ELK POINT – The Town of Elk Point’s invitation for input on the new combined Fire Protection Services and Fireworks Bylaw resulted in no comments by phone or online, and a single letter from a resident who pointed out the dangers of huge fires in inadequate fire pits and fires located an unsafe distance from large trees, as well as the effect of smoke from semi-green wood on nearby residents.
Fire Chief Bryce Osinchuk joined council to go over the new bylaw, which replaces the 1996 version, and which now has added sections on open fire pits and fireworks. The new bylaw establishes fire services, charges for fire protection and a permitting system for fires and fireworks, and outlines specifications for acceptable fire pits and outdoor fireplaces, permitted and prohibited fires and responsibilities regarding permitted fires and fireworks.
During the discussion, it was agreed that ‘combustible materials’ be added to the fire pit requirements clause requiring the pits to be located a minimum of three metres from “any combustible structures, including fences and decks” to address the danger of igniting nearby trees or other materials.
The biggest change came in the schedule of Specified Penalties for everything from burning prohibited debris to depositing, discarding or abandoning any burning matter or substance where it could create a burning hazard and lighting a fire without sufficient precautions. Fines originally set at $100 and $200 were doubled to $200 and $400, to help offset the cost of fighting fires resulting from these actions. The fines for more than one false alarm in a year were also doubled, to $200 and $400 for second or third false alarms in the same calendar and $500 for subsequent with Mayor Parrish Tung suggesting this would help to recover some of the cost for the fire call.
In the regular council meeting that followed, the Mayor moved second reading to the bylaw with amendments, with Coun. Jason Boorse moving the third and final reading to finalize the bylaw.
Pumper tender accepted
The Fire Chief remained in council chambers for another important item of business, the tender for a new fire pumper truck. Only one bid, with the total cost of $890,232 had been received by the deadline, this coming from Fort Garry Fire Trucks in Winnipeg, Man., the massive bid document, swelling the meeting’s agenda by 326 pages.
A deposit of 10 per cent of the cost, $84,784 plus GST, is required up front, and will be paid from the committed Town Fire Pumper reserves, with another $250,000 paid in 2025 and the $513,056 balance on delivery.
Council moved to accept the bid.
Advertising, cemetery bylaws
Two other bylaws were on Tuesday’s agenda, the first replacing a 2019 bylaw regarding advertising. Over the past four years, newspaper advertising has cost an average of $3.396.27, CAO Ken Gwozdz told council, suggesting that if only items required by legislative requirements were advertised in print, the Town would save $1,285,36 per year. Election advertising in 2025, including three 1/8-page ads for two weeks each, is estimated to cost $1,200.
Other advertising will be replaced by posts on the Town’s social media.
The bylaw received all three readings.
The Cemetery Bylaw, under discussion since May 13 of this year and having later been redrafted with input from the Town’s solicitors, received final scrutiny in Tuesday’s closed session, before receiving all three readings.
Vandalism concerns
A recent rash of vandalism was brought to Council’s attention when residents whose house had been pelted with eggs came to report that they were not the only family to experience the messy after-effects.
Incidents dating from Sept. 19 to Oct. 7, most in the evening hours but the latest caught on security cameras at 1:30 a.m., including one where a flare was lit on a street to keep cameras from seeing the action, were outlined to council. The residents have experienced “a good deal of stress and anxiety” from the incidents, not only for themselves, but also for an elderly neighbour, and are hoping the town’s curfew bylaw could be enforced.
Elk Point RCMP was called, heard council, but the mischief-makers had disappeared from the scene before they could respond. Council heard other areas have also been affected and Deputy Mayor Cochrane acknowledged that her family’s vehicles had been splattered. She thanked the residents for bringing the matter
"Vandalism can be very costly, and we are taking this very seriously," said Gwozdz.
Provincials funding
The Town’s policy for funding for minor sports teams hosting or attending Provincials competition was amended. Teams hosting Provincials can receive up to $1,000 from the $2,000 available annually, while teams travelling to another community to compete in Provincials can request a maximum of $500. To receive the funds, the team must provide written confirmation that they are hosting or attending Provincials in another town. The amended policy received council’s approval.
