review
weyburn Vol.114 No. 34 - Weyburn, Saskatchewan Wednesday, August 21, 2024 - 10 Pages
COMMUNITY Cyclist raises POTLUCK funds Saturday, August 24
Harvesting in full swing
Mary Shirkie is on a quest to cycle 350 kms in August.
Hot, dry conditions assist with harvest operations.
11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Page 4 Canada Post Canadian Publications Mail Sales Product Agreement No. 40069240 Publication Mail Registration No. 09093
Concerned citizens give views on turbines to councils By Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca The councils for the RMs of Griffin and Weyburn both had large crowds of ratepayers and citizens in attendance for their meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday, voicing their opposition to Enbridge’s proposed wind turbines. The RM of Griffin met Tuesday evening in the Griffin Rec Centre, to accommodate the large number of residents who spoke or asked questions about the turbines. This followed a statement by the council saying they will be seeking a setback of at least 1500 metres from a turbine to a residence. Reeve Stacey Lund noted that Enbridge wanted to have a meeting with the Griffin council, but they put off that meeting until after they heard from the ratepayers at the council meeting. He said their position is that if this project goes ahead, they do not want it to cost the ratepayers anything, such as for road building, and noted the setback will have to be negotiated with Enbridge in conjunction with the RM of Weyburn. In some parts of the RM where turbines are proposed to go, there are no good roads to accommodate the construction crews, and Enbridge will have to build a lot of roads to make it happen, he said. “It’s disappointing the province doesn’t have more guidelines in place,” he said, noting the turbines seem to be getting bigger all the time. The RM heard from Enbridge in June and met them on July 9, but “none of us know much about it. … There will be lots more discussion on this for sure.” A suggestion was made for a referendum question
at the upcoming municipal elections, where residents would be asked if they support the wind turbines, and Lund said they might consider that. Questions of liability were also raised, such as if a wind turbine catches fire or starts on land, or if there’s an accident involved with a turbine, as well as what environmental studies they would rely on or do. Lund noted that the estimated tax revenues to the RM would be around $225250,000, which some residents pointed out would not build very many kilometres of road. On the level of concerns and questions raised by residents, Enbridge said in a statement, “We understand residents have questions about the Seven Stars project and wind energy. Having acquired the project in June of 2024, we recognize we still have a lot of work to do to engage the community with respect to project design, impacts, benefits and other topics. We’re committed to engaging in robust and productive two-way dialogue with the community in the days and weeks ahead.” The RM of Weyburn will be sending their zoning bylaw to SARM to help them word it before it comes back for a first reading, then a public hearing will be held. In a statement by Enbridge about the setbacks, they said, “The amendments we are requesting to the existing RM of Weyburn zoning bylaw are based on recently approved and comparable 200-megawatt wind farms already operating or under construction in southern Saskatchewan. The minimum residential setback for these projects is 750 metres or less.” Continued on Page 2
A smoky sunset over South Hill
Page 9 $1.25 (Includes GST)
Knox Hall
Doubling down to combine crops
Photo – Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca
A pair of John Deere combines took this crop off a field just west of Weyburn on Friday afternoon, with the Richardson Pioneer Terminal in the background.The hot, dry weather has matured many crops, and producers were out in force in the past week getting the crops in the bin.
Weyburn police chief cites ‘different values’ than police board for why he’s leaving By Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca Weyburn police chief Jamie Blunden is “bittersweet” about leaving the Weyburn Police Service to go to Estevan and start up new duties as their police chief on Oct. 15. Noting he and his wife love the Weyburn community and the members of the Weyburn Police Service, he cited his relationship with the Weyburn Police Commission board as the reason he is leaving. “In order to be successful in moving the service forward, you have to have relationships, it’s built on relationships. The relationship I have with the members is phenomenal, and with the community, I have a great relationship. But the relationship that’s breaking down right now is with the police board,” explained Blunden in an interview.
“It’s not positive. I have different values I bring forward, that I live by, and I believe in leadership, and part of that is making everybody around you better with support and development. On the board, there are some members who are still in that traditional style of management. A lot of decisions, operational decisions, are being made without input from myself or the deputy chief. I’ve come to the point where the values that I have and the values that they have are not aligned, and I made the decision to go to a place that has a board that actually trusts in their chief and allows them to do the job, and ultimately supports the chief and their executive members.” He added he does not feel he has that support with some members of the
Photo – Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca
Weyburn’s historic water tower was silhouetted as a smoky-red sun went down behind it recently. This scene was viewed from Highway 39 looking to the west.
police board, which currently has three civilian members and three representatives from council. “There are members who don’t understand fiduciary responsibility when it comes to the police service. As a result, in order for the service to move on, it’s best that I move on,” Blunden said. He has known Chief Lowen in Estevan since 1990, as they both served on the Winnipeg police force together, and when Blunden left to come to Weyburn, Lowen had been his superintendent. Since both came to Saskatchewan, they have talked and shared a lot, as they both serve on the provincial police chiefs association. Lowen will be moving on to take the position of deputy chief of Saskatchewan’s new Marshal service. He will be going to Prince Albert, and his last day in Estevan will be on Aug. 31. “At the end of the day, it’s about knowing what’s going on in Estevan. You have to be supportive of the members, and the police board there is very, very supportive of the executive members as well as the police service,” he said, and the police board support is a major part of his reason to make this move now. Blunden notes he loves the community here, and the members of the Weyburn force are professional and are very dedicated to the community, and it comes down to his relationship with the board. “I’m hoping that things change for the next person sitting in this chair. Historically, the last three or four chiefs will tell you the same thing. There’s a lot of want from certain members of the police board, to have the best interests
of city hall before the best interests of the police service,” he said. “When a member of the board says that he wants to have the lowest level of policing on the streets that the public will accept, then you have a problem. We should be looking for the highest level of policing on the street, to make sure they have the best possible police service that we can.” When a board member would rather have the lowest number of police in order to save costs, “that’s where the push and pull comes in”, he added. “You have to be fiscally responsible, but you have to be responsible to the community as well,” said Blunden. “And that’s just one example.” The police chief noted that the Police Act states that the police commission has to be open to the public, and this board has never been. Every other police board in the province operates that way, but not the Weyburn one. This is part of the problem with governance, along with fiduciary responsibility, that he has had issues with, because there needs to be some openness with the board in how they are making decisions. As he leaves, Chief Blunden said he is most proud of the growth and development of the members, as both he and deputy chief Brent VandeSype have worked hard to make this happen. They set up mental wellbeing and physical wellbeing programs for the members. They have also restructured the leadership of the members and have given them training to fit those roles, “so I think the growth and development of the members is what I’m most proud of.”