisions would have long-term negative repercussions.

The 2018 budget proved to be difficult one for city administrators, who were tasked with bringing forward lean budgets with few spending increases. City Manager Jim Toye complimented his staff for finding new ways to generate revenue without relying on the taxpayer, but said they hadn’t reached calm waters just yet.

“We remain under significant financial pressure,” Toye said in a media release. “This was a very difficult budget year and we are not out of the worst of it yet.”

@kerr_jas • jason.kerr@paherald.sk.ca

Cheveldayoff looks to build urban vote

Jason Kerr
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Cheveldayoff looks to build urban vote

There were few surprises as Saskatchewan Party leadership candidate Ken Cheveldayoff arrived in Prince Albert for his third official trip of the campaign.

Cheveldayoff spoke to roughly 20 Rotary Club of Prince Albert members before taking questions during a stop in the city on Monday. The Saskatoon Willowgrove MLA used the time to defend the decision to cut the STC, express opposition to the federal carbon tax and continue to emphasize the importance of being politically competitive in Saskatchewan’s cities.

“When we talk about the three seats around Prince Albert, we have two out of the three in total, and we’ve got to win all three of them next time,” Cheveldayoff said. “We’ve got to have fantastic candidates and fantastic campaigns here.”

The former cabinet minister’s stop was more notable for what wasn’t discussed than what was. Cheveldayoff confirmed previous campaign proposals, like implementing a minimum age of 25 on the purchase of marijuana once the federal government legalizes it. However, he did not comment on access to abortion, an issue that gained traction in November after he told anti-abortion website RightNow that he was in favour of legislation that supports and protects the unborn.

Instead, Cheveldayoff chose to focus on his role as a fiscal conservative during his 20-minute speech, and urged his party to take another look at their most recent budget. Once again, the expanded PST application was his primary target.

“I think it’s important that we take a step back from the last budget and realize where we’ve made some mistakes and could have done a little better, and then fix those and prepare for another 10 years of growth in this province,” he said.

For the rest of this story, please see the Dec. 20 online or print edition of the Daily Herald.

Every little bit helps

Jason Kerr
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Every little bit helps

It’s just one of many Christmas traditions in Prince Albert, and food bank executive director Wes Clark never gets tired of seeing it.

On Tuesday, representatives from the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) stopped by the Prince Albert Food Bank to bring a little Christmas cheer, along with roughly 400 pounds of wild game meat.

The FSIN makes the donations annually in Prince Albert, Saskatoon, Regina and North Battleford, and for Clark, it’s a welcome sight to see.

“It’s great,” Clark said. “It touches on food security issues, but also food sovereignty…. It’s a by the people, for the people concept, and it’s wonderful.”

Clark said they’re always happy to receive food donations, but sometimes they can’t always use what they get. Programs like the Prince Albert Community Kitchen benefit from special ingredients, but generally the food bank thrives on simple donations like carrots, potatoes and onions. While wild meat is a luxury, it’s also easy to use, making it a welcome addition for food bank users.

“Our backbone is vegetables,” Clark said. “Potatoes, carrots and onions. Why? Because everybody eats them, and this (meat) is the same type of thing. With a community that has a high First Nations representation, looking at what’s a staple in those folks’ diets in critically important.”

Clark doesn’t expect the wild game to last long since it will be in such high demand. In a busy time of year, the entire 400 pounds will be gone in roughly a day. However, he’s not focused on how long it lasts. He’s just happy to see the FSIN help meet their needs.

“That could easily be gone in a day, but that’s not the point though. Whether it’s one can or one pack of hotdogs, it doesn’t matter, we just appreciate all of it.”

Members of the FSIN where unavailable for comment, but in a media release Chief Bobby Cameron said donating the meat was a great way to help the community while exercising their treaty rights.

“These lands have always given to us, and we have an obligation to give to those who cannot do for themselves,” he said.

@kerr_jas • jason.kerr@paherald.sk.ca

Up in arms

Jason Kerr
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Up in arms

After a long hiatus, one of Prince Albert’s more robust Winter Festival traditions will make a return to Prince Albert.

For the first time in two decades, the annual arm wrestling competition is back on the Winter Festival schedule. For festival president Barry Mihilewicz and the organizing committee, it’s an exciting return for a long missed event.

“I couldn’t even tell you,” Mihilewicz chuckled when asked about the last Winter Festival arm wrestling competition. “I can’t remember the last time. You’d almost have to look back into the archives. I think it’s almost been 20 years.”

