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We Remember All May 5th was the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls across both Canada and the U.S. This day was organized to coincide with ‘Red Dress Day’, as a way to honour and remember the approximately 1200 missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls within Canada. Martensville resident Becky James helped to raise awareness locally by creating a display in her front yard in honour of these women and girls. “If you want a good topic of awareness for your children and community, please stop by. This is not something that should be put on a back burner. Keep our women and children safe. Teach and preach safety. Missing & murdered indigenous women; it’s bigger than you know,” James stated via social media.
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Page 2 - MAY 13, 2021 - martensville messenger Box 970 37 Centennial Dr. S. Martensville, SK SOK 2TO Phone:(306) 931-2166
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Civic Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic What You Should Know!
City Hall is Open! - However with some guidelines currently in place. Continue to utilize online and contactless options when possible. Please do not visit City Hall if you are feeling unwell, experiencing flu-like symptoms or have been in contact with someone who is presumptive or tested positive for COVID-19. Residents and Customers are encouraged to carry out transactions electronically such as online banking, preauthorized payments or TIPPS. Cheques may also be dropped off in the drop slot at City Hall. Stay Informed! - The City of Martensville has created a dedicated webpage to provide information, updates, and additional resources around the COVID-19 pandemic. This page is accessible through the homepage at Martensville.ca. Please continue to follow us, media sources and information from the Province of Saskatchewan for the most current information around updates or new measures for the prevention of the spread of COVID-19 Use of Masks are Mandatory in Saskatchewan - Residents are required to wear nonmedical masks in indoor public spaces to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. This is a Public Health Order and is subject to enforcement and fines. Health officials strongly recommend wearing a non-medical mask anywhere outside the home.
Business Property Tax and Utility Update The City has re-implemented the suspension of interest on property taxes and utilies for commercial or industrial properties retroactive from November 2020 until July 31st, 2021. City Staff are available to work with the public via phone or email. Questions or inquiries can be directed to City Hall via phone (306-931-2166) or inquiry@martensville. ca during this time. Recreation Program Update- Amazing Race, Buster Days, Monster Garage Sale Amazing Race: May 8th 11:30-5pm - Teams of 4 will race around the City, completing tasks and challenges along the way. The team with the fastest time will win the Amazing Race. This year’s race is completely sold out! Thank you to all our participants and sponsors! Monster Garage Sale: May 28th and 29th - It is spring and that means it is time to declutter your house! Register your house for the MGS and you will get your address on all the flyers, signage, and balloons! Registration is now open and can be done via the City of Martensville Website or by calling 306-683-5576. Buster Days 2021: June 4th, 5th, 6th - Registration for all Buster Days events will be on May 10th at 9am on the City registration portal. For a full list of activities follow Buster days on Facebook! Mini Soccer blastball starts on Monday. It’s from 6-7pm in Lions Park.
COVID-19 Vaccine Update
There has been continued progression around the delivery of vaccines with the increase in number of vaccine clinics and eligibility for the public expanding as vaccine becomes administered and available. Commencing on April 1st the North Ridge Centre opened as an available vaccination centre. A comprehensive resource is available at https://www.saskatchewan.ca/COVID19-vaccine and includes information around vaccines as well as a gateway for online booking and what you should have ready prior to your vaccine. Bookings for vaccination can also be accessed by calling 1-833-SASKVAX Please continue to watch for updates for vaccine clinics in the area and for when you may be eligible to sign-up.
City of Martensville Public Notice Official Community Plan - Bylaw 2 - 2020 Public notice is hereby given that the Council of the City of Martensville, pursuant to Section 207 of the Planning and Development Act, 2007, intends to consider a bylaw to adopt an Official Community Plan (OCP) No. 2-2020. INTENT - The proposed Official Community Plan bylaw will establish municipal goals, objectives and policies relating to land use and development. This bylaw proposes to update the future land use map and current policies affected by the recent annexation, provincial legislative amendments, and City Master Plans. New sections include policies for reconciliation, climate change, financing growth, Sector and Concept Plans, and working within Saskatoon North Partnership for Growth (P4G). This amendment will also adopt the West Sector Plan as an appendix to the OCP. AFFECTED LAND - The proposed bylaw will affect all the property within the corporate boundaries of the City of Martensville.
