ORGANIZED HAMLET OF DAY’S BEACH
2019 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING MINUTES
SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2019 10:00 A.M. (AT THE SHED)
1. Welcome and Introductions
Terry Lamon, Chairman, called the meeting to order at 10:00 A.M. with approximately 50 residents in attendance. After welcoming everyone, he introduced Gary Heidel, our new R.M. councillor, and then asked all in attendance to introduce themselves.
2. Review of the Agenda
Requests were received from Colleen Brennan to move the presentation of the information on the Resort Village from New Business to Business arising from the minutes, and from Cate Soffer to add an information item under New Business on Education Tax. Bets Eidem moved and Marlin Krieger seconded a motion to approve the amendments to the agenda. Carried.
3. Minutes of the 2018 annual Meeting
Marlin Krieger read the minutes from the 2018 Annual Meeting. Terry Lamon asked if there were any errors or omissions in the minutes. Bev Brennan requested that the vote on the minutes be deferred to item 10 – Other. The request was accepted by the meeting.
4. Business Arising from the Minutes
Colleen Brennan explained that she had collected more information on the financial impact of becoming a resort village, and felt in her opinion such a move would increase the expenses of the Beach.. She did not provide more detail as she reported that Terry Lamon had approached all the neighboring organized hamlets to determine if there was an interest in joining with Day’s Beach to become a resort village. Only one reply was received and that was a no. She explained that Day’s Beach, by itself, does not meet the requirements of an resort village, therefore the motion by Marlin Krieger, and seconded by Bill Kitson which read “that we proceed to become Resort Village from an Organized Hamlet” was not valid. Colleen asked that it be withdrawn by Marlin Krieger and Bill Kitson. Marlin Krieger did not want to withdraw the motion so a discussion of the various options available was had.
A motion to cancel the motion that we proceed to become a Resort Village from an Organized Hamlet was moved by Glorianne Stromberg, and seconded by Bev Brennan. The motion was carried by vote of 37 for the motion, and 12 opposed to the motion.
5. Financial Statements
Marlin Krieger reviewed the worksheet provided to the meeting showing the revenue and expenses for the 2018 year and the budget for 2019. The worksheet showed revenue for 2018 year was $61,537, and expenses were $33,060 which gives a surplus on the year of $28, 477. This brings the accumulated surplus to $146, 715. There are some minor adjustments to be made as the statements have not been finalized by the RM. Because of the large accumulated surplus, the Execuive requested that the RM reduce the mill rate for 2019 from 2.9 to 2.4, which will reduce tax revenue from about $56,000 to $47,000. A motion to accept the revenue and expense statement, and the budget for 2019 was moved by Maurice Shaw and seconded by Howard Kirby. Carried.
6. Community Maintenance
Bill Kitson reviewed the maintenance for the year which included:
- reporting that the new anchoring system for the buoys had worked much better,
- noting that the trees that had been cut down on the south entrance are being left to dry and then will be burnt in the fall,
- mentioning that the fact that the calcium chloride application was put down earlier this year and that has worked well,
- thanking everyone for their work in the tree trimming on the avenue, the grass cutting, and all the other activities that need to be done.
Terry Lamon said that he was trying to get the RM to dustproof the south road from the highway to the Stromberg road. This would be done by having the RM crush the broken pavement they have and put it on this section to reduce the dust. He has also enquired about having an extension of the crushed pavement done to the corner.
7. Interlake Water System
Terry Lamon reported that finally the double testing of the water for Day’s Beach ended as of March 31st, 2019. He said that after a number of years of trying to get this stopped it was finally achieved when the RM sold the waterline. He felt this would reduce the expenses by about $7,000 per year.
8. New Business
AED Machine – Colleen Brennan presented a proposal to purchase one or two AED Machines at a cost of $2,000 to $2,500 each. There was general agreement that one machine should be purchased. It was agreed that since the machined needs to be in a heated building that it be kept in the Shed with secure outside access. It was also agreed that the Day’s Beach Board should decide if another one is necessary and if so to purchase it.