Mihilewicz said the committee looked to the past to try and spruce up the 2018 event. Traditionally, they partner with the Saskatchewan Arm Wrestling Association (SAWA) to put on the competition, and that will be the case again in 2018.

The organization recently held an event in Shellbrook over the summer, and they jumped at the opportunity to get back into the Winter Festival circuit.

“When I called and suggested that we’d be interested in having them, (the SAWA) was overjoyed and it turned out they had space in their schedule for Jan. 24, so we’re doing to do it and I think it’s going to be kind of a cool thing,” Mihilewicz explained. “There’s going to be some nostalgia.”

Winter Festival traditions have come and gone over the years, and Mihilewicz is confident this return will be successful. He said it’s vital to look forward and find new ways to stay connected with the community, but not to the point where the committee loses track of what has worked in the past.

“Some of the (past) things we’re just not going to do,” Mihilewicz said. “We’re not going to ever have car racing on an oval on the ice like they used to have, for certain obvious reasons, but we’re looking back to some of the things that used to happen at the Winter Festival that people really liked (and) one of them would be the arm wrestling.”

With the 2018 schedule settled, the only thing left to do is hope and pray for good weather. Last year, above average February temperatures saw the cancelation of several major attractions, such as the Canadian Sled Dog Challenge. Other events, like the snow sculpting competition, have been cancelled multiple years in a row.

When it comes to weather, Mihilewicz said they do the best they can with what they have, but he’s hoping this year they get a bit of a break.

“I’d like to see a good foot, foot and a half in January and then none of this melting weather,” he said. “We need some cooperation from the weather man, for sure.”

@kerr_jas • jason.kerr@paherald.sk.ca

From behind the scenes to the front of the stage

Jason Kerr
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From behind the scenes to the front of the stage

When Paul Lomheim answered the phone a week ago he assumed it was another call about playing a musical gig.

He was wrong.

Instead it was the Prince Albert Winter Festival organizing committee, who wanted him to be their 2018 honourary chair. Lomheim, a long-time Country North Show producer, was more than happy to accept.

“Every day I think about it,” he chuckled, shortly after the official announcement at Northern Lights Casino on Monday. “Last night I woke up at 3:30 in the morning thinking about it, but it’s a very nice feeling. I was honoured that they would acknowledge what I’ve done over the years.”

In total, Lomheim has produced nearly 20 Country North Shows for the Winter Festival and worked with a variety of talented musicians such as Randle Currie, Rod Janzen and Donny Parenteau.

Lomheim met most of his lifelong friends through Country North, and has fond memories of performances in front of a packed Exhibition Centre Crowd.

“I remember after the show … seeing performers at the end of the show crying, because it’s all done with,” he said.

“It’s bitter-sweet, the last show, and I remember one year I thought, when I die, I hope there’s a Country North Show in heaven, and I hope they’ll let me produce it.”

As a behind the scenes guy, Lomheim is used to seeing other people in the spotlight. However, he’s looking forward to a temporary change for next year’s festival. He’s also glad to follow in the footsteps of Wes Stubbs, who was the inaugural honouary chair last year.

Current festival president Barry Mihilewicz said picking Lomheim was an easy choice given his past involvement.

“We were tossing around some different names, and of course, what … we look at is somebody who’s been involved in the community and has been involved in the Winter Festival, and Paul certainly fits the bill on both of those in a very, very big way.”

Being honourary chair means Lomheim will have time to visit all the Winter Festival venues, something he was rarely able to do while producing Country North. Now, he’s eager to take advantage of his new freedom.

“Every year I try attending several events, so I’ll try setting a record,” he chuckled.

Lomheim will be recognized at the second annual Tux and Toques Gala at the Ches Leach Lounge on Jan. 20.

@kerr_jas • jason.kerr@paherald.sk.ca

Staff reduction new reality

Jason Kerr
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Staff reduction new reality

A total of nine City of Prince Albert staff positions will be cut or left vacant as a result of this year’s budget crunch.

City council voted in favour of the decision on Monday, as part of an ongoing effort to trim a $3.5-million shortfall.

Mayor Greg Dionne said it was a difficult decision, but also a necessary one.

“Our biggest expense is staff,” he explained. “When you have to cut, you can’t get around it, so what do you do? You do the best you can, but at the end of the day, if some of those items pick up and we need those staff members, we’ll hire them back.”

Of the nine positions, at least four are already vacant. They include a planning technician, economic development manager and a financial services summer student position. Funding for a term firefighter position in 2018 was also removed, and two firefighter partial vacancies were budgeted as one-time reductions.