City ofguide Martensville City Hall by identifying REASON - The Official Community Plan will development decisions municipal goals and objectives. Hours of Operation: PUBLIC INSPECTION - Any person may inspect the proposed bylaws on the City of Monday to Friday Martensville website at www.martensville.ca/ocp2021 or at City Hall, 37 Centennial Drive AMPM, to 5:00 PM to Friday, excluding South, Martensville, SK, between 9:00 AM9:00 to 5:00 Monday Holidays)for free at www. statutory holidays. Copies are available(Excluding to persons atStatutory cost or downloaded martensville.ca. PUBLIC HEARING - Council will hold a public hearing via Zoom at 5:00 PM on May 18th, 2021, to hear any person or group that wishes to comment on the proposed bylaw. Council will also consider written comments received at the hearing or delivered to the undersigned at City Hall prior to May 12th, 2021. Dated at Martensville this April 15th 2021 Bonnie Gorelitza, Planning Manager
May Council Meeting Dates
Please Note: The upcoming Council Schedule or location may be subject to change based around any potential new developments or ease of restrictions around the COVID-19 Pandemic. Anyone interested in attending is strongly encouraged to contact the City Clerk prior to planning to attend. Committee of the Whole May 11th Regular Council Meeting May 18th The Regular Council Meetings are located at Martensville City Hall Council Chambers in Martensville City Hall at 37 Centennial Dr. S. All meetings commence at 5PM. Those wishing to address or do a presentation to Council must be placed on the agenda. To be placed on the agenda please contact the City Clerk’s office at City Hall or visit the website for details. The full Council and Committee of the Whole Schedule can be obtained at martensville.ca.
2021 is a Revaluation Year - What Do You Need To Know About Your Assessment and Taxes?
The City and the Province set tax mill rates which are applied to the property assessment values to determine the tax levy for city and education property tax. 2021 Assessment Notices were mailed to all property owners April 30, 2021. Detailed information about the 2021 Revaluation, Assessment, Taxes and the 2021 Budget can be found at Martensville.ca under, ‘Services for Residents, Property Tax and Assessment’. Property owners may also view their property report and assessment information online for at MySAMA & SAMAView after April 30th. Questions about Assessment can be directed to City Hall at 931-2166, or SAMA directly at 933-5385.
martensville messenger - MAY 13, 2021 - Page 3
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City Looks For Community Feedback For Future Campground Plans Shanine Sealey, Martensville Messenger
The City of Martensville currently has a survey available to local residents in order to gain some feedback regarding the plan for a campground to be constructed as part of the Kinsmen Park Master Plan. Martensville’s Kinsmen Park includes over 100 acres of green space, as well as the Aquatic Centre, Kyle Syrenne Skatepark, Martensville Slo-pitch diamonds, Mocon Baseball Fields, North Ridge Community Centre and the future Pump Track, scheduled for construction this summer. In 2019, the Kinsmen Park Master Plan was updated to include a seasonal campground, which would be located between the Martensville Aquatic Centre and the Mocon Baseball Diamonds (see image below). “Right now, we are in the very early stages for the campground – basically ‘here’s the area – what can we potentially have in there?’ We want to get some estimates of cost for creating a space, servicing the space and learn what we can do and how we can do it,” City of Martensville Director of Recreation and Community Services, Ted Schaeffer, explained. This April, the City hired a consultant to prepare a conceptual design, as well as a comprehensive campground development plan. Information obtained through the survey provided will help direct the future plans for the campground. You can find the 9-question survey by visiting https://www.surveymonkey. com/r/martensvillecampground?fbclid=IwAR2Qcgs3-CViLTuHLwqDuYWv_ Xb1Lhc40oSxVPmPxqQbL88IG6DzELnluBc, with a direct link to the survey available on the City of Martensville Facebook page. According to Schaeffer, the plan is to review the survey results by the end of the month and then have the consultant company move forward with the design process. “The idea is to potentially begin some work this year; however, we aren’t sure what that picture looks like just yet. That all depends on the recommendation from the consultant and what Council’s opinion is on the matter. It is too early in the process to really say with any kind of certainty what could take place this year,” Schaeffer added. Be sure to watch for updates as plans progress on the future of the Martensville campground.