It was also noted that it was necessary to provide artificial respiration to the individual in distress until the AED Machine can be accessed, and that the instructions on the machine are clear and simple. St. John’s Ambulance provides a course on artificial respiration and use of the AED Machine.
Parcel F – Terry Lamon reported that the RM had approved the use of Parcel F as a campground, under its discretionary use designation authority at its special meeting on June 19th. He then asked Gary Heidel to speak to the issue. Gary reported that the approval had been given with four restrictions:
- Nothing on the property can be rented.
- Fencing or trees as a buffer must be erected within two months.
- The approval does not transfer with title.
- There can be no more than five units.
Terry reviewed the process the Board had followed to object to the proposal to make the old farm yard of Gordon Day into a campsite for his children who would use Raymond Day’s beach cottage as their beach access. The process included a letter to the RM to cease and desist, but no response had been received.
Janice Ortynski provided background on the promise made when they bought their lot 10 years ago to provide a buffer from the farm. This promise has not been kept. She also said that the approval of the use of Parcel F as a campground is not in keeping with the RM’s own bylaws. Bob Ashauer also expressed his concerns about the approval. Gary addressed their concerns by referring to the conditions put on the approval. Skepticism was expressed that the conditions would be enforced.
Allison Earl noted that the RM councillors receive the agenda before the meeting but information to support agenda items is only distributed at the meeting. Gary confirmed that he gets some information before the meeting, but that supporting information is only distributed at the meeting and councillors are not given the letters addressed to them. Rather administration summarizes the letters for the councillors.
There was a lengthy discussion at the meeting about situations in the past where the RM has promised to restrict or prevent certain developments but has not done so. Based on this discussion and the concern about the approval of the use of Parcel F as a campground, legal action was suggested. In the discussion it was estimated that engaging a lawyer to challenge the approval was estimated to cost between $15,000 to $20,000.
Moved by David Shiplett, and seconded by David Soffer that the Executive hire a lawyer to take whatever legal action is required to set aside the authorization granting the discretionary use of Parcel F as a campground. Carried.
Education Tax
Cate Soffer reported to the meeting that she had just learned that the education tax that is collected by the RM does not go to the RM but is sent to the provincial government for allocation. She was sharing this information as she was not sure that others at the meeting knew this.
9. Election
Ken Speed had provided a Nominating Committee Report which outlined the guidelines for the Executive, the terms of the Executive, and the need for an election. Ken thanked the Executive of Terry Lamon, Bill Kitson, and Marlin Krieger for their work on behalf of all residents of Day’s Beach with a special thank you for Marlin whose term has expired and who is not seeking reelection. He then briefly summarized the election process for a new member of the Executive.
Moved by Ken Speed and seconded by Marlin Krieger that Colleen Brennan be nominated as a candidate to serve a four year term as a member of the Executive of the Organized Hamlet of Day’s Beach effective June 30th, 2019.
Terry Lamon then called three times for nominations from the floor. None were received.
Maurice Shaw moved, and Bob Ashauer seconded the motion that nominations cease. Carried. Colleen was welcomed to the Board by Terry, and congratulated by the meeting. Terry
thanked Marlin Krieger for all his work over the past seven years as a member of the Board.
10. Other
Website
Colleen Brennan spoke to the need for a website with more functionality than the present website so that Day’s Beach residents would have more timely access to information. She
reported that she had contacted a North Battleford firm that could set up such a website at a cost of $2,000 to $2,500. She indicated that she would appreciate help from anyone at the meeting who could provide expert assistance for this project.
She also noted that Michael Brennan had provided the website when he was with another company and had continued to pay the costs of the website and do the postings. The consensus of the meeting was that the executive should proceed with this project.
Michael Brennan was thanked for providing the current Day’s Beach website.
2018 Minutes
Moved by Don Buglas, and seconded by Bob Ashauer the minutes of the 2018 annual general meeting be adopted. Carried.
11. 2020 Annual General Meeting
The meeting is scheduled for Sunday, June 28th, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. at the Shed.
12. Adjournment
Bill Kitson moved that the meeting be ended. Carried.