Dionne said the plan is to fill all positions in 2019, provided the provincial government follows through on plans to restore funding through the municipal revenue sharing agreement.

“That was their prediction and that’s why we’re putting a lot of faith in the new leader,” he said.

Monday’s decision was not without opposition, especially when it came to the elimination of two planning department positions. The city has 13 total staff in the department, but Dionne said the economic slow down and near completion of major planning projects, like the Cornerstone Development, meant they didn’t need as many employees.

The cuts did not go down well with Ward 2 Coun. Terra Lennox-Zepp, who worried the decision was shortsighted.

“Our city could really improve in terms of proactively planning how we want our city to look,” she said in an interview following Monday’s meeting. “To do that, we need appropriate staffing levels. I did not find it justified to be removing two staffing positions from the planning department, among other staffing positions as well.”

Dionne placed most of the blame for Monday’s staff reduction on the provincial government. He said cities are being forced to pay back debt they didn’t create, and added that he didn’t want to download the cost onto citizens in the form of higher taxes. However, he also placed some blame on local unions, who he said are focused on the wrong things.

“I think the most important thing the union should have been doing was focus on keeping jobs,” Dionne said. “The jobs that we did cut today partly lands on their table because (the city) did make them a fair offer not to cut jobs and it was not acceptable, so then city council had no choice but to take the bull by the horns and move ahead.”

The mayor added that it was the union’s job to fight for its members, but with so many recent job losses in the construction and retail industry, just keeping people employed was proving difficult.

CUPE Local 160 and CUPE Local 882 represent more than 300 city workers in Prince Albert, and have been in negotiations with the city for nearly a year.

On Friday, the two locals sent out a joint letter saying they were looking for a wage increase of 1.6 per cent, which would cover the increase in the cost of living. In the letter, both argued that any wage increase would go back into the community through purchasing products and services from local businesses and through property taxes.

Originally, city council had budgeted to freeze all staff wages for 2018, a move that was in line with many provincial ministries, but eventually passed a motion calling for a 1 per cent increase.

When reached on Monday, CUPE staff representative Tony Head called Dionne’s remarks “concerning,” and council’s decision to cut jobs a “quick fix.”

“The mayor’s fair deal amounted to zero per cent and was offered outside of the bargaining process,” Head explained. “That said, the union doesn’t bargain in the media. The mayor doesn’t know this because the mayor doesn’t’ sit at the bargaining table, but the mayor wants to talk about cost savings, and how about all of the contracting out the city does. Contracting out is always more expensive than doing things in house, and cutting jobs, that is a quick fix, and quite frankly, I think a little narrow-sighted, and only leads to more contracting out.”

Head added that working people were being punished for mistakes made by the provincial government, and urged Dionne to focus on his remarks there, and not on the city’s unionized employees.

Prince Albert firefighters are represented by IAFF 510 and not CUPE.

According to the 2018 Budget Fund document, salaries, wages and benefits account for $40,164,650 in spending. That’s roughly two-thirds of the city’s $62,638,950 estimated total expenses. The General Fund does not include revenues and expenses from the Sanitation Fund, Land Fund, Water and Sewer Utility Fund or Airport Fund.

@kerr_jas • jason.kerr@paherald.sk.ca

Access denied

Jason Kerr
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Access denied

A proposal to allow snowmobiles access to Cosmo Lodge in Little Red River Park was shot down on Monday due to safety concerns.

Prince Albert City Council voted unanimously to deny a request by the P.A. Trail Riders to allow snowmobiles to in the park on a one winter trial basis.

The news came as a relief to roughly a dozen local residents who filed into City Hall to oppose the measure.

Among them was Mike Horn, president of the Prince Albert Ski Club, who said snowmobiles would cause too many headaches in an already hectic area.

“It’s a really busy park with all of those users currently, and with the addition of motorized recreational vehicles in the park, I think it would be a huge step backwards and a huge safety concern,” he said.

Horn said he has nothing against snowmobile riders since most are just out to enjoy the outdoors. He was even an avid snowmobiler himself in his younger years, travelling to rallies across Northern Saskatchewan.

Despite that background, he called Monday’s decision a “no-brainer,” largely due to what he says is a large amount of unsanctioned and illegal motorized vehicle traffic in the park.

“With advertising a route through the park, it just sends the wrong message and it’s a huge step backwards,” he explained.

Horn wasn’t the only one making his voice heard on Monday. Monday’s city council packet included four letters from residents arguing that the proposal be swiftly defeated.