Lowest Unemployment Rate And Best Job Growth In Canada 9,500 Jobs Gained In One Month Statistics Canada today released job numbers for April 2021 which shows Saskatchewan had the lowest unemployment rate in Canada and led the nation in monthto-month job growth. Month-to-month seasonally adjusted employment increased by 9,500 (+1.7 per cent) from March 2021 and ranked first among the provinces in terms of percentage change. Saskatchewan gained 58,500 jobs compared with the same period last year. This represents an increase of 11.9 per cent. Saskatchewan was tied for the lowest unemployment rate in Canada at 6.6 per cent, down from 7.3 per cent in March and down from 11.2 per cent a year ago. Saskatchewan's rate was well below the national average of 8.1 per cent (seasonally adjusted). "Saskatchewan led the country in both job creation and unemployment rate in April, a month when most other provinces saw their job numbers decline and unemployment go up," Immigration and Career Training Minister Jeremy Harrison said. "We are leading Canada's economic recovery having attracted recent large private sector investments worth billions of dollars that will create even more jobs and opportunity for Saskatchewan people." Major year-over-year gains were reported for trade up 17,200 jobs, construction was up 8,700 jobs, and the private sector was up 54,100 jobs (+20.8 per cent). Over the same period, youth employment increased by 17, 400 jobs (+32.4 per cent). Off-reserve Aboriginal employment also saw a gain of 7,000 jobs (+13.9 per cent), the fifth consecutive month of year-over-year increases. For more information, including on COVID-19 support for businesses and workers in Saskatchewan, please visit: www.saskatchewan.ca/covid19-businesses.
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City Hosts Seventh Annual Amazing Race Event
Page 4 - MAY 13, 2021 - martensville messenger
Shanine Sealey, Martensville Messenger
ABOVE: As part of the Amazing Race Martensville event, teams were required to build a firepit from the ground up at Martensville Building & Home Supply. (Submitted)
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The City of Martensville hosted the seventh annual Amazing Race Martensville on Saturday, May 8th. Each year this event seems to gain in popularity, with this year’s registration filling up quickly. For this event, teams of four are set in place, with all ages invited to participate. Teams are challenged throughout the race in activities that test them both physically and mentally. Challenges can include solving puzzles, building items, searching for objects and clues, and some tasks must be completed within a certain time frame. This year’s race kicked off in Lions Park where teams had to locate coordinates to their next clue. Once found, the teams raced to the MAP where they went “Around the World” and had to sink five baskets from five spots in the 3-point line. “From there, it just got harder, and teams had to build a firepit from the ground up at Martensville Building & Home Supply, unscramble a word, find the correct QR code hidden around Kelly’s Pond, and to end it off, teams had to score three times using
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a lacrosse stick,” Jamie McCulloch, Recreation Program Coordinator for the City of Martensville, explained. A total of 20 teams competed in ten heats in order to accommodate the current COVID-19 public health orders. “With COVID regulations and restrictions, we had to change how we normally run the event. Instead of having all the teams start at once, we had 10 heats that went from 11:30am-5pm, where two teams competed at a time. This assured that we were within the gathering numbers that are currently in place. All teams were required to wear masks while participating,” McCulloch added. Additionally, any challenges that included equipment being used were sanitized following each use, and two stations were always provided to ensure opposing teams were physically distanced. Each challenge was carefully planned to ensure that groups were a safe distance apart, whether inside or outside. “We would like to thank all our other sponsors for making this year’s event a success; Martensville Building and Home Supply, Lakeview Insurance Brokers, Affinity Credit Union, SMP and Scott Roofing.”
