On December 21^st, at the Regular Schedule Council meeting, Council approved the Interim 2023 Operating Budget at $3,063,892 with amortization ( a non-cash item) and proposed transfers. Council is reviewing the possible Tax levy increase of 3% overall but has directed the administration to continue to find efficiencies and savings within the 2024 budget. The final capital and operational budget will be reviewed in May 2024 with the setting of the Tax Rate Bylaw.

On December 21, 2023, it was confirmed that bylaw enforcement had concluded serval cases with the voluntary removal of several dogs from the Town limits. Council is committed to the enforcement of animal control bylaws within the community and has advised the administration to increase the legal budget for prosecution in 2024 for future violations. Residents are encouraged to register their dogs before January 31st, 2024, to ensure they receive the 50% discount for registration. After January 31^st, 2024, full rates apply

On November 16, at the Regular Schedule Council meeting, Council approved a motion for an additional $30,000 to the 2023 legal budget from unrestricted general reserves to address the noncompliance of declared restricted and nuisance dogs within the regulations of the Animal Control Bylaw.

After careful consideration and with no short-term solution for the coronavirus pandemic in sight, the Town of Sedgewick regrets to announce that the #REDNEK concert featuring Gord Bamford and guests slated for March 20th, 2021 has been cancelled.  Full refunds will be offered for both table and individual seat sales beginning October 28th.  Tickets purchased at either the Killam or Sedgewick Wild Rose Co-op grocery stores and the Town of Sedgewick administration office will be refunded at the Town of Sedgewick administration office only.  Tickets must be presented to receive the refund.  Tickets purchased online through Ticketmaster will be refunded through that platform only.

The show was originally scheduled for April 18th, 2020 but was postponed to November once the province shut down due to the virus.  The concert was postponed once again to spring 2021 however with that date only being a few months away and the pandemic continuing to effect the ability to gather indoors, Town Council decided that another postponement was not appropriate.

“We greatly appreciate our sponsors and the music fans that have supported this initiative over the last 3 years,” stated Mayor Perry Robinson.  “We’ve accomplished a great deal in bringing these types of shows to a small community such as ours and we hope to bring more in the future once we find a path that allows us to do so.  In the meantime, we don’t feel it is fair to once again postpone the concert and hold onto the money of our loyal customers any longer.  Issuing full refunds is the right thing to do at this point and hopefully helps to further strengthen our relationship with our corporate sponsors and other ticket-buyers whether they are within or outside our region.”

Businesses and individuals who purchased a corporate table do not need to request a refund as cheques will be hand delivered.  Individual tickets can be refunded at the Town of Sedgewick administration office any time after 10am on October 28th.  Office hours are 8:30am to 4:30pm with the office being closed during the lunch hour.

A special meeting of council was held on October 13th with one issue on the agenda being the rescheduling of the regular and organizational meetings which were to occur on October 15th.

Both the October regular and organizational meetings have been rescheduled to Thursday, October 22nd at 6pm. Meetings are held in council chambers at Town office.

A special meeting of council has been called for Tuesday, October 13th, 2020 at 5:30pm in council chambers at the Town of Sedgewick office.

To view the agenda go to https://sedgewick.civicweb.net/Portal/

Council discussed the following issues at their June 18th regular meeting:

Council made decisions on the following issues at their May 21st regular meeting:

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Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the May 21st regular meeting of council will be held electronically via Zoom. To access the meeting, please go to https://sedgewick.ca/live-streamed-council-meetings/

The meeting begins at 6pm.

Council discussed the following issues at their April 16th, 2020 regular meeting:

FLAGSTAFF REGIONAL EMERGENCY SERVICES SOCIETY – DRAFT DOCUMENTS

Council developed an itemized list of concerns regarding the proposed agreement and bylaws for the formation of the Flagstaff Regional Emergency Services Society which will be sent to the transition team.  The purpose of the society is to amalgamate fire services within the region.

UTILITIES BYLAW

Council approved Bylaw 571, an updated version of the Utilities Bylaw.  The update included adding a section that would permit council to implement a utility deferral program by resolution.  Council has not yet exercised this option.

FEES AND CHARGES BYLAW

Council updated the Fees and Charges Bylaw by removing the monthly charge for fire services which had been charged to active utility accounts since January.  The fees were being collected in order to pay for a requisition from the Flagstaff Regional Emergency Services Society.  The society was to be formed by January 1^st, 2020 however as of yet the participating municipalities have not come to an agreement and the establishment has been delayed.  The already collected charges will be returned and will appear as credit amounts on May’s utility invoicing.

Internet charges for the Town’s broadband internet service were also added to the Bylaw.  The service includes basic, advanced and unlimited plans.

DEVELOPMENT PERMIT 20-05

Permit 20-05 was approved allowing for the discretionary use of an accessory building at the property legally described as Plan 5755s; Block A; Lots 28-31.

SEDGEWICK KILLAM NATURAL GAS SYSTEM

Council approved allocating $121,500 in the 2020 Capital Budget toward updating the gas and water meter reading system.  The current hardware and software is outdated and no longer able to be part of a maintenance/support package.  The project would include converting current meters to allow for drive-by data collection.

MAIN STREET PARKING STALLS

Council approved a motion to widen Main Street parking stalls by one foot and to decrease the angle of parking from 60 to 55 degrees resulting in 54 stalls.  Council also decided to add a portion of concrete into the corner of each landscaped bulb so as to provide easier access to the sidewalk by foot traffic.  Total estimate for the work is $12,400 with the source of funding to be Municipal Sustainability Initiative grant funding.

AUDITING SERVICES

Council approved entering into a three-year agreement with Brian King Professional Corporation to provide auditing services to town.

SEDGEWICK PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD

Council approved the appointment of Carol Arntzen to the Sedgewick Public Library Board for a three-year term and expiring on April 1^st, 2023.