The issue first came before council on Nov. 27, when P.A. Trail Riders representative presented a proposal aimed at increasing use of the Cosmo Lodge.

Trail Riders spokesperson Gerry Dolezsar told council the club was committed to establishing a safe, family friendly snowmobiling environment, and wanted to partner with the city to make sure that happened at Little Red.

Dolezsar was unavailable for comment on Thursday, however in a letter to city council, he said granting access to the lodge would help promote tourism and use of the park.

@kerr_jas • jason.kerr@paherald.sk.ca

Change at Rawlinson comes as a shock

Jason Kerr
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Change at Rawlinson comes as a shock

Prince Albert’s largest arts venue will have a new operator in the New Year, and that news came as a surprise to the old one.

On Thursday, the City of Prince Albert announced it was not renewing Star Development Corporation’s operating contract for the E.A. Rawlinson Centre. The contract ends on Dec. 31.

The city plans to run with an interim management team until they find a permanent operator in the New Year.

The news came as a shock to Star Development owner and president Darren McCaffery, who was still reeling after being notified on Dec. 12.

“I’m still kind of in a bit of shock and awe,” he said during an interview on Thursday. “It’s only been two days. It’s like, okay, I guess we’re moving on.”

McCaffery has been involved with the Prince Albert Arts Board and E.A. Rawlinson Centre in a variety of capacities since 2000.

He said he was under the impression that the city was happy with Star Development’s management. When they began the renewal process in September, he thought it was business as usual.

“It took us right out of left field, so it was never anything that we had anticipated,” he said. “We were not getting any feedback from the city that they were unhappy. We were actually booking (events) right up until the day of the meeting.”

McCaffery said the city gave him a week to prepare and present an emergency operational report. Afterwards, he was told the contract would not be renewed based on that report.

“We were told that it was a political decision (and) it wasn’t based on anything that we had done as an operator. I‘m not sure what that means,” he said.

The City of Prince Albert has been tight lipped on why they made the change.

Community Services Director Jody Boulet declined to comment on the reasons, but did confirm that the city conducts annual reviews with all contract holders. However internal review process are kept confidential between the city and the contractor.

Boulet added that he doesn’t expect the change to affect public and private functions that have already been booked.

“We do have an interim plan in place so that any of the upcoming rentals in the centre will go on as usual,” he explained. “We’re reaching out to all of those different promoters and patrons of our facility here in the coming days and we’re certainly letting them know we’re open for business.”

There is no timeline for when a new permanent operator will take over, although Boulet hopes to have someone in place as soon as possible. If things go according to plan, he expects to have more information available by mid-January.

Despite being let go, McCaffery maintains no hard feelings towards the city. He said Boulet and City Manager Jim Toye have been “100 per cent in our corner,” and credited the city management team for helping turn the Rawlinson into a success.

In a way, that makes it tougher for him to let go.

“I just really, really loved the time that I spent there,” he said. “Literally, my blood, sweat and tears are on the floor in that building. I’m not sure I’m impressed with the way it played out, but I get it.”

Star Development began operating the E.A. Rawlinson 14 years ago.

@kerr_jas • jason.kerr@paherald.sk.ca

The price is wrong

Jason Kerr
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The price is wrong

A tight budget year just got tighter for the City of Prince Albert.

On Monday, Prince Albert City Council agreed to cover more than $350,000 in cost overruns from two upgrade projects after contractors discovered unexpected problems.

The decision left some city councillors fuming with how the projects were handled, and had Mayor Greg Dionne vowing the city would not go down this path again.

“That’s not acceptable,” Dionne said in an interview after the meeting. “That’s a poor way to do business and we’re going to hold people accountable in 2018.”

The more expensive of the two projects involves a sewer, storm and water main replacement program that will cost the city an extra $260,029. A report submitted by the Department of Public Works cites unavoidable delays during sewer main replacement work on River Street as the main culprit. According to the report, construction work needed to finish by the end of this year to allow for a new reservoir and pump house to be built in 2018.

Costs overruns from other budget projects, like a 2016 water main project and a plan to replace 10 fire hydrants, also had an impact.

The city plans to use funds from the Waterworks Improvement Reserve to fund the project. That reserve will have a projected deficit balance of $7,773,957 by the end of the year.

Dionne said he isn’t “ruthless” when it comes to stamping out cost overruns, but is concerned about how the numbers are adding up.

“If I would have known in the summer they were over (by) $260,000, I would have said, ‘don’t do this block,’” Dionne said when asked about the overall project. “We give them a budget, and to me, you’ve got to stay within that budget.”