SGI Begins To Mail Out 709,000 Rebate Cheques Customers Should Expect Rebates To Arrive Between Mid-May And Early June
Keep an eye on your mailboxes, because SGI will start to mail out approximately 709,000 rebate cheques this week. The mailout will take place over the next three weeks. Because there is such a large volume of cheques, customers could receive cheques anytime between midMay and mid-June. (This also means your rebate may not arrive at the same time as someone else in your household that is getting a rebate.) Customers are advised to ensure their address is up-to-date with SGI, and to please be patient. If you have not received your rebate by June 30, you should call SGI's Customer Service Centre at 1-844-TLK-2SGI (1844-855-2744). "These rebates will provide a significant injection into the provincial economy, at a time when it will certainly be a welcome boost," Minister Responsible for SGI Don Morgan said. Rebates are being provided to any entity that registered a vehicle in Saskatchewan and met the residency requirements to register a vehicle as of February 26, 2021. That includes individuals, non-profit organizations and businesses. By the numbers:* • $285,000,000 - Total value of rebates issued • 709,000 - Approximate number of rebate cheques that will be mailed out. • $380 - Approximate average rebate per recipient. • 2018-2020 - The period a vehicle had to be registered within to qualify for a rebate. • 1.74 million - Total vehicles, motorcycles, trailers and snowmobiles registered at some point between 20182020 that qualify for a rebate. • 26 per cent - The percentage of an annual Auto Fund premium used to determine the rebate. • $5 - No cheque under this amount will be issued; the customer's account will be credited instead. *Some numbers approximate.
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Music For a Cause Jocelyn Ottenbreit, Martensville Messenger
The Martensville & District Kinsmen Club has been helping communities for many years and are always thinking of ways to come up with new ideas to help organizations in their districts of Martensville, Warman, Dalmeny and Langham. Codie Prevost, an amazing local artist, along with the local Kinsmen Club, came up with the idea of doing a fundraising event at the Cork and Kettle in Warman on Saturday, June 19 from 5pm-7pm. Prevost, a four-time Canadian Country Music Association nominee ABOVE: Codie Prevost and six-time Saskatchewan Country Music Association ‘Fans Choice Entertainer of the year’ award winner, along with special guest upand-coming country artist, Carlyne Ray will be performing. Prevost is no stranger to the music world sharing the stage with some of country’s top music performers such as Florida Georgia Line, Jason Aldean, Garth Brooks and Neal McCoy to name a few. “The money from the fundraiser will go to helping our community when the need for our assistance is required. We have many organizations ABOVE: Carlyne Ray and community members that come to us for assistance on a regular basis,” said Martensville and District Kinsmen member Rob Spence. Spence also noted that they will be following all COVID regulations and guidelines and taking all necessary precautions. You will not want to miss this all-acoustic performance. Tickets are available through Eventbrite.ca.
