Viking council accepts Claystone’s business plan at latest meeting

Patricia Harcourt Editor

Viking Council accepted Claystone Waste Ltd.’s business plan and proposed material change at its April 19 regular meeting.

A public hearing had been held on the issue the previous month, but council took the time inbetween to weigh their decision.

The material change will allow Claystone to acquire other companies, enter into joint ventures with other companies and establish subsidiaries. It was explained that the prevalent goal is to reduce waste and aim for zero emissions, which has cut into the landfill’s ability to collect waste from other municipalities. New options need to be found to fill the revenue gap caused by this occurrence and to increase Claystone’s ability to remain competitive.

Viking Council also ac- cepted the town Strategic Plan which has been worked out in planning sessions over the past few months, with the help of facilitator Nolan Crouse.

A motion by Councillor Cindy Lefsrud to accept the updated plan for 2023-26 was passed. The Town of Viking Strategic Plan is needed in order to allow council to move forward and make decisions based on future planning and set goals.

The plan’s vision statement is: “Inspiring a sense of belonging so that we share a welcoming, safe and prosperous town.”

Its stated mission is: “To provide and maintain services while supporting initiatives that meet or exceed the needs of our community.”

Also included was a list of core values and core beliefs that are to accompany these goals, such as integrity, inclusion, commitment, communication, mutual respect and volunteerism, among others. The plan includes goals and strategies the town wishes to strive to attain.

Council tabled a decision on a request by the Viking School for the town to once again sponsor awards for the following: Highest Average Science 30, Grade 12 student entering Agricultural or Trade, and Grade 12 student entering Education or Early Childhood Education.

The tabling motion came from Councillor Clint Nearing, who expressed an interest in funding the school breakfast/food program rather than the awards.

Nearing said the issue was brought up by him at the committee of the whole (CoW) meeting, which is done in closed session.

Councillor Jamie Buttner liked the idea of ‘spreading the money to “all the students,” rather than giving it to an individual student.

“Not all kids have great