A second project to install water and sewer lines at the Prince Albert landfill is $90,573 over budget, and once again unforeseen delays are the main cause for concern.

Public Works Director Amjah Khan said a pre-construction test revealed “no underground water conditions” at the site, but that changed during entry digging for a lift station. Contractors discovered “a lot of water” and were forced to divert it into a nearby leech pond at a cost of roughly $54,360.

Khan spent several minutes answering questions from concerned councillors about both projects. He maintained that all the delays were unavoidable.

“If it’s unforeseen items, we cannot predict them at the time of the tender,” he said. “That’s where these overages come from. These overages are just because of the groundwater conditions that we did not foresee in advance.”

Dionne wasn’t the only city council member upset by the revelation. Ward 4 Coun. Don Cody also took time to question whether the city got enough bang for their buck from their hired consultants.

“Engineering fees” are included in the cost overruns, since they are typically based on a percentage of construction cost, and will increase or decrease as the cost changes.

As with the groundwater issue, Khan maintained that consultants could not have identified the problems during the tender process.

With the city facing a budget crunch in the New Year, city council has decided to hold quarterly meetings to make sure future infrastructure projects do not meet a similar fate. Dionne also said the city could look at barring all future tenders from contractors who failed to stay on budget in the past.

Dionne said it’s up to the consultant to do their homework before tendering an offer. He doesn’t want the city held responsible if they can’t.

He also wants city administrators to be more proactive in bringing potential problems to council’s attention before they go over budget.

“If you hold people accountable and they know they’re accountable, they’ll do a better job on their bids,” he said.

@kerr_jas • jason.kerr@paherald.sk.ca

Program aims to save lives, reduce impaired driving

Jason Kerr
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Program aims to save lives, reduce impaired driving

On Sept. 17, 1994, Robin Keays and some friends left one party north of Prince Albert and began driving south to join a second.

They never arrived.

Shortly after leaving, an impaired driver slammed into them so hard the force pushed the trunk of their car up near the front seat. To make matters worse, the impaired driver was one of Keays’ friends who, only minutes earlier, had told her he had a designated driver.

“He chose to get into that vehicle,” Keays said on Monday. “He chose to change my life forever.”

Her physical injuries where gone after a few months, but the mental trauma wasn’t as quick to heal.

Although Keays is fine today, she still carries the memories of that accident. It’s something she hopes Prince Albert residents will remember as they approach the heart of the holiday season.

“I’m hoping that they will listen,” said Keays, who currently serves as the Prince Albert MADD chapter vice-president.

“We can give them as much education as they want, but it’s their choice at the end.”

On Monday, Keays and other Prince Albert dignitaries were on hand to launch an annual program that gives local residents an alternative choice.

Keays, Mayor Greg Dionne, Police Chief Troy Cooper and Prince Albert Carlton MLA Joe Hargrave came out to offer their support for Ding in the New Year, which enters its 29th year of existence.

The annual program provides free transit to Prince Albert residents on New Year’s Eve with four routes spread across the city.

Ridership tends to vary with the weather, but on average, roughly 400 riders take advantage of the program every year.

“In Saskatchewan, there are a lot of places where those options (like Ding in the New Year) don’t exist and maybe use that as an excuse to drive after they’ve been drinking,” Cooper said.

“There is no excuse in a centre like ours for people to drink and then drive.”

This year’s program is an expanded version of previous ones. For the first time since it started in 1989, it will provide special needs transpiration. The move was a joint decision between the provincial government and their partners, and according to Hargrave, was long overdue.

“Those people with disabilities, they want to get out and they need that ride home as well,” said Hargrave, who serves as Minister of SGI.

“It’s unfortunate that it took so long to actually get that one implemented. It was overlooked and it never should have been.”

As with other years, the provincial government will cover the cost of operating the buses.

Hargrave didn’t have an official total for how much the project cost, but said whatever it came to, it was worth paying.

“It’s all what we consider minimal (cost) for the potential impact,” he said.

Ding in the New Year’s free transit service begins at 7:15 p.m. on Dec. 31 and ends at 3 a.m. on New Year’s Day. Route maps can be found at www.citypa.ca. Residents requiring special needs transportation can call 306-953-4466.*

According to the Prince Albert Police Service, a total of 153 people have been charged with impaired driving in 2017.

That means Prince Albert is on pace to see a slight drop in the number of year-over-year charges from 2016.

*This is corrected story. The original story included an incorrect phone number. The city provided an updated phone number on Dec. 22. We apologize for any inconvenience.

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