By Joel van der Veen

CRAIK — A response rate of around 10 per cent for a recent survey of Craik ratepayers did not deter Coun. David Ashdown.

Rather, Ashdown said, he was pleased by the quality of the responses and the effort taken by those who did participate.

“People obviously spent a lot of time thinking about this,” he told his fellow councillors during Tuesday’s regular meeting. “I think it’s given us some good information.”

The survey was sent out in late October to all households that received a water bill from the Town of Craik, and was also available online.

Ashdown compiled a summary of the results and presented it to council during its monthly meeting.

Recipients were asked to list the town’s greatest strengths and challenges, to name the top priorities for the next three years, and to specify how they would be willing to contribute, either in terms of a tax increase or a volunteer effort.

The deadline for the survey was Nov. 6. A total of 30 responses were received, most of them delivered to the town office; Ashdown noted in his report that this response rate is “not uncommon in this type of exercise.”

He noted that some were delivered to his door or mailed to his post office box. Some respondents needed to attach a second sheet to make room for all their comments.

Half of the respondents (15 of 30) identified the town’s location — situated on Highway 11, within an hour’s drive of three major centres — as a major strength.

Available facilities and services, including businesses, the school, health centre, RCMP detachment and pharmacy, came in second.

Other strengths identified included the park, golf course, Eco-Centre and library. Respondents also expressed appreciation for the town’s volunteers and people in general, the quiet and safe atmosphere, community organizations and the commitment to maintaining health services.

Unsurprisingly, 29 out of 30 respondents identified the town’s water crisis as its greatest challenge, followed by repairing and maintaining streets, named by 21 people.

Also frequently mentioned as challenges were: the need to make the community more attractive through demolishing derelict buildings and cleaning vacant lots (named by six); attracting new businesses (five); maintaining and growing the population (five); and retaining a doctor and getting emergency health services (four).

The water situation was also identified by 25 respondents as a top priority for the town, again followed by road repair.

As in all categories, the responses for priorities ranged from the general, like attracting new residents and supporting industry, to the narrowly specific — “getting big trucks out of town,” for instance, or “recouping money lost through theft or mismanagement.”

Ashdown noted that a small majority — 16 out of 30 — indicated a desire for tax rates to remain the same for the time being.

A small number of respondents voiced support, if necessary, for increases of 5 per cent (six), 10 per cent (five) or 15 per cent (three). No one indicated support for increases of 20 or 25 per cent.

Finally, when asked if they were willing to commit to volunteering time, effort or skill to addressing the town’s challenges, 14 out of 30 did not respond at all.

Four respondents said they were not prepared to volunteer, while 12 said they planned to volunteer or were already doing so. Space was also provided for specific comments.

Ashdown said the general tone of the responses was positive, but also noted a common desire for both accountability and a “coherent plan for future spending.”

He indicated the survey was “just a snapshot of where we were” and cautioned against putting too much stock into the responses.

Ashdown said the survey would be a useful tool in setting council’s priorities and the town budget for the coming year.

His colleagues expressed their appreciation for his efforts. The survey results will be available through the municipal office and on the town website.

By Joel van der Veen

CRAIK — Members of Craik’s Water Task Force pulled no punches as they provided an update to ratepayers at a public meeting last week.

Dermot McCaw and Charla Edwards both told the small crowd gathered at the Legion Hall on Wednesday that it would be at least two or three years before Craik residents can drink their tap water again.

“I’m sorry I’m not painting a real rosy picture,” said McCaw, who explained that the task force will need to work within its budget to address issues with Craik’s water infrastructure. “It’s going to be a real uphill battle.”

Their words, though candid, were well-received by the group of about 40 ratepayers in attendance for the one-hour meeting.

Mayor Rick Rogers welcomed the crowd at the meeting’s start and gave a brief introduction of the two speakers. Edwards, also a member of Craik town council, provided a summary of the task force’s genesis and its activities to that point.