Kinette Club Giving Back to Local Schools Shanine Sealey, Martensville Messenger
Learn more at saskatchewan.ca
Terry Jenson
MLA for Martensville-Warman 306-242-2111 office@terryjenson.ca Jenson_Martensville-Msnger_Quarter-Pg_5x7_RR.indd 1
5/5/2021 8:59:46 AM
The Martensville and District Kinette Club, like many other organizations, have been forced to get creative in their fundraising methods throughout the past year due to COVID-19. Earlier this year, the local Kinettes held a delivery/pick-up steak night fundraiser which saw great success by bringing in over $2200. With this in mind, when Kinette Club President Jodi Martens thought the same kind of fundraiser could be beneficial to help raise money for local schools. “The idea came when Venture Heights was looking at a school fundraiser and they were going to do a movie in the park, which was cancelled due to COVID. We thought maybe we could give them a donation, but we aren’t a wealthy club by any means, so we decided to do a fundraiser. Our Club has many ladies with children in different schools, so we thought we would help them all out and if it is successful, then we may look at doing one for Warman next year as well,” Martens explained. Money raised through the steak night fundraiser will be put into one pot and then split evenly between the four Martensville elementary schools; Venture Heights, Valley Manor, Lake Vista and École Holy Mary. Order options are an adult steak meal with pasta salad, corn and garlic toast for $25.00 or a kids meal which includes a burger and a bag of chips for $15.00. Meals can be picked up at The Caesar Mill, or delivered anywhere in Martensville, Warman and Dalmeny. In their previous delivery steak night fundraiser, 94 meals were sold, and this time around, the Kinettes have a goal in mind of 200 meals. Currently, they are sitting at 50, but orders will be accepted until June 9, with the meals ready for June 13 between 5-7pm. “Thank you to everyone that has supported us, to the Kinsmen Club for helping us out and Tyler and everyone at The Caesar Mill,” Martens said. For more information contact the ‘Martensville and District Kinette Club’ on Facebook or email martensvillekinettes@ gmail.com.
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martensville messenger - MAY 13, 2021 - Page 7
MLA Terry Jenson’s Report from the Legislature Re-Opening Roadmap Unveiled
Vaccines Great, but Sask. May Need More We have a roadmap to re-Re-Open, Saskatchewan. It seems like a pretty good one, if Premier Scott Moe is right that the key is getting as many vaccines in as many arms as possible. Moe is likely right that vaccines are critical to success. While his critics may not like his harping on the success in American states — particularly, neighbouring North Dakota — in reducing their COVID-19 cases, through vaccination there’s little that successfully challenges this argument. That said, right now, we are seeing a neighbour struggle with COVID-19 … although it is our neighbour to the west of us rather than our neighbour to the south. Alberta has just achieved the unfortunate distinction of having the highest active COVID-19 case rate among Canadian provinces and American states. Regardless of what part of rural or urban Saskatchewan you live in, you don’t need to be reminded how incredibly closely we are connected to Alberta. It’s where many of our kids, brothers and sisters went to find work years or decades ago. We go there to visit them. And they came home for Mother’s Day last weekend or will be coming home upcoming May long weekend to camp, fish or open up the cottage for the first time this summer. Given what we witnessed last summer with the outbreak in La Loche that was contact traced to a workcamp outside Fort McMurray or the outbreak on several Saskatchewan Hutterite colonies traced to a funeral on a colony in Alberta, we learned how freely COVID-19 can travel over provincial borders. For now, though, Moe sees no reason to close the border, arguing the best way to stop the spread is to encourage vaccinations. That’s what his three-step reopening road map aims to do. It begins with Step One that will kick in if at least 70 per cent of Saskatchewan residents 40 years and older received at least one vaccination by the end of the month. That we already have about 65-per-cent of that demographic vaccinated as of the writing of this column strongly suggests this will be achieved. Presuming it is achieved, the Saskatchewan Party government will allow indoor house gatherings of 10 people, restaurants and bars re-opening to tables of six and outdoor events of 150 people. Next would come Step Two that would end limits on store capacity, dining and fully re-open barber shops and hair salons while allowing as many as 150 people in casinos, bingo halls and theatres. This will all be allowed if we can get 70 per cent of Saskatchewan residents 30 years and older vaccinated by mid- to late-June. Step Three would see the end to pretty much all existing restricting (perhaps even indoor masking, although that is not existing) by mid-to late July if we have 70 per cent of all adults over 18 years vaccinated with at least one shot. Moe and his government are offering a pretty big carrot for all people to go and get vaccinated and, somewhat subtly, it’s a bit of a stick for those who might procrastinate when it comes to getting their vaccinations and especially those who are balking at vaccines altogether. "On one side of that fence, people are living. On the other side of that fence, people are dying,” Moe said. Those who live in smaller communities will be familiar with the power of such peer pressure, but while vaccines are great, the re-open plan doesn’t really use any other metrics like case numbers, test positivity rates or most importantly — hospitalizations or deaths to measure whether the plan should be stopped or can go forward. And while getting vaccines is clearly the long-term solution, we do have to worry about COVID-19 cases from Alberta and elsewhere. We have a roadmap, but we’re not out of the woods yet.
