The Prince Albert city council has approved a request to have upgrades to the existing Bulk Water Dispensing system included in 2025 budget deliberations.
Council approved the request during their executive committee meeting on Monday. Rinkesh Patil, the City’s Water Treatment Plant Manager, said upgrades to City’s Bulk Water Dispensing system, better known as the Water Crane, will ensure continued good service.
“Risks of not upgrading this system could lead to hardware failure, (or) service disruption,” said Patil.
Patil said the current system lacks modern payment options, which leads to inconvenience for the users and potential revenue loss.
Coun. Charlene Miler asked how long it would take to recuperate the cost. Patil said the revenue generated by the Water Crane will cover the budget expenditure within three months.
Administration is proposing a FLOWPOINT Environmental System, with a hard metal cabinet style interface designed to minimize water spillage and wastage. Pital said this new model has a smoother transition for the customers.
Pital said the proposed upgrade of the Bulk Water Fill Station will improve convenience, increase the customer base and sales, and increased reliability.
The requested project budget of $26,000 is to be sourced from the operating budget allocated to the Water Crane under the Water Treatment Plant. This amount includes inflation adjustments and the installation cost of the system.
The Photography Mural Project was also presented and approved a the meeting. The was project lead by the Arts & Culture Division of Parks, Recreation and Culture and funded by the SaskCulture Community Cultural Engagement Fund and the City’s Municipal Culture Action Plan.
Judy MacLeod Campbell, Arts and Culture Manager said the “Community Pride in Pictures” mural will be a collage of pictures submitted by local photographers in a design created by two local professional photographers, representing photographs of people experiencing the great opportunities and assets of the city.
“It will be installed on the west wall of the Prince Albert Public Library and will remain there for approximately 5 – 10 years,” said Campbell.
Coun. Dennis Ogrodnick said he disagreed with the location of the pictures stating that it is not the Prince Albert Public Library’s right to make decision on the placement of the pictures.
Mayor Greg Dionne stated there have been discussions about pictures placement, but nothing was discussed officially.
These projects align with the MCAP core themes and goals and in particular, recognize, honour, and strengthen the artistic and cultural community, which develops and enhances Prince Albert.
The Photography Mural Project is an initiative of the Municipal Culture Action Plan (MCAP). The MCAP has created many opportunities for local artists through poetry projects, Indigenous interpretive signs, visual art projects such as the 2nd Avenue banners, Theatre in the Park, and more.
The goals of the project are to foster connection, pride and belonging, Uplift the Indigenous, immigrant and newcomer personal and collective identities and presenting the beauty and diversity of the city.
Council also approved the upgraded Occupational Health And Safety Policy at Tuesday’s meeting, which aims to provide a clear framework and set guidelines to minimize or eliminate hazards and ensure the safety and wellbeing of all employees, contractors, and visitors.
Kiley Bear, Director of Corporate Services said although not within the City’s current Strategic Plan, updating the OHS Policy prioritizes the well-being of employees, fosters a safe work environment, and promotes a culture of safety.
“This commitment enhances operational efficiency, reduces risks, and supports sustainable growth, ensuring the City can effectively serve its community now and in the future,” said Bear.
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