After a mechanical failure that forced the town water system offline for several days in July, Edwards recalled that she heard from numerous concerned citizens, offering ideas to address the situation.

This led to a two-hour public meeting that filled a room at the municipal offices, resulting in the formation of the task force.

Other members of the group are Kim Bakken, Jason Hay, Shayne Stubbington and Mark Wegner, while Roger Miller, an environmental project officer for the Water Security Agency, serves as a liaison between the group and the province.

Edwards said the task force is responsible for determining what is needed to fix the town’s water infrastructure issues and ultimately aims to restore potable water to Craik, acting with council’s approval.

Research indicates the town can move forward by using both its old water plant, constructed in the 1960s and still used for distribution, and the new plant, built in 2007 by Mainstream Water Solutions of Regina.

The latter plant suffered from issues shortly after it went into operation and was unable to meet higher water quality standards instituted by the province. Craik has been under a continuous boil water advisory since Aug. 17, 2010.

Council approved a task force budget of $60,000 for the rest of 2015, and repairs have brought all three water pumps — two electric-powered, and one backup running on gas — into working order.

A new furnace has been installed at the old plant and concerns regarding the leaky roof have also been addressed.

Members have also met with engineers from KGS Group out of Regina, who are working on a solution for Radville, which has faced similar issues with its system.

Edwards said the Craik plant is due for its five-year assessment; the task force will use the information received thereby to determine a course of action. A report will be submitted to the task force and town council for approval.

In the meantime, organizers are working to put maintenance and accountability procedures in place, with Edwards remarking, “Each step leads us to a better tomorrow.”

McCaw, a retired oil patch worker, provided some further details, noting that he isn’t an engineer, though his past experience gave him some familiarity with water treatment procedures.

Like the others, he is volunteering his time, knowledge and efforts to address the situation. Edwards said McCaw and others have given “countless hours” towards helping the town.

“We’ve got to try to move forward with what we’ve got,” said McCaw, adding that the task force is looking to resolve the problem in an economical way.

For the full story, see the Sept. 28 print edition of The Davidson Leader.

By Joel van der Veen

CRAIK — Town councillors affirmed their support of the Water Task Force last week, giving the group approval to spend up to $10,000 in its efforts to address Craik’s water infrastructure issues.

Coun. Charla Edwards, a member of the task force, brought the request to council at its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday.

As parts and equipment are purchased and work is completed, the costs are adding up, and Edwards said that having to seek individual approval for every purchase was hampering the group’s efforts.

“All these purchases are ‘have to have’,” she told council. “I know that we have to have accountability . . . We’re asking for your trust.”

Councillors approved a motion allowing the Water Task Force to spend up to $10,000 on water maintenance and infrastructure, with the stipulation that council would be continuously updated on how the funds were being spent.

The task force will need to submit another request to council once it has spent that initial sum, while an overall spending limit of $60,000 has been set for the remainder of 2015.

Edwards provided council with a detailed update on the group’s efforts, which are ultimately aimed at bringing the town’s water treatment equipment into proper operation and thus providing Craik residents with potable water.

The Town of Craik has been under a continuous boil water advisory since Aug. 17, 2010. The task force was formed by a group of local citizens following a mechanical failure that forced the town’s water system offline for several days last July.

Edwards discussed some of the work being done to the water treatment equipment and to the plant building itself.

Having successfully started the natural gas pump at the old plant, she said she was completing an illustrated manual that details its proper use, along with an accountability chart to ensure maintenance is being carried out.

The gas pump must be ready for use in case of an emergency or power failure, said Edwards.

The task force had also asked town staff to prepare a tender for the repair of the plant roof, but a simpler solution was devised by members of the local fire department.

Edwards said she had obtained a quote from Aaron Obrigewitsch to install an energy-efficient furnace at the plant for around $4,200.

Several other items of equipment are slated for repair or replacement, while the task force is also making efforts to clean up and improve the old plant, constructed in 1965.

For the full story, please see the Sept. 14 edition of The Davidson Leader.