COVID-19 is the #1 priority of the Government of Saskatchewan and the road to recovery runs through vaccination clinics. Our Re-Opening Roadmap is a three-step plan to lift public health orders based on vaccination thresholds, availability, and timing between steps. Step One will commence three weeks after 70 per cent of residents age 40 and above have received their first dose, and once vaccine eligibility has opened to all adults age 18 and older. This will see the cautious easing of public health measures, including: • Restaurants and bars open, maximum of six at a table, two metres or structural barriers between tables, dance floors and buffets remain closed, VLTs may re-open; • 30 per cent of capacity or 150 people, whichever is less, at places of worship, with physical distancing between households; • Group fitness classes involving intense training, like aerobics and spin, can resume, with three metres between participants; • Current restrictions remain in place for retail, personal care services, event facilities, casinos, bingo halls, theatres, art galleries, libraries and recreational facilities; • Current protocols remain in place for primary, secondary and post-secondary education and for childcare; • Limit of 10 people at private indoor and outdoor gatherings, including household gatherings; • Limit of 30 people at public indoor gatherings; • Limit of 150 people at public outdoor gatherings; and • Current province-wide masking mandate remains in place. Step Two will commence three weeks after 70 per cent of residents age 30 and above have received their first dose, with at least three weeks passing since the commencement of Step One. Public health measures in Step Two are planned to be eased as follows: • No capacity thresholds on retail and personal care services, must maintain an occupancy that allows for physical distancing; • Restaurants and bars will have no table capacity thresholds, must maintain two metres of physical distancing or structural barriers between tables, dance floors and buffets remain closed; • 150-person maximum capacity at event facilities, casinos, bingo halls, theatres, art galleries, libraries and recreational facilities, must maintain an occupancy that allows for physical distancing, restaurant guidelines apply at venues that serve food; • No change from Step One at gyms and fitness facilities, primary, secondary and post-secondary education and childcare; • All remaining restrictions on youth and adult sports will be lifted; • Limit of 15 people at private indoor gatherings, including household gatherings; • Limit of 150 people at public indoor gatherings and private and public outdoor gatherings; and • Current province-wide masking mandate remains in place. Step Three will commence three weeks after 70 per cent of residents age 18 and older have received their first dose, with at least three weeks passing since the commencement of Step Two. In Step Three, most remaining restrictions will be lifted. Guidance on gathering sizes and indoor masking will be developed based on the progress of the first two steps. Public health orders from Step Two on gathering sizes and indoor masking will remain in place until that guidance is finalized. This plan provides an incentive to follow public health measures and get vaccinated. Even after hitting these targets, we need to get as many people vaccinated as possible which includes getting a second dose to become fully protected. If acute care pressures require, a re-opening step may be paused to respond to COVIDtransmission trends. Budget 2021: Protecting, Building and Growing Saskatchewan As Saskatchewan travels through its roadmap to re-open, this year’s provincial budget has been designed to protect, build, and grow our great province. The budget protects lives and livelihoods by providing direct funding to fight COVID-19 while investing record levels of funding into health care, education, social services and protection of people and property. The budget builds with a capital investment of $3.1 billion to help recover our economy and create jobs. There is new funding for new schools, hospitals, long-term care facilities, highways, and municipal infrastructure. The growth of our economy and our communities continues to be a key focus of our government. This budget provides key investments and incentives to achieve that growth while keeping life affordable for families. Our province has fared better than most through the global pandemic and this budget charts a clear course forward for our province that ensures a strong recovery, and a strong Saskatchewan. Thanks to our hard-working health care professionals, Saskatchewan has led the country in its vaccine rollout program. As more people become vaccinated and life begins to return to normal, we know that our best days are ahead. Thank you all for everything you have done over the past year. Please keep protecting yourselves and those around you by following all the public health orders and guidelines and – when it is your turn – roll up your sleeve and stick it to COVID.
Letter to the Editor The Martensville Messenger welcomes letters to the editor for publication. Letters must be signed and a phone number and/or email address included so the writer’s identity can be verified. ALL letters are the opinion of the writer and NOT the Martensville Messenger. We reserve the right to edit letters for length, clarity or compliance with the current standards of public taste. Submit your letter to news@martensvillemessenger.ca or mail to Box 333 - Martensville, SK S0K 2T0.
Page 8 - MAY 13, 2021 - martensville messenger
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City Hopeful Pump POLICE Track Will be Available Burned Out Taillight Leads to Impairment Charge This Summer Shanine Sealey, Martensville Messenger
For those Earlier this year, a anxiously waiting for survey was available to the public to help plan the construction of a the layout of the pump pump track within track. There were a the community, you total of 26 responses will have to wait to the survey, which a little longer. The according to CRC is City of Martensville a standard community has entered into response. Schaeffer an agreement with Canadian Ramp ABOVE: Once completed, the pump track will noted that 25 of those responses were from Company (CRC) be available for all ages and skill levels. Martensville residents for the construction with an age range of 7 to 45 years old. of the pump track; however, they are still Skill level for those that responded vary working on setting a date for the project to from beginner to advanced and from all get started. types of riders with bikes being most Currently CRC is working on common, and scooters high on the list several projects in western Canada, and as well. Director of Recreation & Community “The survey results were Services Ted Schaeffer explained that he exactly what we were hoping for. It should be receiving information on when work will begin on the pump track within goes to show that this pump track will be a great addition to the community the next couple of weeks. “We have no clear for all ages and all skill levels. We are indication right now, although we are pretty looking forward to this project and what confident it will be this summer. Once they it will provide to our local residents,” do come in and get working on it, they will Schaeffer added. mobilize their crew and come in and do the whole build at once,” Schaeffer said. BELOW: A plan for the layout of the Martensville Pump Track was created based off of results from a community survey.
On May 4, at approximately 11pm, Corman Park Police Service observed a black GMC Sierra with a burned-out taillight on Highway 12, north of Martensville. The vehicle was stopped by police and the smell of cannabis was present. Police observed open alcohol and following a search of the vehicle, cannabis was located. The driver, a 29-year-old man from Leoville, displayed signs of impairment from cannabis. The man provided an oral fluid sample at roadside and tested positive for cannabis. He was arrested and taken to the Martensville RCMP detachment where he was evaluated by a Drug Recognition Expert. The man failed the tests and was charged with driving while impaired by a drug.
Seeking Solution to Fish Survival Shanine Sealey, Martensville Messenger
At the May 11 Committee of the Whole meeting, City of Martensville Director of Recreation and Community Services Ted Schaeffer spoke to Council regarding a request that was received from Steve Cusson of Phobia Auto Care. In previous years, Cusson has stocked the pond in Kinsmen Park with trout in order to provide a space for families to enjoy fishing together. The last time the pond was stocked was in 2019 and according to Schaeffer, there have been programs held at the pond, such as an introduction to ice fishing this past winter, that indicated that there is not much of a surviving fish stock remaining. Cusson approached the City of Martensville with a recommendation to install a wind-mill aeration system in the pond that wouldn’t have any electrical requirements and would help improve the survival rate of the fish through the winter. Several additional benefits are provided through the installation of this aeration system such as; improving water quality and reducing algae, reducing mosquito populations and reducing foul odours. There are disadvantages as well including that this could potentially impact the safety of other activities that take place on the pond including skating, shinny and ice fishing due to thinner ice conditions created by the aeration system in the winter months. Schaeffer noted that this could be mitigated with the installation of fencing around the diffuser and more frequent monitoring of ice thickness. Council will make a motion at next week’s council meeting and go forward from there to make the final decision about going ahead with this recommendation.
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